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Safe Essential Oils For Babies And Children

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Safe Essential Oils For Babies and Kids

Which essential oils are safe for kids?

If you’ve tried to answer that question by researching online lately, you know that there is a ton of conflicting information out there. Some say EVERYTHING is safe, some say virtually NOTHING is safe. What’s a mama to do?

A couple of years ago, I decided to get over my sticker shock and try to answer that question for myself. I purchased a copy of Essential Oil Safety, which was written by world renowned essential oil expert Robert Tisserand and his co-author, Rodney Young. Considered the most evidence-based resource available, Essential Oil Safety took 10+ years to write and contains over 4000 citations.

Safety is my top priority, so whether it’s this bug bite balm, this “breathe easy” vapor rub, or another natural remedy or beauty recipe, I always consult Essential Oil Safety while creating products for my family and yours.

Of course, there are a lot of essential oil uses I haven’t covered (yet!) here, so I thought I’d put together a handy-dandy guide of how and when and when NOT to use essential oils with children that’s based on Tisserand’s work.

You’ll find that the oils mentioned are linked to a brand I love for its quality, commitment to providing safe usage instructions, and pricing – Plant Therapy. However, I also use and love Vibrant Blue Oils, and there are other good brands out there as well.

Safe Essential Oils For Babies And Children - This list was complied from the information found in Essential Oil Safety, which was written by world renowned essential oil expert Robert Tisserand and his co-author, Rodney Young. Considered the most evidence-based resource available, Essential Oil Safety took 10+ years to write and contains over 4000 citations.

Essential Oils That Are Considered Safe For Children 2 And Under

The recommended dilution ratio for this age group is .25% (1 drop per 4 teaspoons carrier oil)

Aromatherapists often prefer hydrosols to essential oils when considering topical application for children under two. However, there are many oils that can be diffused safely and applied topically when used appropriately. I personally would not apply essential oils topically to a child under three months old. As essential oil experts Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young explain:

Great caution is necessary for infants. Since neonatal skin does not mature until three months of age, it is more sensitive and more permeable to essential oils. A newborn is also less equipped to deal with any adverse effects than an adult because of lower metabolic capacity, i.e., enzymes present in lower concentrations. (11) These cautions apply even more to premature babies, and here it would be prudent to avoid all use of essential oils.” (Essential Oil Safety, p. 48-49)

Oils that are considered appropriate for diffusing and occasional (diluted) topical application in children two and under

This is not a definitive list. However, it does include many oils that are commonly available. I’ve listed some of the properties of each oil alongside their name, including properties associated with topical application. I think it’s valuable information to have, but I still typically favor hydrosols and diffusion rather than direct application for children under two.

