Essential Oils Safe for Baby: Natural Remedies that You Won’t Want to Live Without
How to Safely Use Essential Oils for Babies
Essential oils are a powerful natural healing and cleansing alternative to more toxic options. It is of the utmost importance to learn how to use essential oils safe for baby. This post details amazing essential oils for babies sleep, essential oils for babies with cold, and amazing DIY recipes.
This is a guest post written by the knowledgeable and talented Bri from Hippie Dippie Mom! She is an expert in all things essential oils and a phenomenal guide to leading a healthier toxin free life. I’m so excited to feature her and share some of her knowledge on using essential oils for babies because there are always a lot of questions when it comes to using essential oils for baby in a safe way.
This post contains affiliate links to products that I own and love and am confident you will too! Please read full disclosure here.
Safe Essential Oils are Essential for Baby!
I absolutely love essential oils and can no longer imagine my life without them! I use them daily either by diffusing them, applying them topically to myself or my family, taking them internally, making DIY skin care products, etc. In addition, I love that they have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. It doesn’t hurt that they also smell amazing!!!
Some benefits of using essential oils are that they can promote healthy immune function, boost our moods, be used for several purposes, promote healthy skin, make our home smell great and much, much more.
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are the volatile aromatic compounds found in the stems, leaves, bark, petals and peel of plants. Volatile means that they quickly go from oil to vapor. Have you ever smelled fresh herbs then rubbed the herbs between your fingers and noticed the smell got stronger? That’s because you broke some of the essential oil sacs open.
Essential oils protect plants against environmental threats and help keep the plant healthy. Humans receive those same benefits from using pure essential oils properly.
I mentioned using essential oils properly… discomfort, irritation and injury can occur when essential oils aren’t used as they’re meant to be. I injured myself when I didn’t dilute oregano essential oil. So let’s talk about which oils MUST always be diluted for our little ones as well as ourselves.
Oils to ALWAYS dilute to be safe:
Some oils are considered caustic or hot. These are the oils that MUST always be diluted for every person and every application. Also, use caution when diffusing these essential oils in a babies room. The caustic oils are:
- oregano
- cinnamon
- cassia
- birch
- clove
- eucalyptus
- ginger
- lemongrass
- peppermint
- thyme
- wintergreen.
When diluting an essential oil, use a carrier oil (ie. fractionated coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, etc). Carrier oils ‘carry’ the essential oil to the skin and are the base oil used to dilute essential oils. Great choices for carrier oils are:
- Fractionated Coconut Oil
- Almond Oil
- Jojoba Oil
- Coconut Oil.
Recommended dilution ratios are: Babies 0.3% dilution (1 drop of essential oils in 1 tablespoon of a carrier oil, Children 1.0% dilution (1 drop of essential oil to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil), Adults 2-4.0% dilution (3-6 drops of essential oil to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil).
The Best Ways to Keep Essential Oils Safe for Baby at the Ready at All Times
I love keeping diluted essential oils ready to go by keeping them in glass roller balls like these or small glass jars like these. Roller balls can be carried in purses and diaper bags too! Using glass with essential oils is important because some oils can draw the chemicals from plastics into the oil.
While the hot oils MUST be diluted when applying topically, all essential oils can be mixed with a carrier oil, and they’re just as beneficial as undiluted. The most popular places to put essential oils topically are the bottom of the feet, chest, and along the spine.
Some other cautions to take when using essential oils for baby are:
- Never use essential oils internally with babies or small children.
- Citrus oils are photosensitive. Exposure to sunlight after applying citrus oils topically can result in sunburn.
- Keep essential oils out of reach of babies and children.
- Dilute all oils when using topically on baby (use dilution ratio above).
- Should you or your little one experience discomfort or irritation after applying an essential oil topically, simply wipe the area with a cotton pad or washcloth that has a carrier oil on it. Oil attracts oil, don’t use water to try to wash it off.
Get comfortable using essential oils:
I created a free video that goes more into the basics of using essential oils. Get the video here.
My absolute favorite EO book is ‘The Essential Life’. It shows what oil to use based on symptoms, it lists a variety of essential oils and their uses, AND it has amazing DIY and food recipes plus lots more. I reference this book frequently!
Not all oils are created equal:
Unfortunately, some essential oil manufacturers don’t produce the best product. Most essential oils available are mixed with fillers or they’re just plain synthetic fragrance. Fragrance is made up of hundreds of chemicals which are very harmful to our health.
We must be our own best advocate and learn what to look for when searching for the purest essential oils on the market.
The #1 most important thing when choosing an essential oil is to make sure that company conducts third party testing for pesticides, heavy metals, synthetic fragrance and more.
Go to the company’s website to search for third party testing or ask a representative.
The Best Essential Oils Safe for Babies
I highly recommend using Simply Earth Essential Oils. That’s what I use on my babies. They are real natural oils, safely sourced, rigorously tested, so much more affordable than the “big guys,” smell amazing (not all brands are created equal here), AND donate 13% of proceeds to end human trafficking.
I buy my favorite oils from them but also subscribe to their monthly box. Where you get 4 full sized oils and tons of accessories and recipes to make things with them to healthy up your life.
If you are interesting in trying out Simply Earth’s subscription box I can share my exclusive code that gives you a free “big box” of supplies to create amaing things with your new oils AND a $40 off coupon immediately available for your next purchase.
Seriously the best deal ever. Just enter code VIGORITOUTFREE at checkout and I guarantee you’ll never switch essential oil brands again!
My favorite safe essential oil uses for baby:
To relax, calm and soothe – Lavender, Frankincense, Vetiver.
To soothe skin – Lavender, Geranium. Geranium promotes the appearance of clear skin and healthy hair. It also helps calm nerves and is a natural insect repellant.
To tame tummy troubles – Fennel, Ginger. Fennel is known for it’s ability to promote healthy metabolism, liver function and circulation.
As immune support – Frankincense, Melaleuca (also known as Tea Tree). Frankincense is known to support healthy cellular function, helps build and maintain a healthy immune system, and promotes feelings of peace and relaxation.
Do it yourself baby safe essential oil recipes:
- DIY diaper cream.
- DIY air freshener (perfect next to the diaper bin)
- DIY hand sanitizer spray. (Conventional hand sanitizer’s contain harmful triclosan).
MORE NEW MOMMY RESOURCES FROM VIGOR IT OUT:
- DIY Post Partum Padsicles with Essential Oils
- Boost Your Breastmilk Post Partum With Natural Home Remedies
- The Most Healthy Delicious Lactation Cookies You Will Ever Find
- Milk Boosting Breakfast Smoothie
- Pilates with Baby: Safe for the 6 Week Post Partum Waiting Period
Author Bio:
Bri is a mom, wife, Registered Nurse and Certified Health Coach. She is passionate about helping moms eliminate common household toxins so that she and her family can experience true health and wellness. She blogs at www.hippiedippiemom.com.
Find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.
