Essential Oils Safe to Use with Children

SAFE ESSENTIALS FOR CHILDREN

by rivka | Apr 30, 2015 | Blog Published on: Apr 30, 2015 @ 12:58

I personally avoid using oils on children before the age of 7. Even after that, I use them very sparingly, typically opting for hydrosols or herbal teas, or making oils from fresh herb in maceration form. I generally do not use essential oils on children. ~Rivka Sari

What is written below is from Marlene Mitchell, Director of AICI School in Ontario, Canada, with permission. Here is what she has to say.

• Suggest no essential oils on or around babies before the age of 4 years old, due to their thinner skin and immature immune systems.
• From ages 5-8 years old you may diffuse child-safe oils (below) for a specific purpose and for very short periods of time. For an acute case (something very specific like a bee sting or bug bite), you may use essential oils topically, but this should be the exception and not the norm. Children are particularly sensitive to aroma and products applied to the skin. Never use undiluted.
• After the age of 5 you may start topical use with a very low dilution, but keep in mind a child’s immune system takes years to fully develop, making them less able to deal with the adverse effects which may arise when concentrated products are used improperly on or around them. Herbs and hydrosols are often better and safer choices for children.
• It is not recommended by most experts and Certified Aromatherapists to use essential oils topically on children below age 5 years old. American Aroma-therapist in the last 10 years does use essential oils topically after age 2 and it just not practiced elsewhere worldwide. We like to take the side of extra safety precautions when it comes to children and using Essential oils topically only after the age of 5 years old.

UPDATE: See how to properly dilute essential oils video here  filmed in 2019 since this article was written

Here is a list of essential oils safe to use around children (this list is not exhaustive). Be aware that some oils on this list are not to be used if you have a child has a bleeding disorders they have been marked with a red  * symbol.

• Bergamot *
• Black Pepper *
• Blue Tansy
• Cedarwood
• Clary Sage *
• Clemontine *
• Copaiba
• Coriander
• Cypress and Cypress Blue
• Frankincense
• German Chamomile
• Geranium
• Grapefruit *
• Ginger *
• *Juniper Berry 
• Helichrysum Immortelle
• Lavender
• Lemon
• Mandarin *
• Marjoram (Sweet) *
• Neroli
• Palmarosa *
• Patchouli
• Petitgrain *
• Pines -except Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa), or Huon Pine (Dacrydium franklinii)*
• Roman Chamomile
• Sandalwood
• *Siberian Fir Needle  
• Spearmint *
• Spruces
• Sweet Orange *
• Tangerine *
• Tea Tree
• Vetiver

Essential Oils to Avoid Using with Children

Here is a long – but not exhaustive – list of essential oils with warnings against using on or around children

Please take note of both the Common Names and the corresponding Latin Names (and/or chemotypes) provided in this list. Many essential oils come from different species, each indicated by different Latin name. Some of these species are safe, while others are not, depending on the specific Latin name. Additionally, the blue asterisk (*) marks essential oils that have high levels of 1,8-cineole, which may cause slowed respiration and/or labored breathing.

NOTE: If it states “avoid using (all routes),” this means do not apply topically or allow inhalation. This list is also provided by IACI, with permission from Marlene Mitchell.

