I see a great amount of misinformation floating around the web on oil use and children so I want to lay out some basic safety tips for you.  If you are new to oils I cannot stress enough the importance of research.  To be sure you are getting the most accurate information research should be based on information provided by reputable aromatherapy websites or from licensed aromatherapists and doctors (in other words people who have studied the use of essential oils, NOT someone who sells them and has been using them for a month).

Basic safety rules for using Oils with Children

1. Babies and children should NEVER ingest oils.  
Dr. Erika Krumbeck, ND licensed physician with a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine says “Essential oils are the distilled volatile aromatic constituents of the plant that are highly concentrated.  Remember that one drop of essential oil is equivalent to 15-40 cups of medicinal tea, or up to 10 teaspoons of tincture.  Would you ever give a child 40 cups of tea or 10 teaspoons of tincture?  My goodness, I hope not.” (Krumbeck, E. 2014, September 8, When to Not use Essential Oils retrieved from
http://naturopathicpediatrics.com/2014/09/08/essential-oil-safety-danger-essential-oils-seizures-children/)
If your child accidentally ingests some essential oils, DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Call your general practitioner unless signs of poisoning are present, then you should immediately bring your child and the bottle that was consumed, to the nearest emergency room. (Anthis, C.  2014, August 14. Safe Essential Oils use with Babies and Children retrieved from http://www.thehippyhomemaker.com/essential-oil-safety-babies-children/)

2.  Oils used with babies and children should ALWAYS be diluted. 
Using oils Neat (without a carrier) could possibly cause permanent sensitization. Marge Clark says in her book Essential Oils and Aromatics: A Step-by-Step Guide for Use in Massage and Aromatherapy “One of my mentors reminds me ‘sensitization is forever.’ And I know she is right. Years ago I read the books saying that lavender oils could be used neat (undiluted). I very unwisely used undiluted lavender on broken skin, and consequently set up a sensitivity reaction. Today, almost two decades later if I come in contact with lavender in any form I will immediately start a new round of contact dermatitis that can take months to heal” (Clark, M., Essential Oils and Aromatics, Sandy, UT; Silverleaf press, 2008, 32.)

And remember Babies and Children can’t always express when something hurts them so PLEASE, ALWAYS DILUTE OILS with children and babies!  Also don’t forget to do a patch test on babies and children to make sure your dilution ratio doesn’t cause skin irritations and I always like to test the oils on myself before applying on my child, and recommend to others to do the same, just to be safe.  For a dilution chart click the below link: EO Dilution Chart

3. Introduce oils slowly, One at a time. . .
Just like you introduce new foods to babies one at a time to make sure their little bodies can process them without an adverse reaction, you should introduce essential oils one at a time to make sure their little bodies can process them without an adverse reaction.

4. Always keep oils away from eyes and mucus membranes (nose and mouth).
Just don’t do it.  If essential oils get in eyes flush immediately with milk and then water.  (You can also use milk or a carrier oil to flush essential oils off your hands if you end up with excess essential oil on your hands.)

5. Use extreme Caution when using oils on children with asthma
“Most essential oils will inflame a sensitive respiratory tract. I have heard from some of my naturopathic colleagues who have seen frightening cases of children completely unable to breathe because of essential oil-induced asthma attacks,” says Dr. Erika Krumbeck, ND (Krumbeck, E. 2014, September 8, When to Not use Essential Oils retrieved from
http://naturopathicpediatrics.com/2014/09/08/essential-oil-safety-danger-essential-oils-seizures-children/)

Below is a list of age recommendations of some essential oils  for babies and children by two different experts.  This is by no means a complete list of oils and in some cases the two experts disagree on which age oil use is appropriate.  This list is a guideline and if you have questions about a specific oil, you should do some research or consult a qualified aromatherapist for more details. When in doubt don’t use an oil on yourself or your child until you find out more.  And ALWAYS DILUTE!

