Babies and young children have thinner skin and smaller bodies than adults, and they reach for everything within reach. Published advice is therefore more cautious for them, and more cautious again the younger the child.
Under 3 months: none
For babies under three months old we do not suggest essential oils on the skin or in a diffuser in the room. If you want to use scent around a newborn, ask your midwife, doctor or a qualified paediatric aromatherapist first.
Dilutions published for older babies and children
| Age | Dilution | Drops per 30 ml (1 oz) of carrier |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 24 months | 0.25 to 0.5% | 1 to 3 drops |
| 2 to 6 years | 0.5 to 1% | 3 to 6 drops |
| 6 to 15 years | 1 to 1.5% | 6 to 9 drops |
These figures follow the tables in Essential Oil Safety (Tisserand and Young). Use the lower end for a first try, and always patch-test. Pick gentle, familiar oils such as lavender or Roman chamomile and skip the strongly minty or camphor-rich ones.
Leave these out around young children
- Peppermint, eucalyptus, camphor-type rosemary, and other oils rich in menthol or 1,8-cineole, on or near the face of a young child. Strong vapours close to a small child's nose and mouth can cause breathing trouble. We do not recommend them for children under 6 near the face.
- Cinnamon bark, clove, oregano, thyme and similar skin-irritating oils.
- Any oil that could be swallowed: keep bottles closed and out of reach.
In the diffuser
- Run it in a well-aired room, in short sessions (see using a diffuser safely), with the child able to leave.
- Keep the diffuser and the bottles well out of reach, not on a floor or a low shelf.
- Never put oil on a baby's pillow, crib, or clothes where they can chew on it.
Storage and safety at home
- Keep every bottle out of reach and out of sight, ideally in a closed box on a high shelf. Swallowing even a small amount of essential oil can be dangerous for a child.
- If a child swallows an oil, do not make them vomit. Call your poison control centre (1-844-764-7669 in Canada; Quebec 1-800-463-5060) or emergency services at once, with the bottle in your hand.
Sources
- Tisserand R, Young R. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed. Churchill Livingstone, 2014
- Health Canada: 1-844-POISON-X, the national number for poison centres (Quebec keeps 1-800-463-5060)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: essential oils and pets
- Health Canada: Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, 2001
More guides
- Dilution calculator
- Dilution and the patch test
- Pets and essential oils
- Oils and sun exposure
- Storage and shelf life
- Choosing a carrier oil
- Using a diffuser safely
- Mixing oils in a diffuser
- How to read our label
Questions about an oil or a blend? aura.elixir@outlook.com