Essential oils have been used extensively and reliably among adults because of their range of health benefits. However, they have a completely different set of rules when it comes to babies. Essential oil therapy has many benefits including treating burns, soothing skin, alleviating stress, relaxing the mind, and so on. There are essential oils at AromaTech that can be used for these needs as well as others that may come up, but they must be used in the correct and safe manner. You can use it on your baby to help encourage sleep, calm anxiety and even reduce symptoms of colic. But you have to be cautious about your baby’s age. Apply essential oils on your baby if he or she is older than 3 months with proper dilution ratios and application methods. Make sure that you buy the authentic, unadulterated and pure essential oils for your baby. You should avoid oils that are premixed with alcohol and synthetic fragrances because they can be irritating to the skin with no health benefits. You should never use the essential oil to the baby’s skin directly, it’s always recommended to mix them with a carrier oil. Keep the oil away from your baby’s reach because they accidentally can ingest it whereas it should be taken orally.
Today we will walk you through a guideline of how to use pure essential oil for your baby, so let’s get started.
Essential Oils For Babies: A Guide
A baby’s skin is very sensitive. You need to have proper knowledge when it comes about safe essential oils for kids. The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians suggests not to use essential oils on babies under the age of 3 months. Because:
- Essential oils may have an effect on a newborn’s sense of smell. A newborn navigates his tiny world through the sense of smell. They can recognize their mother’s scent, including that of breastmilk. Essential oils can interfere with this, so it should be avoided.
- Essential oils can damage your baby’s skin if he’s younger than 3 months. He has a brand-new delicate skin. So, be selective about what you apply to his skin.
However, you can use essential oils such as Lavender, Chamomile, Eucalyptus, and so on, once he becomes older than 3 months.
Safe Essential Oils For Your Baby and How To Use Them
- Lavender
Lavender oil is great for treating pain in babies. It helps your baby to experience less pain and lower heart rate than other newborns. It can also be used in aromatherapy to reduce the symptoms of colic. - Chamomile
Chamomile oil is a home remedy for sleeplessness for your baby. It aids sleep and it can have a calming and sedative effect if you add a few drops of this oil to your baby’s bath or diffuser. - Distilled Lemon (Citrus Limon)
Distilled lemon boosts your baby’s energy and mood. It energizes the mood and also great for a post-nap wakeup call as well. - Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil helps to unclog respiratory congestion with its natural expectorating properties. It’s always a favorite during the winter season. Add one or two drops of Eucalyptus oil in a baby’s warm bath for relieving the stuffy nose. - Dill (Anethum Sowa)
Dill can help to soothe indigestion with its calming and antispasmodic properties. Simply dilute 1 drop of dill per teaspoon of carrier oil. Blend thoroughly and massage the mixture on your little one’s skin. - Mandarin (Citrus Reticulata)
Mandarin is an alternative for babies who don’t like the scent of Lavender much. However, it has similar calming effects to Lavender. It’s not phototoxic and that’s why its sweet scent is favorable to other orange varieties. - Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia)
The tree is a natural antifungal, antimicrobial, and disinfectant. It helps with a diaper rash and fungal infections if you add a few drops of tea tree oil to an unscented oil. It’s better t use this oil on babies who are older than 6 months because it can be harsh on the skin. So, do a patch test carefully on your newborn first.
How To Use?
There are a lot of ways to use essential oils for babies, including:
In a baby massage
Baby massage routines depend on baby’s preferences. However, these steps are a good starting point:
- Take a small amount of the diluted oil between your hands and make it worm by rubbing.
- Now, rub the oil gently into your little one’s skin. Start from the legs and use very gentle pressure.
- If you want to massage his chest and belly, spread your hands out towards his sides as if leveling the pages of a book.
In bath water
Use a few drops of Lavender or Chamomile in the water of your baby’s bath. It helps to soothe and calm your baby if the bedtime follows soon after.
In a diffuser at bedtime
Some diffusers release the aroma of the essential oils into the air. Also, there are some diffusers available with soothing colored lights to help the baby sleep. When you use a diffuser, follow the instructions on it and keep the room well-ventilated.
It’s always safe to use essential oils with certain precautions for your baby. Just remember that a little one should never ingest the oil, it’s only for external use. I recommend you to research about the oil that you are interested in and talk to a doctor if needed. With this guideline above, I’m sure that you will be able to choose the best essential oil for your baby and use them with proper dilution ratios.
Author Bio
John O. Brooks loves to write contents on health and fitness. He is a consultant, professional speaker, and blogger. He leads a group of fitness classes. He loves to eat a lot of vegetables. His goal is to keep the good people of the world fit.