• • Anise/Aniseed Pimpinella anisum – avoid using (all routes) on children under 5
  • Anise (Star) Illicium verum – avoid using (all routes) on children under 5
  • Basil (lemon) Ocimum x citriodorum – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Benzoin Styrax benzoin, Styrax paralleloneurus, and Styrax tonkinensis – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Birch (sweet) Betula lenta – avoid using (all routes) on children
  • Black Seed Nigella sativa – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • *Cajuput Melaleuca cajuputi, Melaleuca leucadendron – avoid using on children under 6
  • *Cardamon Elettaria cardamomum – avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
  • Cassia Cinnamomum cassia, Cinnamomum aromaticum – avoid topical use on children under 2
  • Chaste Tree Vitex agnus castus – avoid using (all routes) on prepubertal children
  • Clove Bud, Clove Leaf, Clove Stem Syzygium aromaticum, Eugenia caryophyllata, Eugenia aromatica – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • *Cornmint Mentha arvensis, Mentha canadensis – avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
  • *Eucalyptus Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus maidenii, Eucalyptus plenissima, Eucalyptus kochii, Eucalyptus polybractea, Eucalyptus radiata, Eucalyptus Australiana, Eucalyptus phellandra, Eucalyptus smithii – avoid using (all routes) on children under 10
  • Fennel (bitter), Fennel (sweet) Foeniculum vulgare – avoid using (all routes) on children under 5
  • *Galangal (lesser) Alpinia officinarum, Languas officinarum – avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
  • Garlic Allium sativum – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Ginger Lily Hedychium coronarium – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • *Ho Leaf/Ravintsara Cinnamomum camphora (cineole chemotype) – avoid using on children under 6
  • Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis (pinocamphone chemptype) – avoid using (all routes) on children    under 4
  • *Laurel Leaf/Bay Laurel Laurus nobilis– avoid topical use on children under 2; avoid all routes for children under age 6
  • Lemon Leaf/Lemon Petitgrain Citrus x limon, Citrus limonum – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Lemongrass Cymbopogon flexuosus, Andropogon flexuosus, Cymbopogon citratus, Andropogon citratus – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • *Marjoram (Spanish) Thymus mastichina – avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
  • Massoia Cryptocarya massoy, Cryptocaria massoia, Massoia aromatica – avoid using (all routes) on children under 4
  • May Chang Litsea cubeba, Litsea citrata, Laura cubeba – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Melissa/Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • *Myrtle (red) Myrtus communis – avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
  • Myrtle (aniseed) Backhousia anisata – avoid using (all routes) on children under 5
  • Myrtle (honey) Melaleuca teretifolia – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Myrtle (lemon)/Sweet Verbena Backhousia citriodora – avoid topical use on children under 2
  • *Niaouli (cineole chemotype) Melaleuca quinquinervia – avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
  • Oakmoss Evernia prunastri – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Opopanax Commiphora guidottii – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Oregano Origanum onites, Origanum smyrnaeum, Origanum vulgare, Origanum compactum, Origanum hirtum, Thymbra capitata, Thymus capitatus, Coridothymus capitatus, Satureeja capitata– avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Peppermint Mentha x Piperita – avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
  • Peru Balsam Myroxylon balsamum, Myroxylon pereiraw, Myroxylon peruiferum, Myrospermum pereirae, Toluifera pereirae – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • *Rambiazana Helichrysum gymnocephalum – avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
  • *Rosemary (1,8-cineole chemotype) Rosmarinus officinalis – avoid using (all routes) on children under 10
  • Saffron Crocus sativus – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • *Sage (Greek), Salvia fruiticosa, Salvia triloba Sage (White) – avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
  • *Sage (White) Salvia apiana – avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
  • Sage (Wild Mountain) Hemizygia petiolata – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • *Sanna Hedychium spicatum – avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
  • *Saro Cinnamosma fragrans – avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
  • Savory Satureia hortensis, Satureia montana – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Styrax Liquidambar orientalis, Liquidambar styraciflua – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Tea Leaf/Black Tea Camellia sinensis, Thea sinensis – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Tea Tree (lemon-scented) Leptospermum petersonii, Leptospermum citratum, Leptospermum liversidgei,– avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Treemoss Pseudevernia furfuracea – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Tuberose Polianthes tuberosa – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Turpentine Pinus ayacahuite, Pinus caribaea, Pinus contorta, Pinus elliottii, Pinus halepensis, Pinus insularis, Pinus kesiya, Pinus merkusii, Pinus palustris, Pinus pinaster, Pinus radiata, Pinus roxburghii, Pinus tabulaeformis, Pinus teocote, Pinus yunnanensis– avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Verbena (Lemon) Aloysia triphylla, Aloysia citriodora, Lippa citriodora, Lippa triphylla – avoid topical use on children under 4
  • Wintergreen Gaultheria fragrantissima, Gaultheria procumbens – avoid (all routes) in children due to methyl salicylate content under age 10
  • Ylang-Ylang Cananga odorata – avoid topical use on children under 4

As an adult, you can safely use essential oils that are not suitable for children by following these guidelines. When you are around kids, investing in a personal inhaler is a great option, as it allows you to enjoy the benefits of essential oils without risking exposure for the little ones.

If you decide to use a diffuser, make sure to do so in a room that is separate from where infants and small children are. Allow time for the scent to dissipate before bringing them back into the room. If another family member needs to apply an essential oil topically, ensure that they can do so at a time when they can stay away from infants and small children for a while, again allowing the aroma to dissipate.

Also see what NAHA has to say about children and Essential Oil Safety Exploring Aromatherapy | NAHA

DISCLAIMER: All information on this site is based on traditional aromatherapy and is provided for educational reference purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. If you are experiencing any health issues, please seek assistance from a qualified healthcare professional. Essential oils are potent substances and should be used with care and understanding.