  • Basil linalool (Ocimum basilicum) – Relaxing, mood lifting, helpful for soothing sore muscles
  • Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) – Bright, clean, uplifting citrus scent. Bergamot is phototoxic unless you purchase one that is filtered to be bergaptine-free. If not using bergaptine-free, a maximum dilution of 0.4% (about 5 drops in 4 tablespoons carrier oil) is recommended to avoid phototoxicity. (source: Essential Oil Safety)
  • Black pepper (Piper nigrum) – Helpful for soothing achy muscles
  • Blue tansy (Tanacetum annuum) -Also called Moroccan blue chamomile, this oil has skin soothing properties. It may also promote feelings of being clear-headed when pollen counts are high.
  • Catnip (Nepeta cataria) – Relaxing. Supports restful sleep. Also very useful in homemade bug spray.
  • Cedarwood Atlantica (Cedrus atlantica) – Calming, smells amazing in this Wild Vanilla No. 2 Solid Perfume Recipe. Skin soothing.
  • Cedarwood Virginian (Juniperus virginiana) – Lovely woodsy scent, relaxing and beneficial for skin. It’s also one of the recommended oils in my children’s vapor rub.
  • Chamomile/German (Matricaria chamomilla L) – Relaxing, helpful for sleep, may support clear thinking when pollen counts are high
  • Chamomile/Roman (Chamaemelum nobile) – Relaxing, helpful for sleep, helpful for soothing sore muscles
  • Cinnamon leaf (Cinnamomum verum) – NOT cinnamon bark. Smells lovely when diffused during the holidays. Can have a warming effect when applied to the skin, but it can cause irritation if too high a concentration is used. The maximum recommended dilution in Essential Oil Safety is 0.6% (about 7 drops in four tablespoons carrier oil)
  • Citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) – Great addition to homemade bug spray. Can also be used to make outdoor citronella candles.
  • Clary sage (Salvia sclarea) – Helpful for relaxation and restful sleep.
  • Copaiba balsam (Copaifera officinalis) – Supports healthy respiratory function and soothes achy muscles.
  • Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) – Soothes upset tummy’s and calms emotions.
  • Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) – Supports healthy respiratory function. Thought to have an emotionally grounding effect during challenging experiences.
  • Dill weed (Anethum graveolens) – Helpful for digestion. Supports immune function. The maximum recommended dilution for this oil is 1.2% (about 7 drops in two tablespoons carrier oil)
  • Fir needle (Abies sibirica) – Supports healthy respiratory function
  • Fragonia (Agonis fragrans) – Smells a lot like eucalyptus and supports healthy respiratory function. Works well in homemade vapor rub.
  • Frankincense carteri (Boswellia carteri) – Immune support, helpful for soothing cuts, bruises and other injuries, relaxing, also thought to promote youthful looking skin
  • Frankincense frereana (Boswellia frereana) – Immune support, helpful for soothing cuts, bruises and other injuries, relaxing, also thought to promote youthful looking skin
    Frankincense serrata (Boswellia serrata) – Calming, thought to promote youthful looking skin
  • Geranium bourbon (Pelargonium x asperum) – Very helpful in homemade tick spray
  • Ginger root CO2 extract (Zingiber officinalis) – Helpful for digestion and soothing sore muscles
  • Grapefruit/Pink (Citrus x paradisi) – Uplifting. Can cause photosensitivity. Maximum recommended topical use is 4% (4 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil)
  • Helichrysum italicum (Helichrysum italicum) – Considered one of the top oils for promoting youthful skin, helpful for scars, and supportive of the immune system. Rare and somewhat expensive.
  • Helichrysum splendidum (Helichrysum splendidum) – Considered beneficial for skin, but not as much as Helichrysum italicum. Supports healthy respiratory function.
  • Juniper berry (Juniperus communis) – Calming, supports healthy respiratory function
  • Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia)
  • Lavender (Lavandula augustifolia)- Calming, helpful for soothing bug bites, sunburns, and other skin irritations
  • Lemon/expeller-pressed (Citrus x limon) – Mood lifting, supports immune function. Can cause photosensitivity. Maximum recommended topical use is 2% (12 drops in two tablespoons carrier oil)
  • Lime/expeller-pressed (Citrus x aurantifolia) – Uplifting, supports immune function. Can cause photosensitivity. Maximum recommended topical use is 0.7% (about 4 drops in two tablespoons carrier oil)
  • Lemon eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) – Mood lifting, supports healthy respiratory function, and can also be used in homemade bug spray
  • Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) – Calming
  • Marjoram/Sweet (Origanum majorana) – Relaxing, helpful for sleep.
  • Neroli (Citrus x aurantium var.amara) – Often used in skincare products due to it’s ability to promote beautiful skin. Thought to be helpful for easing emotional tension.
  • Orange, Blood (Citrus sinensis) – Mood lifting
  • Orange, sweet (Citrus sinensis) – Mood lifting
  • Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii var motia) – Digestive support, skin soothing
  • Patchouli (Pogostemon Cablin) – Thought to promote the appearance of youthful skin. Great addition to men’s personal care products, like homemade deodorant or body wash.
  • Petitgrain (Citrus x aurantium) – Thought to be beneficial for skin, especially oily skin.
  • Pine (Pinus Sylvestris) – Supports healthy respiratory function and soothes sore muscles
  • Rosalina (Melaleuca ericifolia) – Supports healthy respiratory function (similar to eucalyptus)
  • Sandalwood/Australian (Santalum Spicatum) – Calming, thought to be helpful for oily skin
  • Spearmint (Mentha spicata) – Similar to peppermint, but safer for use with small children. Helpful for digestion. Maximum recommended topical use is 1.7% (about 10 drops in two tablespoons carrier oil)
  • Spruce/Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) – Supports healthy respiratory function.
  • Tangerine (Citrus reticulata) – Immune support. Bright, uplifting citrus scent
  • Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) – Immune support, helpful for cuts and scrapes. Also considered helpful for acne-prone skin.
  • Turmeric rhizome CO2 extract (Curcuma longa) – Soothes joint discomfort
  • Vanilla CO2 extract (Vanilla planfolia) – Smells amazing in this vanilla body spray recipe, which I spritz on my kids hair after they bathe.
  • Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides) – Relaxing and emotionally grounding. Wonderful in this homemade beard oil recipe.

Essential oils that are considered appropriate for diffusing around children aged two and under

  • Jasmine absolute (Jasminum sambac) – Calming
  • Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) – Clean citrus scent. Great addition to homemade bug spray.
  • Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) – Relaxing. Helpful when you’re in de-stress mode.

