Huiles essentielles pour enfants

Utiliser les huiles essentielles en toute sécurité avec les enfants

Whilst these oils have been deemed generally safe when used properly and in moderation, it’s important to be aware of a few safety guidelines when using essential oils on babies and children.

Always check the product labels to ensure that you’re using pure, organic essential oils. This is particularly important if you plant to use the essential oils on your children. Some essential oils are premixed with alcohol and can cause irritation. All essential oils manufactured by Volant are organic and pure, so you can purchase with confidence.

You should never apply essential oils directly to the skin without first diluting them with a carrier oil. Applying neat or undiluted essential oils topically is likely to cause skin irritation. For young children, it’s safest to apply the essential oils to your child’s feet. This is the best way to prevent your child from accidentally ingesting the oil.

If you’re adding essential oils to a bath, they should be mixed with a carrier oil or full-fat milk before being added to allow the oil to disperse effectively throughout the water and reduce the risk of skin irritation.

When diluting your essential oils with a carrier oil to apply topically or add to a bath, you’ll need to make sure they’re diluted to the correct strength. The maximum dosage is as follows:

● 3 months – 24 months: 0.25% - 0.5% (corresponds to about 1 drop of essential oil per 4 tsp carrier oil)
● 2 – 6 years: 1% - 2%
● 6 – 15 years: 1.5% - 3%
● Over 15 years: 2.5% - 5%

These are maximum dosages. You may find that a weaker concentration is sufficient for your child’s needs, so start small and build it up if needed.

Before applying essential oils topically or adding them to a bath, it’s important to carry out a patch test to check for skin irritation. You can find out more about performing a patch test here. 

You should always take care when using essential oils with children. Essential oils should never be ingested so it’s important to keep them out of the reach of children at all times. If you think your baby or child may have ingested essential oils, you should seek emergency medical care.

If your child has any underlying health conditions, it’s important that you consult their medical provider before using any essential oils to ensure that the oils are not contraindicated with their medical condition or treatment plans.

If you want to use essential oils personally which aren’t suitable for use around children, you can choose to use an aromatherapy inhaler. This will allow you to benefit from your chosen essential oils without risking your child inhaling the scent.

As always, if you’re unsure about using essential oils with your child, you should consult your child’s medical provider before beginning.