Safe for Kids?…Part Two
When using essential oils on babies, or young children, special care must be taken.
Essential oils are natural, but not all are meant for use on children.
A general rule for using essential oils with babies, toddlers and children are to avoid all Potentially Toxic and Irritant Oils completely. This will ensure your childs safety.
Guidelines for Essential Oil Use
The following is a general guideline for essential oil use for children’s ages.
Age 0- 6 months: Use no essential oils. Their bodies are still developing, and using essential oils can disrupt their little bodies.
Age 6 months to 1 year: Use only Chamomile, Lavender, and Rose, Use at 4-5 times the normal dilution rate as for an adult. Use sparingly, and not for long periods of time
Age 1 to 6 years: Use three times the normal dilution rate, use only non-toxic, non-irritant oils. Stay away from citrus, as it tends to excite.
Age 6 to 12 years: Use as for adults, in twice the normal dilution rate.
Age 12 years and over: Use as for adults.
Never give a child or an adult essential oils to ingest. This can cause serious burns, as well as other side effects. The side effects do not always happen immediately. It can be over days, or weeks as the essential oils are absorbed. There have been cases where an essential oil was ingested over long periods and caused chemical like burns all over the body.
Toxic Essential Oils-Stay Clear
The following essential oils are considered Toxic or Hazardous and should not be used by or on children. Some, like pennyroyal should not be used at all! This is just a partial list of the more popular essential oils being used.
Ajowan, Anise (Star), Aniseed, Basil, Bay Laurel, Bay (West Indian), Bitter Almond, Broom, Camphor (ALL types), Cascarrilla Bark, Cassia, Cedarwood (ALL types), Cinnamon (ALL parts), Clove (ALL parts), Coriander, , Eucalyptus, Fennel (Bitter and Sweet), Hops, Hyssop, Juniper, Mugwort, Mustard, Nutmeg, Pennyroyal, Pepper (Black), Pine (Dwarf), Rue, Sage (Common and Spanish), Sassafras, Savory, Tagetes, Tansy, Tarragon, Thuja, Thyme, Tuberose, Wintergreen, and Wormwood.
MLM Companies
Most mult-level marketing companies do not train their sales reps properly. They make claims about essential oils that are simply not true. They should never be ingested, and are certainly not dilutable in water. This has cause serious mouth and throat burns.
Essential oils should always be diluted properly into a carrier oil. A carrier oil is an oil such as almond oil, olive oil, or sesame oil. Coconut oil can also be used.
The MLM companies that have gained bad press on the use of essential oils is Young Living, and doTerra. Their reps are not aromatherapists, and are just sales people. The sales reps do it to make a little money on the side. They don’t know essential oils, they only know what they have been taught by the company. These companies have been in trouble, and have been cited a few times because the information is incorrect. I personally stay clear of any MLM company.
When using essential oils, be sure to research the oil you are wanting to use. The internet has some great sources (be sure the site is not an MLM), and there are several good books. Robert Tisserand has written some great books on essential oils. You can also contact us, if you wish. We would be happy to help you.
Get to know the oil or oils you want to use. While natural, they are still powerful medicine.
Stay clear from anyone telling you that “this cured my….”, or “take this for….”. If the person is not properly trained, walk away. It could save your life, or the life of your child.