Special Case: Eucalyptus Radiata and Eucalyptus Globulus

There’s been a lot of controvery about whether or not eucalyptus – which contains a constituent called 1.8 cineole – is safe for use with children. Too much can sometimes act negatively on the temperature receptors of children’s lungs and cause slowed breathing, so it’s often avoided.

However, for children under three, Robert Tisserand says that eucalyptus globula and radiata can be diffused (1-2 drops) and applied topically at a concentration of 0.5% (2 drops in 4 teaspoons carrier oil).

“I believe these guidelines are super-safe, if anything a little over-cautious. If you’re wondering about other types of eucalyptus oil, E. citriodora is safe for young kids, though is less likely to be therapeutic, and the safety of E. dives is uncertain,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

Essential Oils That Are Considered Safe For Children 2-6

All the oils listed above are considered appropriate for children ages two to six. The difference in this category is that many of the oils designated previously designated as “for diffusing only,” . . . .

  • Jasmine absolute (Jasminum sambac) – Max dermal use of 0.7% (about 4 drops in two tablespoons carrier oil)
  • Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) – Max dermal use of 0.6% (about 7 drops in four tablespoons carrier oil)
  • Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) – Max dermal use of 0.8% (about 5 drops in two tablespoons carrier oil)

. . . can be applied topically – when properly diluted – after age two. Unless otherwise noted, the recommended dilution ratio for this age group is 1%. (1 drop per teaspoon of carrier oil)

Special Cases: Peppermint and Eucalyptus Essential Oils

Another favorite for respiratory support is peppermint, which also contains the consitituent (1.8, cineole) that sometimes acts negatively on the temperature receptors of children’s lungs and causes slowed breathing.

According to Robert Tisserand, peppermint can be diffused with care around 3-6 year olds and applied topically at a concentration of 0.5% (2 drops in 4 teaspoons carrier oil). In the comment section of the above post, he clarified that “with care” means about two drops in the diffuser.

For eucalyptus, he recommends a 1% maximum dilution of eucalyptus globula or radiata (4 drops in 4 teaspoons carrier oil) for children ages three to six.

Essential Oils That Are Considered Safe For Children 6 to 10

This category includes every oil in the previous categories, but after age six it is considered appropriate to apply peppermint, eucalyptus radiata, and eucalyptus globulus at a dilution ratio of 1.5%. (1 drop per teaspoon of carrier oil)

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is also considered appropriate after age six.

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132 Comments

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  1. I’m not sure I have ever gotten around to sharing this, but I just wanted to say thank you for advocating for safe practices with essential oils. Part of the reason I have continued to read your blog was your open and honest change from the MLM essential oil company you began with to a company with more responsible advertising. It is a rare thing indeed to find someone who is so diligent and honest in their research. Thanks so much and keep up the good work!!!

    reply to this comment

  2. Thank you so much for taking the time to compile the information in the article and all of the research involved. We, too, appreciate the health benefits of essential oils and the ability to address health concerns naturally. I am very interested in the printable list, but when I sign up for the newsletter and click on the link for the printable, I receive a “not found, 404” message. Any advice?

    reply to this comment

  4. Hi Mommypotamus,

    I tried signing up for the Free Guide to Safe Essential Oils, but it said that the link had been taken down already. Is there a possibility for me to get it another way?

    Thank you!
    Brittney

    reply to this comment

    • Oregano oil is an emmenagogue, which means it can induce menstration….definitely not something you want while pregnant. I wouldn’t worry about eating lasagna with a bit of whole oregano, but I strongly advise against the use (topically or internally) of oregano oil, even diluted oregano oil during pregnancy. If you aren’t pregnant it is great for skin infections and skin growths, but if you are pregnant steer clear. I tend to steer clear of this one for little ones as well as even diluted it has a tendency to burn and sometimes peel.

      reply to this comment

    • Oil of Oregano is different that Oregano essential oil. Oil of Oregano is an oil infused with the part of the Oregano plant. Oregano essential oil is the oil solely from the plant and much stronger and concentrated. Some consider oregano to be an abortifacient herb as it can induce menstruation. Limited to moderate use in pregnancy is advised. As always check with a certified herbalist and your doctor when using any questionable herb in any form.

      reply to this comment

  8. I diffuse lavender pretty much every day in the evening with my (under) 2 year old running around. Lavender wasn’t listed, does this mean it’s not safe to diffuse lavender for children under 2? ? I also occasionally dilute lavender in magnesium oil and put it on her little feeties to help her sleep…

    reply to this comment

        • Hi Cheri, there are two categories:

          1. Essential oils that are considered safe for diffusing and limited topical application for children 2 and under
          2. Essential oils that are only considered safe for diffusing (not topical application) for children 2 and under.

          reply to this comment

          • Hi I am also confused about this. Surely all of the oils in list one should be in list 2 also? With the addition of three that are not appropriate for topical application? Or are you saying none of the essential oils in list one are considered safe for diffusing ? Perhaps I could phrase my question better. I want to diffuse oils in my home and I have a 2 month old baby…. which list should I look at? List one or list 2?

