Click here for a printable pdf of this
Baby & Child Health Topics listing. We recommend printing this and keeping it handy!
We highly recommend you purchase Valerie Worwood's book, Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child. It is an excellent resource for using aromatherapy on your child.
Some guidelines to remember when treating babies and children:
*NEVER GIVE ESSENTIAL OILS BY MOUTH.
*NEVER put essential oils in eyes.
*NEVER put essential oils in ear canal.
*DO NOT add UNDILUTED essential oils to the bathwater of babies or children.
*ALWAYS keep essential oils out of reach of children.
*NEVER apply essential oils to or near a child's (or baby's) face.
*NEVER use essential oils on premature infants.
*NEVER place essential oils or preparations containing them into the nose of a baby or child.
*DO NOT expose children of five years or less to strong essential oil vapers.
*NEVER attempt to treat serious illness without referring to a medically qualified practitioner.
*Call your medically qualified practitioner in any case if conditions do not improve within 24 hours.
*ALWAYS DILUTE ESSENTIAL OILS BEFORE APPLYING TO BABIES OR CHILDREN.
*ALWAYS follow your doctor's advice.
Dilution guidelines:
newborn to 6 month old: 1 drop essential oil to 30ml (1fl.oz) carrier oil.
for ages 6 months
We Now offer safely pre-diluted essential oil blends
just for kiddos aged 2+, pregnant and nursing mothers and elderly!
Click here to check it out!
Test:
Always test your application on yourself first and then on a very small area on your baby to be sure their skin will tolerate it.
Oh no!
If there is not enough dilution, the baby's skin may redden and become irritated. You can add more carrier oil to lessen this effect. Please note that water does not reduce the effect but could actually intensify it.
Infection:
The best place to apply (diluted) essential oil is to the bottoms of the feet.
Diffusing:
Diffusing the oils in the baby's room is a great way for the baby to inhale the essential oil molecules. Essential oils provide antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial and anti fungal properties. There is no need to overload the air with essential oils. We recommend running the diffuser so that when you walk in, the essence of the aroma is noticeable, but does not overpower you.
Lengthly Illness:
If you will be applying the oils for a length of time for a chronic condition, please use more dilution. Essential oils are processed and leave the body within 2 hours so for an acute illness it is a good idea to reapply every 2 hours. After diluting, it is best to apply to the bottoms of the feet and cover with socks.
Respiratory:
The best places to apply (diluted) essential oil is to the baby's chest and back.
(Avoid face and neck!)
Click here for a printable pdf of the above guidelines.
We recommend printing this and putting it on your fridge for quick access.
Bed Wetting - Cypress
Bronchitis - Sniff&Snort, FocusAttention, Thyme linalool, Eucalyptus radiata
Chickenpox - CootieBuster, Lavender, German Chamomile, Roman Chamomile
Antiseptic Spray for the area:
In 1 pint of warm water, add 20 drops of lavender. Bottle, shake well. Use before circumcision in a spray over the genital area. Use after circumcision to also assist in healing, once the dressing has been removed.
Colds (Common Cold) - Sickies, Sniff&Snort, CootieBuster, FocusAttention, HeadHurt, Ouchies, Eucalyptus Radiata, Tea Tree, Lavender, Thyme linalool, Lemon
Cold Sores (Fever Blisters) - CootieBuster, Ouchies, German Chamomile, Tea Tree, Lavender, Lemon, Thyme linalool.
Colic - CootieBuster, Cardamom, Coriander, Dill, Sweet Orange, Lavender, Roman chamomile, German chamomile
Cradle Cap - SkinHelp, Soft Spray, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Lemon
Cuts (Minor) - CootieBuster, SkinHelp, FocusAttention, HeadHurt, Lavender, Tea Tree, Lemon, Eucalyptus radiata
Diaper Rash - Soft Spray, Lavender, German chamomile, Roman chamomile, Tea Tree, Thyme linalool
*Avoid the penis, testicles, and vulva area. Do not use essential oils undiluted.*
Dilute well (1-2 drops essential oil to 2 tablespoons carrier oil) and apply at each diaper change until the rash is healed.
Earache / Infection - Sickies, Sniff&Snort, CootieBuster, Ouchies, Thyme linalool, Roman chamomile, Tea Tree, Lavender, Frankincense.
*NEVER PUT ESSENTIAL OILS INSIDE EAR CANAL*
Massage around the back of the affected ear - outside the ear, on the side of the head - with one of the following mixes.
Fever - Frankincense, Sweet Orange
Apply diluted to spine and bottoms of feet.
Fifth Disease - Sickies, CootieBuster, Lavender, Roman chamomile, German chamomile, Lemon, Thyme Linalool, Cardamom
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease - Sickies, CootieBuster, FocusAttention, HeadHurt, Thyme linalool, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus radiata, Lavender, Cypress, German chamomile.
Hives - SkinHelp, Soft Spray, CootieBuster, German chamomile, Roman chamomile, Lavender
Impetigo - Sickies, CootieBuster, Ouchies, Lavender, German chamomile, Thyme linalool, Tea Tree
Influenza (Flu) - Sickies, Sniff&Snort, FocusAttention, Thyme linalool, Eucalyptus radiata, Frankincense
Insomnia - Resting,Jr., CootieBuster, Sweet Orange, Lavender
Pin Worms - CootieBuster, Lavender, Roman chamomile, Cardamom.
Pneumonia - Sniff&Snort, Sickies, CootieBuster, Ouchies, Tea Tree, Thyme linalool, Lavender, Ginger, Frankincense
Rash - SkinHelp, Soft Spray, CootieBuster, Lavender, Roman Chamomile
Ringworm - CootieBuster, Ouchies, Lavender, Tea Tree
Teething - CootieBuster, German Chamomile, Lavender, Lemon, Frankincense
Mix 2 drops German chamomile (or oil of choice) with 5ml (1 tsp) carrier oil. Very gently massage the cheek.
Throat - Sickies, Thyme linalool, Lemon, Frankincense, Tea Tree
Dilute 5 drops with 1 tablespoon carrier oil. Apply over throat, chest and back.
Do not apply essential oils to baby or child's face.
Thrush, Yeast Infection - Tea Tree, German chamomile, Thyme linalool, Patchouli
Umbilical Cord Infection - CootieBuster, Ouchies, Tea Tree, Lavender, German chamomile
Newborn babies have very thin skin, as it has yet to mature. Only use very small amounts of anything on the skin.
Cotton ball method: First wash your hands. Put 1 drop lavender onto a cotton ball. Dip the cotton ball in a cup of water, squeeze the excess water out between your fingertips. Use the cotton ball to carefully clean around the area. Do this twice a day.
Urinary Tract Infection - CootieBuster, Ouchies, Tea Tree, German chamomile, Lavender
Warm Baths: Dilute 3 drops tea tree in 1 teaspoon carrier oil, and add to the warm bath water. Also add 1 teaspoon salt to the water. Swish around well before the child gets in.
References:
Davis, P. Aromatherapy An A-Z. (2000).
Higley, Connie & Alan. Reference Guide for Essential Oils. (2012).
Price, Shirley & Len. Aromatherapy for Health Professionals, (2012).
Tisserand, Robert. Essential Oil Safety, Second Edition. (2014).
Worwood, Valerie. Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child, (2000).
