How to choose essential oils for your children?

Today, the fragrance of essential oils is used in home perfumes, cosmetics and massage ointments. They are also sold pure for medicinal purposes, to combat colds(eucalyptus) or stress(lavender), for example. They are then inhaled, vaporized through a diffuser, diluted in bath water or applied directly to the skin.

Infants : These oils should not be used on infants under three months of age. Most EOs are irritating to baby's fragile skin.
From 3 months to two years
The mother: If breast-feeding, the mother must take the same precautions as a pregnant woman from the second trimester onwards. Atconcentrations of 3% and above, traces of EO are found in breast milk. Check that shampoos and body care products contain less than 3% essential oils. In principle, this is the case.
Babies: For children themselves, the threshold for essential oils in skin care products is limited to 1%.

Up to the age of 3

Children: Sage, hyssop, thuja, eucalyptus and camphor essential oils should be avoided in children, due to the risk of convulsions.

Over three years of age

Do not give essential oils in any form to children without medical advice. With a doctor's advice, some can be used in specific dilutions and forms.

Essential oils for children: Find a selection of the best essential oils for children in your organic pharmacy to provide your child with effective, high-quality natural care.

Thanks to their complex composition of active molecules, essential oils for children are multi-purpose: they not only heal, but also act as a preventive measure or stimulate children's immunity. Extremely powerful, these essential oils must be used with caution.

Why use aromatherapy for children?

Colds, eczema, motion sickness: certain essential oils have properties that can treat your children's ailments without apprehension. However, special precautions must be taken to avoid any risk to the little ones.
They can quickly relieve aches and pains, boost your child's immune system and treat the main ENT diseases. Aromatherapy for children is useful for everyday aches and pains.

Benefits

Aromatherapy has many benefits for children, including

Boosting the immune system
Pain and inflammation relief
Improved sleep and relaxation
Treatment of respiratory disorders

Precautions to be taken

Despite its many benefits, aromatherapy should be used with caution with children. It's important to respect the correct dosage, choose essential oils adapted to the child's age and consult a health professional in case of doubt.

The restrictions and precautions applicable to adults apply just as much, if not more, to children:

Regarding possible allergies: apply a drop of the essential oil or essential oil synergy you wish to use, in the crease of the elbow, then wait 24 hours to notice - or not - a skin reaction.
Never apply pure essential oils directly to the eyes, nose or ears;
Do not expose yourself to the sun for 12 hours following the application of a photosensitizing essential oil, i.e. any oil whose distilled part is the zest; for example, lemon, orange, grapefruit, etc.
Be sure to refer to the technical data sheets supplied with each essential oil to follow its specific instructions for use.

Inmost cases, essential oils should be diluted to a greater extent when intended for children. Once again, follow your doctor's instructions to the letter. In general, the cutaneous route and atmospheric diffusion are the preferred routes for children, although the oral route may be considered in certain cases. Do not leave bottles within children's reach and, to ensure proper use of the product, do not let them use it themselves. And, above all, make sure you get the right information for your child's condition and age.

Which essential oils are safe for my baby?

Choosing an essential oil for an infant is a delicate matter, not only because of the child's enzymatic immaturity, but also because of the many precautions to be taken when using E.O.'s. Indeed, improper handling can be harmful or even dangerous.

Several factors play a role in the harmfulness of an H.E., such as the content of toxic molecules, the way the H.E. is applied, the dosage and the duration of application. It is therefore advisable to test an E.H. before use, by applying a drop to the crease of the elbow to visualize any allergic reaction (redness, tingling, etc.). Furthermore, never apply pure E.O. to mucous membranes (nose, eyes, etc.). This type of application requires systematic dilution of the E.H..

The appropriate dilution rate for essential oils for infants over 3 months of age is between 0.5 and 1% in a fatty substance (e.g. vegetable oil ), whatever the type of pathology to be treated.

The cutaneous route remains the best for infants; when used correctly, it is the least dangerous route of administration for your baby.

Essential oils that can be used on infants from 3 months of age (i.e. between 4.3 kg and 6.9 kg) are :

Essential oils with the Monoterpenol chemotype (monoterpene alcohol), such as Rosewood essential oil, except those containing menthol and methylugenol.
Essential oils with an ester chemotype, such as Petit grain de bigarade essential oil (caution: risk of interaction with anticoagulants).
Essential oils with the Monoterpene chemotype (monoterpene hydrocarbon), such as Neroli essential oil (caution: risk of interaction with cortisone).

WARNING: It is strictly forbidden to use essential oils with the following chemotypes on infants:

SESQUITERPENIC ALCOHOLS (Sesquiterpenols) such as Niaouli essential oil
OXIDES , such asEucalyptus globulus essential oil
SESQUITERPENIC HYDROCARBONS (Sesquiterpenes) such asAbsynthe essential oil
PHENOLS (Phenic acids) such asOregano essential oil
AROMATIC ALDEHYDES such as Ceylon cinnamon essential oil
TERPENIC ALDEHYDES , e.g. Ceylon Citronella essential oil
ETHERS (phenol methyl ethers), e.g.Green Anise essential oil
CETONES , e.g. Lavender stoechade essential oil
LACTONES , e.g.Chinese mugwort essential oil
COUMARINES , such as Parsley essential oil
PHTALIDES , such as Lovage essential oil

Some essential oils can be toxic and dangerous without knowing how to use them. In case of doubt, we recommend usinghydrolatherapy (floral waters) for infants.

A hydrolat is not as powerful as an essential oil, but being made up of water (floral water), it retains water-soluble odorant molecules and remains lightly scented, while possessing certain therapeutic properties; such as orange blossom water, used to regulate children's sleep.

What natural childcare products can I find on the Soin-et-Nature website?

Soin-et-Nature offers a complete range of natural skin care products specially designed to meet children's needs and support their well-being. Here are the main categories available:

To meet children's specific nutritional needs, food supplements offer support tailored to their growth and vitality.
Homeopathy for children is a natural solution for treating minor everyday ailments gently and effectively.
To enjoy the benefits of essential oils in complete safety, child-friendly essential oils are available for a variety of uses.
To relieve sore throats and soothe respiratory discomforts, children's lozenges are ideal, with natural, pleasant-tasting formulas.
To soothe coughs and respiratory irritations, children's syrups with natural ingredients are an effective aid to recovery.
To boost their immune systems and promote vitality, children's vitamins meet their specific needs.
To provide warmth and comfort, children's hot water bottles, adapted to their size, offer a natural solution to soothe aches and pains and promote well-being.

These natural treatments for children, available on Soin-et-Nature, enable us to take care of their health and well-being in a gentle, natural way, perfectly adapted to their young age.