          • List one and two are both considered appropriate for diffusing around children under two. List two is not considered appropriate for topical application. Hope that helps!

  13. What’s listed as Spruce essential oil (Tsuga canadensis) either has the incorrect latin name or the incorrect common name. Tsuga canadensis is Eastern Hemlock. Spruce’s latin name would begin with Picea. Most of the coniferous trees have similar medicinal properties, so it might not matter anyway.

    reply to this comment

  16. Hi Heather,
    I am new to EO, my children 2 and 4 have been sick with runny noses and coughs for almost 2 months now and after trying antibiotics and other medications I have decided to try a natural way of ridding my home of germs. I have heard alot about eucalyptus and thieves oil helping to boost the immune system and get rid of germs. I am just wondering if you have any other EO suggestions that may be better for this age group and if eucalyptus and thieves oil is safe to diffuse around mt children.
    Thanks so much!

    reply to this comment

  18. Two questions actually.
    First, I diffuse a variety of essential oil blends without diluting them, but I always wait until my kids go to bed before I do so. (They are diffused downstairs and the kids are upstairs with doors closed). Do you think I need to be more wary about what in particular I am diffusing even though the kids are in different rooms? I use one of those vibrating diffusers which seems very powerful.

    Second, do you know if oregano oil is safe for kids? My youngest has a number of GI issues and we suspect he is suffering acutely from SIBO. A study by John’s Hopkins recommends a variety of herbals as being equally successful to antibiotics, but I am concerned about using them on my 1.5 year old.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4030608/

    reply to this comment

  21. Hi! I want to use your natural home cleaner of water, lavender and rosemary. I have a 16 month old and rosemary is not on the safe list to use around toddlers. Can I use this to clean our home?

    Thanks!

    reply to this comment

  22. I am also curious about if diffusing while children are in another room, and the diffuser is turned off before they enter the room(such as while they are sleeping). I currently have a cold and diffused a blend I bought from the natural food store. It contains eucalyptus, rosemary, peppermint, and hyssop oils.

    reply to this comment

  23. My son is 6 years old and every winter gets horrible cold with a cough and runny nose that lasts for weeks at a time. I do not want to continue using cold medicine and would like to try more natural things to help. I was thinking about using a diffuser with essential oils at night (this seems to be when his cough bothers him the most and does interfere with his sleeping). Was wondering what I could use and most of the diffusers say to dilute in water. Will that be acceptable as a carrier oil or what can I use in a diffuser to act as a carrier oil. Thanks!

    reply to this comment

    • I saw this post and although it’s a bit old I’d thought I’d reply as I have had the same issue with our kids, especially my daughter whos 9. It turned out that the dry air was the problem which made the coughing worse. The tiny little diffuser in the room just wasn’t enough so I bought a large humidifier and continued to diffuse eucalyptus and peppermint in the little diffuser at night in her room (hint: don’t spend a fortune on a diffuser for kids room, Walmart sells these little “personal humidifiers” for about $20.00 or less. They are ultrasonic like any other diffuser and hold a little bit of water and perfect for a few drops of oil, and it works just like any other ultrasonic diffuser. I also mixed about 4 drops of eucalyptus into a tbsp of warm coconut oil and used it on her chest and feet. That seemed to really help. Another trick is to simply put a couple drops of eucalyptus onto a cotton ball and put inside pillow case. Hope this helps someone.

      reply to this comment

  39. Hello,

    I have an almost 3 month old daughter who Has trouble staying asleep. I just purchased a diffuser and plant therapy lavender. I plan on only diffusing and not using topically. Are there any precautions I should be aware of? Thank you in advance!

    reply to this comment

  46. Hello Heather!

    I use peppermint in mine cleaner. I have three kids under four so i wonder if its safe to use? I use it to repel bugs. What else could i use of it’s not safe?
    Thank you so much for your support!!

    reply to this comment

  50. My 15 month old is always congested…. I purchased eucalyptus oil and a breathe easy oil blend. Welll I diffused and while diffusing my baby seemed to be bothered and her congestion wasn’t improving like I thought it would so I started to research and found your blog and others that suggest not using certain essential oils….. Will she be ok??? What’s best for relieving congestion in a 15 month old?

