Health trends do come and go, but essential oils are renowned for thousands of years as one of the reliable medicines. These are known as the therapeutic use of naturally extracted plant aromas to stimulate emotional and physical well-being. But the question is, are essential oils safe for babies?
Most parents use essential oils on their babies for several reasons. Other use these essential oils to improve their sleep, ease an upset stomach, and reduce stress and pain, and a lot more. Check out aura cacia essential oils and you will get more information on their types and uses. Even if essential oils can be beneficial for your babies, it is always crucial to understand how to use them.
As parents, you always want what is best for your babies, right? So, every time they feel unwell or uncomfortable, you will do everything to make them feel okay. Some parents depend on essential oils for babies, while others do not. Now, if you are quite confused on whether essential oils are safe for babies or not, use this article as your guide.
What Makes Essential Oil Safe for Babies?
There is some indication of the benefits of essential oils. According to the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, they do not recommend essential oils at all on babies below three years old.
Aromatic plant extracts are recognized for their various uses, from soothing skin and burns to relaxing the mind and alleviating stress. On babies aged three years old and above, some essential oils can be used to help them calm. These can also be used to relieve the different signs of colic.
Since essential oils are widely available in the market, it is always best to check its product labels to ensure that you are using authentic, pure, and untainted essential oils. If you want to use essential oils for your babies, it would be better to know first its various types, and here are they:
Lavender Oil
Lavender essential oils are proven effective in treating pain. In fact, studies have found out that newborns who smelled lavender while experiencing a heel prick test feel less pain. Another study claimed that lavender oils aromatherapy massage reduced colic symptoms or frequent, intense, and prolonged crying or fussiness.
Chamomile Oil
Chamomile essential oil is known as home sleeping remedies not only for babies but for adults too. This type of essential oil helps in improving sleep. Others also use this oil to warm a bath for a more relaxing effect.
Sunflower Oil
This type of essential oil is a well-known choice for a carrier oil. Its vegetable oil is rich in linoleic acid, making it a perfect choice for a baby with sensitive or delicate skin.
Since most babies have sensitive skin and may suffer from eczema, experts highly recommend sunflower oil to improve skin hydration. In fact, this essential oil is also perfect for treating any skin problems.
Citrus Lemon
Distilled lemon can greatly help in lifting mood and energy. It is also great for a post-nap wake-up call. Just make sure to use an average amount to avoid skin irritation of your babies.
Eucalyptus
This type of essential oil is known as a natural expectorant. It can help to unclog the respiratory congestion of your babies. This is the main reason why eucalyptus is one of the favorite essential oils during the cold winter seasons. But take note that you need to contact your pediatrician for safe applications and usage before using eucalyptus.
Tea Tree
This essential oil is a natural antifungal, antimicrobial, and disinfectant. If you want to use this type of oil for your babies, simply add a few drops to an unscented oil. This can help with fungal infections and diaper rash.
Take note that tea tree is considered a stronger oil that can damage the skin of your babies. So, it is best to be avoided on babies below six years old.
How to Use Essential Oils?
There are several ways on how to use essential oils for babies. To give you a hint, here they are:
For baby massaging:
Your baby may have a massage routine and preference, but you can start by warming a small amount of oil through hand rubbing. Then, simply rub the oil into your baby’s skin. You make sure to use enough pressure while rubbing the oil.
To massage the chest and belly of your baby, just spread your hands out near the sides of your baby. Use your fingers to make tiny circles.
For baby bathing:
A few drops of lavender or chamomile oil in the water at bath time can help in soothing and calming your baby. As a result, it may help your baby sleep after taking a bath.
For diffusing during bedtime:
If you opt to use essential oils in a diffuser at bedtime, it is best to follow the instructions on the diffuser. You also need to keep your baby’s room well-ventilated. As advised, never use essential oils that may be harmful to your baby.
Babies have sensitive skin, and therefore you need to avoid essential oils that have skin irritant effects. The typical example of these is thyme, citronella, oregano, bay, cinnamon, and cumin.
How to Avoid Synthetic Essential Oils?
Essential oils, resolute extracts from a plant’s leaves, roots, bark, flowers, peel, or seeds, are sold by many companies in artificial fragrances labeled as pure essential oils. That is why it is significant to know the origin of essential oils.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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