How to Use Essential Oils for Babies: Which Oils Are Safe?

Last Updated: September 2, 2021 References

Essential oils can have all kinds of great health benefits, so it’s only natural that you want your baby to enjoy those benefits too. However, there are tons of essential oils out there, so it's easy to be confused about which are safe for your baby. The most important thing to remember is that essential oils are highly concentrated and are meant for use on your baby's skin or infused into the air, never for ingestion. By getting high-quality products, checking with your baby’s doctor, and using the right application methods, you can make sure your baby stays healthy and loves their essential oil treatments!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Picking the Right Oils

Not all essential oils are safe for babies, so be careful when you’re picking one. Your baby can handle different oils at different ages, so as they get older, you can use more. Follow these guidelines to select the right oils depending on your child’s age.

Doctors don’t recommend using any type of essential oil on children until they’re at least 3 months old. Their skin and lungs haven’t developed enough to process the oils safely. ^{[1]
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Use chamomile, dill, lavender, and yarrow after 3 months. Once your baby is 3 months old, it’s safer to use some essential oils either on their skin or diffused into the air. The recommended oils are chamomile, dill, lavender, and blue yarrow. Stick with these until your baby is at least 6 months old. ^{[2]
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- Chamomile and lavender are good for relieving anxiety and helping your child fall asleep. ^{[3]
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3
Add more oils when your baby turns 6 months old. At this age, your baby’s skin and lungs are stronger and can handle more oils. These oils are safe for use on their skin (if they're diluted) and diffused into the air: ^{[4]
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- Bergamont, carrot seed, cedar, citronella, coriander, cypress, fir needle, grapefruit, helichrysum, lemon, mandarin, neroli, palma rosa, petitgraine, pine, ravensara, rosalina, rose otto, sandalwood, spruce, sweet orange, geranium, orange, tangerine, and tea tree.
- Cinnamon oils are only safe for diffusing, not applying to your baby’s skin.
4
Keep all other oils away from your baby. The oils already mentioned are safe for babies under 2 years old. There are others, but they aren't safe for babies. Don't use any other essential oils on your baby, even if they're high-quality. ^{[5]
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- Oils you should never use on your baby include birch, wintergreen, hyssop, massoia, anise, cajuput, cardamon, cornmint, fennel, galangal, ho leaf, marjoram, bay laurel, myrtle, niaouli, rosemary, sage, sanna, saro, eucalyptus, basil, black seed, clove, ginger lily, garlic, laurel, lemongrass, lemon leaf, may chang, Melissa, myrtle, oakmoss, opopanax, oregano, Peru balsam, saffron, savory satureia hortensis, treemoss, turpentine, verbena, Ylang-Ylang, and chaste tree.
Peppermint oil is useful for relieving nausea and headaches, but it could cause a bad reaction in babies. Skip this oil until your child is at least 30 months old, or 2 and a half years. ^{[6]
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Don't use Thieves blends in children younger than 10 years old. These mixtures contain blends of eucalyptus, rosemary, clove, cinnamon bark, and lemon. Since eucalyptus and rosemary aren't safe for children younger than 10, don't use any Thieves blend on your baby at all. ^{[7]
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- Clove is also not safe for children younger than 2 years old, so don't use it on your baby plain either.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Oils Safely

Even if you’re using oils that are safe for your baby’s age group, you still need to take some precautions to make sure the oils won’t cause any problems. You also need to stick with the right methods when you’re using the oils. Skin application and aromatherapy are the 2 most popular ones, and both are safe for babies as long as you do them right. By confirming that the oils are safe and using the right methods, you can make sure your baby has a great experience and loves their essential oil treatment!

1
Get only high-quality oils from reputable manufacturers. Not all essential oils are created equally. Low-quality oils might have chemical additives or impure ingredients that could harm your child. Always pick the highest-quality oils to make sure they’re safe. Look for these signs when picking oils. ^{[8]
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- The packaging should include all of the ingredients, including the Latin name of the plant and any additives. Also look for an expiration date, because essential oils don’t last forever. ^{[9]
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- Look for the country that the oil was manufactured in, which should be listed.
- The concentration of the oil should be clear. Look for a percentage on the label displaying this.
- The best essential oils come in dark glass containers that are tightly sealed.
- Always check the product label to make sure this oil is safe for children. If you have any doubts, don't use it on your baby.
2
Ask your pediatrician before using essential oils on your child. No matter what type of oil you’re planning on using, always ask your child’s pediatrician first. They can tell you whether or not using the oil is safe, and what concentration is best. ^{[10]
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- If your doctor tells you that using the oil isn’t safe, make sure you listen to them.
3
Stick with one oil at a time. Your baby could get overwhelmed if you use too many oils at once. Be safe and only use one oil per day. This reduces the risk of irritations or allergic reactions. ^{[11]
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- This goes for both skin application and aromatherapy.
4
Dilute all the oils that you use on your baby’s skin. Never apply undiluted essential oils to your baby’s skin. Babies can only tolerate a very weak concentration to avoid irritations. For children between 3 and 24 months old, dilute the oils to a 0.25-0.5% concentration by adding 1-2 drops of oil to a carrier oil, like olive or jojoba. ^{[12]
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- When your baby reaches 24 months, you can increase the concentration to 1-2%.
- You also shouldn’t apply undiluted oils to your own skin. A 3-5% concentration is recommended for adults.
5
Do a small patch test if you’re using the oil on your baby’s skin. Always test to make sure your baby won’t have an allergy to the oil you’re using. Put a very small amount on a little on their skin spot and wait 15-30 minutes. If you don’t see any signs of irritation, then this oil should be safe. ^{[13]
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- If you do see any redness or irritation, then don’t use this oil at all.
Even if an oil is safe, it could irritate your baby’s eyes, mouth, and nose. Only apply the oil below their neck to protect their face. ^{[14]
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You might think it's okay to use oils in your baby's bath since it's mixing with water. Oil and water don't mix, however, so the oils won't actually dilute. If you want to use oils in your baby's bath, dilute them as if you were using them directly on your baby's skin. ^{[15]
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8
Use an aroma stick to diffuse oils into the air. This is the other recommended method for using essential oils on babies, and it has a much lower risk for causing irritations. A diffuser stick spreads the oil’s scent and is very useful for aromatherapy. ^{[16]
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- You don’t have to dilute oils if you’re using them for aromatherapy.
9
Store all oils where children can’t reach them. All essential oils are potentially toxic if swallowed. Always store your oils in a high, secure place where your child can’t reach them. ^{[17]
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- If your child does get into the oils and swallows any, call poison control right away.
10
Stop using the oils if you see any negative reactions. Even if you did nothing wrong, it's possible for your baby to have a bad reaction to essential oils. This usually presents as a red rash on your baby's skin. They may also seem fussy or agitated if the rash is bothering them. Stop using the oil right away if you see these signs. ^{[18]
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- Contact your baby's pediatrician or poison control if they do have a reaction.
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Medical Takeaways

Some essential oils are definitely safe for your baby, and using them can have great benefits. However, you have to be careful to pick the right ones and use them correctly. Remember to always ask your doctor if this is safe before you try it, and stop right away if you notice any irritation on your child’s skin. With a few simple steps, you can give your baby a great essential oil treatment!

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Warnings

Essential oils are toxic if ingested, so contact poison control right away if your baby swallows any.

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How to Use Essential Oils for Babies: Which Oils Are Safe?

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Picking the Right Oils

Using Oils Safely

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