A popular relaxation technique is diffusing or applying essential oils as a form of aromatherapy, which has been shown to reduce perceptions of stress and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. But are essential oils safe for babies? The short answer is, no, essential oils are not safe for babies.
“I don’t recommend using essential oils around babies,” says Diane Hindman, MD, a board-certified pediatrician, medical toxicologist, and registered pharmacist.
When can I use essential oils around my baby?
To be on the safe side, wait to use essential oils around your baby until he or she is 2-3 years old.
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What are essential oils used for?
Besides stress relief, there are many other reasons to use essential oils, including:
“There are several ways to achieve these benefits: essential oils can be applied topically to the skin, diffused or inhaled from a bottle, or ingested, with the most common method being using a diffuser at home or in the office,” says Josh Axe, DNM, CNS, DC, founder of Ancient Nutrition and DrAxe.com.
What Parents Should Know About Essential Oils
In general, it is not safe to use essential oils around babies, especially newborns, and one of the reasons for this is that essential oils are relatively unregulated.
“Essential oils and other substances considered ‘natural health products’ are not subject to the same rigorous clinical studies, safety laws, regulations, testing, and standards as prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs,” explains Dr. Hindman.
This means it’s difficult to know the actual concentrations of active ingredients in different oils, and you could unknowingly expose your baby to high levels of harmful ingredients.
Babies’ underdeveloped skin, respiratory systems, and many other organs also put them at higher risk for adverse reactions from essential oils. The only way around this, says Dr. Axe, is to apply essential oils topically to your skin on a regular basis.
“Make sure the oil is absorbed into the skin before touching your baby, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes,” Dr. Axe says, adding that even if you use this method, you should avoid using essential oils for the first three months of your baby’s life.
Risks of using essential oils around babies
Using essential oils around babies (especially newborns) can carry potential risks of adverse health effects for your baby. Here are some possibilities you should be aware of.
Wheezing and sinus problems
It’s not uncommon for newborns to have stuffy noses and sneeze frequently, but diffusing essential oils near them won’t help.
“Inhaling fragrances and oils can cause wheezing in some people, including infants,” notes Christina Johns, MD, a pediatric emergency physician and vice president of communications at PM Pediatric Care. “Because a baby’s sinuses are still developing, it’s never a good idea to diffuse oils around them.”
Babies only breathe through their nose for the first six months or so, so you need to make sure you don’t introduce anything into your baby’s environment that could make breathing difficult.
Skin irritation and inflammation
Essential oils can cause irritation when they come into contact with a baby’s skin. “An infant’s skin is more sensitive and thinner than an adult’s,” Dr. Hindman explains. Even products made specifically for babies that contain essential oils can cause rashes and other irritation. “I would caution that if you use legitimate over-the-counter medicines or health and beauty products, such as baby lotions with lavender, you should follow the directions carefully.”
Risks of Certain Essential Oils to Your Baby
Essential oils that come into contact with your baby’s skin can not only cause skin problems, but other issues as well. “Because a baby’s skin is thin, the potential for absorption through the skin is very high,” says Dr. Hindman. “Once absorbed, the actives can cause systemic and local toxicity.” Potentially harmful effects of certain essential oils include:
| Wintergreen Oil | The active ingredient in this oil, methyl salicylate, is a chemical that acts like aspirin in the body when applied topically. It is toxic in large amounts. |
| Lavender oil | Lavender oil has calming properties and is included in small amounts in some baby products, but repeated topical use has been shown to disrupt sex hormones in both men and women. |
| Tea tree oil | Tea tree oil was also included in the study and was found to have the same effects as lavender. |
| Nutmeg oil | Myristica oil, the active ingredient in nutmeg, is toxic if ingested in large quantities and can cause symptoms including chest pain, double vision, rapid heart rate, and hallucinations. |
| Wormwood oil | Wormwood oil, also known as Artemisia absinthium or absinthe, contains a chemical called thujone, which is the same chemical that causes side effects, such as hallucinations and psychosis, when drinking absinthe. Even small amounts are toxic. |
Applying essential oils to your child’s skin
Only use diluted oils when applying to children’s skin. Essential oils are not recommended for use on children under the age of 3. However, if you are applying essential oils to a young child’s skin, here are the recommended dosages listed in the Essential Oil Safety Book, Second Edition:
- 2-6 years: 1%-2%
- 6–15 years: 1.5%–3%
- Age 15 and over: 2.5% to 5%
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