While essential oils are quite popular for adults, can babies use them too? Discover the best essential oils for babies!
Essential oils have been cherished for centuries, particularly in aromatherapy, offering a wide range of benefits, from healing to skin care. While some oils aren’t recommended for people with allergies, sensitive skin, or young babies, there are specific ones that can be safely used to promote sleep, soothe restlessness, and even ease colic in babies over three months old. In this article, we’ll explore the top essential oils that are gentle and beneficial for your little one.
Best Essential Oils For Babies
1) Chamomile
If your little one has trouble falling asleep, German and Roman chamomile essential oils can help just as well as they do for adults. You can also try mixing lavender oil with chamomile to help relieve colic symptoms. It is also effective if your baby is suffering from diaper rash or any mild skin infections.
Note: When massaging your baby with chamomile oil, dilute 3-4 drops of this oil and about 10 drops of coconut or jojoba oil for a safe ratio.
2) Lemon
Lemon essential oil is a good way to help lift the spirits of a fussy baby. When properly diluted, it can not only help as a wake-up call after naps but also should not cause any skin irritation. When using the oil to massage your baby, ensure that it is in its diluted form.
Use it cautiously and reap its anti-bacterial properties, as it can also be added to DIY child-safe cleaning solutions. But remember to keep these away from your baby.
3) Eucalyptus
A natural expectorant that can help unclog your baby’s respiratory congestion, eucalyptus essential oil can be a lifesaver during the winter months. Keep in mind that that several species of eucalyptus are used to make the essential oil. The one safe for babies is the Eucalyptus radiata. The oil from Eucalyptus globulus should not used for children under 2 years of age.
Note: Contact your pediatrician before you use eucalyptus oil to relieve your baby’s respiratory symptoms.
4) Lavender
Little needs to be said about lavender essential oil, which has extremely calming and sedative effects. It works not just for adults but for toddlers, too! You can relax your little one and encourage them to sleep with a lavender massage. Moreover, diluted lavender oil also helps with insect bites and itchiness, besides alleviating the symptoms of colic.
But that’s not all! Lavender essential oil can also help cure cough, cold, and congestion in children.
5) Dill
Yet another calming essential oil, Dill, also has antispasmodic properties that can help babies with indigestion. When using dill oil to massage your babies, ensure proper dilution.
The best way to dilute dill essential oil is to add one drop to one teaspoon of a gentle carrier oil, blend thoroughly, and then massage it onto your baby’s skin.
6) Mandarin
Mandarin essential oil has calming effects similar to lavender, making it a great alternative for babies who don’t really fancy the smell of lavender. It not only has a sweeter scent but is also not phototoxic. That means when properly diluted, it has no chance of causing skin irritation.
Besides relieving discomfort and fussiness in babies and promoting better sleep, you can also massage the diluted oil onto your baby’s skin to relieve problems like diaper rash.
Not to mention, massaging your baby’s abdomen with this oil can also help strengthen your baby’s developing digestive system, thanks to the oil’s digestive properties. Its antiseptic properties keep infections at bay.
7) Tea Tree
Thanks to its natural antimicrobial and disinfectant properties, diluted tea tree oil can help with a range of fungal infections and diaper rash in babies. These properties also help with minor cuts, insect bites, and common eye infections. This oil can also ease congestion, cough, and colds in your baby.
Remember that tea tree oil is a stronger oil that can sometimes be harsh on a baby’s skin. It is important to avoid using this oil on any baby younger than 6 months. Even on toddlers, it must be diluted and carefully patch-tested for any adverse reactions.
8) Lemongrass Oil
Extracted from the leaves and stalks of the lemongrass plant, lemongrass oil has been in use for its health benefits since ancient times. From encouraging your baby to sleep to soothing irritability and symptoms of colic, lemongrass oil can do a lot for babies over three months of age.
You can also protect your baby from painful mosquito bites, alongside digestive issues, with a gentle massage with diluted lemongrass oil.
9) Rosemary Oil
Lemongrass oil isn’t the only one with amazing health benefits! When used with proper dilution and massaged properly, rosemary oil can not only improve your baby’s sleep quality, but can also improve blood circulation, soothing the skin. Diluted rosemary oil is even safe for newborns!
10) Frankincense Oil
One of the best oils to diffuse in your baby’s room, frankincense oil not only helps purify the air but also boosts your baby’s respiratory health, thanks to its potential immune-boosting properties. One thing to remember about using frankincense oil is that a little goes a long way.
You must also ensure proper ventilation in the air to prevent excessive exposure. Too much of a good thing can be bad too!
11) Ginger Oil
If your baby often has digestive issues and feels nauseated, ginger essential oil, when used sparingly, can help a lot. All you have to do is dilute the ginger oil with a soothing carrier oil and gently massage your little one’s abdomen clockwise. This will help improve your baby’s digestion.
12) Rose Oil (Rose Absolute)
One of the most concentrated essential oils, even a little bit of properly diluted rose absolute essential oil can help calm and soothe your baby. This can be attributed to its sweet floral scent, which, when diffused in the nursery, can create a calming atmosphere. Always ensure that it is heavily diluted, as rose oil is one of the most concentrated essential oils.
13) Ylang Ylang Oil
Ylang-ylang essential oil must also be used sparingly because of its potent scent. However, even diluted properly, it has a sweet, floral scent that can relax your baby wonderfully! Diffusing this oil sparingly can create a tranquil environment in the nursery.
Side Effects and Precautions
You need to research every essential oil you use for your baby. Besides that, here are a few tips to keep in mind before using them-
- Some essential oils can be very potent, and dilution for each essential oil is crucial. Since babies and infants have sensitive skin, the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) recommends no use of essential oils on babies younger than 3 months oil. For babies older than 3 months, the NAHA recommends a safe dilution ratio of 0.5 to 1 percent, whereas in adults, that ratio is 2.5 to 10 percent dilution for adults.
- Essential oils must be diluted with carrier oils like coconut oil, almond oil etc. which also bring their own moisturizing qualities, helping nourish your baby’s skin.
- Sometimes, even diluted essential oils can cause skin irritation and photosensitivity. This makes it crucial for you to conduct a “spot test” on your baby’s arm or leg. Apply a small amount of diluted oil on a skin patch and wait for 24 hours for any adverse reaction. This must be done for any new essential oil you decide to use.
- Essential oils must never be ingested by babies, so keep them out of their baths, too, to prevent accidental ingestion.
- While essential oils can be a more effective and safer alternative to room fresheners, you must only spritz them in small amounts around the nursery or use a few drops in a diffuser. Never spritz them onto your baby’s pillows to prevent ingestion.
- It is vital to talk to a medical professional or a paediatrician before using essential oils on your baby. They can suggest ways to use baby-friendly oils correctly to soothe your baby.