    reply to this comment

    • We take our daughter to a hot and humid bathroom for 20 mins. Close the bathroom door, stop/seal the exhaust, start the shower and let it flow for few minutes. The bathroom will be slightly earm and steamy. This helps a lot.

      reply to this comment

  59. I’d love the printable list. You’re so well informed, I love that.. esepcially that the internet throws you in the vaste land of mistakes…
    Oh, I plan on buying Tisserand’s book.. but I always find other things to spend on my money (mainly kids stuff, you know… ) 😀
    Thx
    Dana

    reply to this comment

  62. Please could I have access to the printable list of safe essential oils for children and the dilution ratios.

    How do I work out percentages in terms of drops of essential oils?

    Do you have a recipe for preventing otitis ?

    reply to this comment

  70. Thanks for such great researched info. I would love to see a list like that for dogs, as well. I have a Bomb Sniffer K-9 (GSD) and have found he is more sensitive to EO’s than any of my nieces or nephews! Luckily, he picks out for me what he likes and separates those he doesn’t like (his favorites are Lavender and Eucalyptus). One note, I have read that Diffusing is as or sometimes more effective than topical application (minus using it on ones feet) so I highly recommend using a Carrier Oil for diffusing as well. I have no choice with my puppy dog around. Also, I love all of your info you have on your website and I don’t have children of my own but find it very applicable in my own path to a healthier life. Thank you so much for your generosity in providing this to your readers.

    reply to this comment

  71. Hi! Thank you for this post!! I’d like to know if the Soft Skin blend by Plant Therapy (I found out about this blend in your skin serum recipe to mix with rosehip oil) is safe for pregnant women and for children. I looked up each of the E.O.s in it (lavender, frankincense serrata, lemon, petitgrain, coriander, tumeric, rose absolute) in this post but I don’t see anything about Rose absolute and I wasn’t sure if the tumeric is the same as the one listed above.
    Thank you!
    Karen

    reply to this comment

      • Hi Heather! Thanks so much for this lovely article on oils that are safe for children. I did sign up for your wonderful newsletter, but I did not see the download link for this particular article. (But thank you for the other 2 downloads that were available.) Would it be possible to get the list of oils that are safe for children emailed to me? I have a new grandbaby (3-months), & my gosh it seems like a LOT of things have changed all around regarding the care & feeding of babies from when my kiddos were little. 🙂

        reply to this comment

  77. Hi – I love diffusing oils and usually order from Eden’s garden. We now have a 6 month old and I’ve been so hesitant to use oils since he was born. Your post has lots of information and I’m so thankful. I plan on checking out that book you mentioned but appreciate you compiling a list for us busy moms!
    I do wonder what oils you would recommend for baby allergies? Our son sleeps fine the first part of the night but ends up starting to cough and starts sounding stuffy and sometimes wakes himself up coughing. Any suggestions on safe oils to diffuse that could help? Thank you.

    reply to this comment

  79. Wow, Heather! Where do I begin? I want to thank you for posting this, it’s such essential information 😉 I think I occasionally heard about Plant Therapy oils, but they were disregarded because of the doTerra and YL ones being considered better and safer. But I will do my research and see if these Plant Therapy oils are not deserving a try. Maybe they are really great, and I say the company thought about the parents forever dilemma of using oils on kids, and created a set of blends designed especially for kids! I’ll have to see if they are available around my area (I live in Europe, Romania), and if they are on the market I think I’m going to give them a try. At least buy some of them and see how they go. I really want to try wild orange and compare it with doTerra wild orange oil. I am not a doTerra health advocate, but I have some of their oils.

    Thank you once again for this article full of precious information, I’m only starting with essential oils and I’m digging for more relevant infos about them.

    PS. The Vibrant Blue Oils seem really interesting to look into, especially those emotional blends.

    xoxo,
    Cristina

    reply to this comment

    • Although a particular toxic constituent has not yet been identified, in Essential Oil Safety the authors state that “When cinnamon bark oil (0.25%, 375 mg/kg) was fed to pregnant mice for two weeks it significantly reduced the number of nuclei and altered the distribution of embryos according to nucleus number.”

      reply to this comment

  82. I have a 16 month old and want to know what oils are safe, preferably woodsy scents, for a beard oil and beard balm. He is constantly playing with my beard and I’m concerned about him putting his hands in his mouth after.

    reply to this comment

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I'm Heather, aka The Mommypotamus. I’m a wife, mom, real food lover, research geek, and amateur homesteader. And potamus... obviously.

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