Age Recommendations from Two Different Experts
Expert	Expert	Essential Oil Name	Latin Name
No. 1	No. 2
6-8+ Years	6+ months	Bergamot	(Citus bergamia)
	2+ Years	Basil, Lemon	(Ociumum x citriodorum)
	2+ Years	Basil, Sweet	(Ocimum basilicum)
	2+ Years	Benzoin	(Styrax benzoin, Styrax paralleloneurus)
	2+ Years	Black Pepper	(Piper nigrum)
7-12+ months	6+ Years	Cardamon	(Elettaria cardamomum)
	6+ months	Carrot Seed	(Daucus Carota)
	2+ Years	Cassia	(Cinnamomum cassia)
	6+ months	Cedarwood, Atlas/Virginia	(cedus atlanticia, cedrus deodora, Juniperus virginiana)
	6+ months	Cinnamon Bark	(Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
	6+ months	Cinnaman Leaf	(Cinnamon zeylanicum)
	6+ months	Citronella	(Cymbopogon nardus)
	2+ Years	Clary Sage	(Salvia sclarea)
	2+ Years	Clove Bud/Clove Leaf	(Syzygium aromaticum, Eugenia aromatica, Eugenia caryophyllata)
	2+ Years	Copaiba Basalm	(Copaifera officinalis)
2-5+ years	6+ months	Coriander	(coriandrum sativum)
9-11+ Years	6+ months	Cypress	(cupressus sempervirens)
Newborn and Up	3+ months	Dill	(anthum graveolens)
9-11+ Years		Elemi	(Canarium luzonicum)
Newborn and Up	10+ Years	Eucalyptus	(Eucalyptus radiata)
	6+ months	Fir Needle	(Abies sibirica)
9-11+ Years	2+ Years	Frankincense	(Boswellia carterii)
	2+ Years	Garlic	(Allium sativum)
2-6+ months	6+ months	Geranium	(Pelagorium graveolens)
Newborn and Up	3+ months	German chamomile	(Matricaria rectutita)
2-5+ years	2+ Years	Ginger	(Zingiber officinale)
2-5+ years	6+ months	Grapefruit	(Citrus paradisi)
2-5+ years	6+ months	Helichrysum	(helichrysum angustifolium)
6-8+ Years		Ho-wood	(Cinnamomum camphora, Laurus camphora)
	2+ Years	Hyssop	(Hyssopus officinalis)
	2+ Years	Juniper Berry	(Juniperus communis)
Newborn and Up	3+ months	Lavender	(Lavandula Agustifolia)
2-5+ years	6+ months	Lemon	(Citrus limonum)
6-8+ Years		Lemon Eucalyptus	(eucalyptus citriodora)
	2+ Years	Lemongrass	(Andropogon citratus, Andropogon flexuosus, Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon flexuosus
	2+ Years	Lime	(Cirtus x aurantifolia)
Newborn and Up	6+ months	Mandarin	(Citris reticulata)
		Manuka	(Leptospermum Scoparium)
6-8+ Years		Marjoram	(Origanum majorana)
9-11+ Years	2+ Years	Melissa	(Melissa officinalis)
6-8+ Years	2+ Years	Myrrh	(Commiphora myrrha)
6-8+ Years		Myrtle	(Myrtus communis)
2-6+ months	6+ months	Neroli	(citrus aurantium)
7-12+ months	6+ Years	Niaouli	(melalecua viridiflora)
	2+ Years	Oregano	(Origanum onites, Origanum smyrnaeum, Origanum vulgare, Origanum compactum,
	2+ Years	Oregano	Origanum hirtum, Thymbra capitata, Thymus capitatus, Coridothymus capitatus, Satureeja capitata)
2-5+ years		Ormenis flower Moroccan Chamomile	(ormenis mixta)
	2+ Years	Patchouli	(Pogostemon cablin)
7-12+ months	6+ months	Palma Rosa	(cymbopogon martinii)
7-12+ months	6+ months	Petitgrain	(Citrius aurantium)
6-8+ Years	6+ months	Pine	(Pinus sylvestris)
2-5+ years	6+ months	Ravensara	(Ravensara Aromatica)
Newborn and Up	3+ months	Roman Chamomile	(Anthemis nobilis)
	6+ months	Rosalina	(Melaleuca ericfolia)
2-6+ months	6+ months	Rose otto	(Rosa Damascena)
	6+ months	Sandalwood	(Santalum Spicatum)
	2+ Years	Spearmint	(Mentha cardiaca, Mentha spicata)
6-8+ Years		Spikenard	(Nardostachys jatamansi)
	6+ months	Spruce	(Picea abies, Picea Glauca, Picea mariana, Picea rubens)
6-8+ Years	6+ months	Sweet Orange	(Citrus sinensis)
	2+ Years	Sweet Marjoram	(Marjorana hortensis)
7-12+ months	6+ months	Tangerine	(Citrus reticulata)
2-6+ months	6+ months	Tea tree	(Melalecua Alternifolia)
2-5+ years	2+ Years	Thyme linalool	(Thymus vulgaris, type linalol)
	2+ Years	Tumeric	(Curcuma longa)
	2+ Years	Valerian	(Valeriana officinalis)
	2+ Years	Verbena (Lemon)	(Aloysia triphylla, Aloysia citriodora, Lippa citrodora, Lippa triphylla)
	2+ Years	Vetiver	(Vetiveria zizanioides)
2-5+ years	3+ months	Yarrow	(Achillea millefolium)
9-11+ Years		Ylang, ylang	(Cananga odorata)

Sources and Recommended Reading:(The above lists are from Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child: More Than 300 Natural, Nontoxic, and Fragrant Essential Oil Blends by Valerie Ann Worwood , from Safe Essential Oil Use with Babies and Children by Christina Anthis and  Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals-, 2e by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young  PLEASE NOTE THIS LIST DOES NOT COVER ALL ESSENTIAL OILS IF YOU ARE UNSURE IF IT IS SAFE TO USE AN ESSENTIAL OIL ON YOUR CHILD OR BABY CONSULT A CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED AROMATHERAPIST OR JUST DONT USE IT)

Safe Essential Oil Use with Babies and Children by Christina Anthis

When Not to use Essential Oils by Dr. Erika Krumbeck, ND

Essential Oils and Aromatics: A Step-by-Step Guide for Use in Massage and Aromatherapy by Marge Clark

Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child: More Than 300 Natural, Nontoxic, and Fragrant Essential Oil Blends by Valerie Ann Worwood

Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals-, 2e by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young

http://roberttisserand.com/

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