Babies, Children and Essential Oils

I have been thinking a lot about babies lately—my third grandchild will be here in about two to three weeks, and I can't wait!   The other two grandchildren are also excited to have a little brother or sister arriving soon.  Thinking about having a new little one around means schedule changes, sleepless nights, laughter, joy, and of course crying, since that is the only way a newborn can communicate that something is needed.

Using essential oils to address baby's needs is something which is growing in popularity; but a word of caution—you must do your research before introducing essential oils to a baby, toddler or younger child!  You must first consider the reason you want to use essential oils; is it for sleep, relaxation, colic?  Then you need to choose the appropriate oil to match the need.  Perhaps most importantly you need to use the proper dosage. 

While researching many sources for this article I have found a wealth of information available.  Some of it is conflicting, such as what oils are safe for use with an infant younger than three months.  If in doubt, don't use it!   Quite a few sources stated that lavender is safe to use with a baby this age.  Introduce the scent gradually to the baby; lavender can be placed on a tissue or cloth and placed near the baby when feeding or at nap/bedtime to soothe and calm.  For an infant three to six months of age, bergamot, lemon and neroli are some of the oils that can be used for nausea or to soothe the baby.  In the older infant (six to twelve months) Roman chamomile is excellent for teething pain.  Put one drop on a washcloth wrapped around an ice cube and place on the gums.

Once the child reaches one year, essential oils can be placed in the bath.  It is very important to remember that the dose used is one half the usual adult dose--or slightly less; an adult dose is six to eight drops of the oil.  Always mix with a carrier oil first before placing in the bath water to protect the child's sensitive skin; make sure that this mixture is well dispersed in the bath before allowing the child in the tub.  In addition to the oils already mentioned you can now add sweet orange, lemon, tangerine, geranium and clove (to name a few).  You can also add some oil to a lotion or carrier oil and use as a massage—who doesn't enjoy a nice massage?  I would probably opt for less than one half of the adult dose if using this way.

One more way essential oils can be used for the small child is in a diffuser or aroma lamp.  Sweet orange is great for alleviating frustration, tension and anxiety.  It is a pleasing, happy scent.  Lavender and Roman chamomile are two wonderful scents for soothing and calming a restless child.  I did find one source that recommended eucalyptus for colds and flu but you have to be extremely careful when using it since it is very toxic.  The same advice applies for oil of wintergreen.  These oils should never be used on any child under two years of age. 

Always make sure the essential oils are of therapeutic grade, pure and natural.  Do not use fragrance oils because these are synthetically produced and contain chemicals that would be harmful to babies and children.  Check and double check the dose.  Never use more than double the dosage amount in one week.  Do not let children handle the oils-keep them out of reach. 

As a parent, you decide whether or not to take advantage of the wonderful aromatherapy benefits that come with using essential oils.  Definitely seek the advice of your pediatrician for illnesses; aromatherapy can be used in addition to the treatment the doctor recommends.  If you do decide to try using essential oils, not only will your child benefit from the different scents, you, too, can enjoy a most pleasant experience.