Essential oils are known to cater to the different requirements of the human body. Parents often use certain essential oil for babies, especially during the winter. Essential oils can create a relaxing effect on babies, and some can even provide relief from certain diseases.
However, every essential oil is not good for babies. You can learn about the safe essential oils to diffuse for babies from your pediatrician. Go through this article to learn about the safety and uses of essential oils in babies.
Things to Remember Before Applying Essential Oils on Babies
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Essential oils are extracted purely from a variety of herbs. They can be quite strong. Therefore, you should remember the following things before applying them to your babies.
- Dilute the Oils
Don’t ever use essential oils on children without diluting them before. The oils are quite potent, and the thin skin of babies can easily absorb them. Diluting the oils is necessary to prevent side effects. It ensures that the baby’s skin gets as much oil as required.
If your baby is under the age of 2 years, it is better not to apply essential oils to them. Their soft skin might not be suitable for even the diluted oils. Even if your kid is older than two years, it is still safe to apply it after consulting a pediatrician.
- Perform a Patch Test
Whether you are applying essential oils to kids or adults, performing a patch test is always a good idea. Apply a little bit of the diluted essential oil to your baby’s skin. Try applying it on the inside of their legs or arms. After 24 hours, look for any signs of irritation, inflammation, or redness on the skin. If your baby does not show any reactions, you can continue using the essential oils on them.
Benefits of Essential Oils for Babies
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Essential oils can offer several benefits to babies if you know how to use them. Some of the major benefits of essential oils in children are as follows:
- Common Cold
Some essential oils like lemon, sandalwood, and cedarwood have antiviral properties. When your baby is suffering from a cold, these oils can provide great relief. Apply diluted essential oils on the chest and the neck of your baby to provide them relief from a cold.
- Respiratory Relief
Essential oils can clear the nasal passageway and provide relief from congestion. It can reduce heaviness in the chest and also cure breathing difficulties.
- Colic
You can apply Roman chamomile on your babies to relieve colic. It will help prevent uncontrollable crying in babies. If you want to soothe your babies from colic, you should apply essential oils to their backs and stomach.
- Constipation
Some essential oils can also improve digestive health in babies. Use mandarin, blue tansy, and ginger oil to prevent the issue of constipation in babies. You should massage the oils on the feet and stomach of your babies to provide relief from constipation.
- Dry or Flaky Skin
Babies often suffer from reactions that cause itching, redness, and discomfort on the skin. A little bit of moisturization with rosewood and sandalwood essential oils helps prevent these issues. Since babies have sensitive skins, rashes are also quite common in them. Using diluted lavender, sandalwood, or rose otto oil can cure rashes.
- Fever
When your baby is suffering from a fever, rub some essential oils on their feet, neck, or behind their ears. Lavender and eucalyptus essential oil are great for bringing down a fever in babies.
- Jaundice
Essential oils like lemon or mandarin can also provide relief from jaundice. Apply it to the skin over your baby’s liver area to ensure a faster recovery.
Safety Tips for Applying Essential Oils for Babies
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Some safety tips to remember to make the most out of the health benefits of essential oils are as follows:
- Always blend essential oils with any carrier oil before applying.
- Don’t allow children to ingest the essential oils.
- Keep the essential oil in a place where it can be prevented from ingestion by children.
- Buy essential oils from a reputable seller.
- Do not expose your babies to the sunlight after applying essential oils.
- Check the expiry date of the essential oils before using them.
FAQs:
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- Is lavender essential oil safe for babies?
Lavender is one of the mildest essential oil for babies. Lavender oil is great for making your baby sleepy, and it is often used in a baby’s nursery. Add a bit of lavender oil to your baby’s crib and see them sleeping peacefully.
- Can I apply essential oil to a three-year-old baby?
You should consult your pediatrician before applying essential oils to your 3-year old. It is wise to perform a patch test and wait for 24 hours before applying essential oils to your baby.
- Why should I dilute essential oils with carrier oils?
Diluting essential oils with carrier oil will help prevent reactions. A tiny drop of essential oil in one tablespoon of carrier oil is enough to enjoy its benefits. Some good carrier oils to dilute your essential oils include coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, and sunflower oil.
- Can I apply all essential oils to my baby?
Only some essential oils are safe for children. Some of the common essential oils for babies include chamomile oil, lavender oil, and sandalwood oil. However, never apply essential oils kike cajuput, myrtle, wintergreen and fennel oil on your children.
- Are there any benefits of cedarwood oil for babies?
Cedarwood oil can improve the overall health of babies. It contains antiseptic and astringent properties that can heal wounds and cuts. It can also cure acne and dandruff. Sometimes cedarwood oil is also used for therapeutic purposes to increase concentration, reduce stress, and calm hyperactive babies.
Wrapping up
source: mamanatural.com
Apart from adults, essential oils can also provide several health benefits to babies. After learning the benefits of essential oils, you should use them on your children for natural remedies for fever, constipation, and more. However, you should never use
