Essential oils for your growing family
With the arrival of a number of famous babies this week, including a royal Prince, it’s not surprising that the world has gone a little bit baby crazy. And it got us thinking, how safe are the products we use in our home for our new arrivals?
We all know highly fragranced, toxic and chemical based products are not good to use around little ones, but what about natural ones? Given our PFK products use 100% pure essential oils, we wanted to share our findings on the use of essential oils with babies.
Generally speaking, essential oils are safe if used in the correct way around children. However, there are some key points to consider.
Firstly, experts advise you not to use essential oils on a baby’s skin until they are at least three months (or older for babies who were premature). After this age you can start to use the gentler oils, such as lavender and chamomile, in small amounts with a carrier oil - perhaps massaged in to baby’s feet or back. It is important that they are highly diluted and they shouldn’t be used daily, as baby’s skin is still very delicate. If in doubt, less is better. Testing on a small area to look for a reaction is always a good idea.
Appropriate gentle essential oils can also be diffused in a diffuser or a water based spritzer, but care should be taken to ensure the diffused oil never sprays directly at the child. Babies and children should never ingest essential oils.
When your baby reaches toddler age, their skin becomes more developed and you are able to use oils more freely, but it’s crucial they are still highly diluted.
As well as using the oils in the correct way, it is important to confirm you are using pure authentic essential oils. Some oils are pre-mixed with other elements, such as alcohol, which can be irritating to children’s skin. Other products may look like essential oils but can be artificial fragrances, which are completely different and don’t carry the same benefits. It’s vital to do your research.
The type of oil is also key, as each essential oil is different. Lavender oil is gentle and can help to relax a baby and has been linked with relieving the symptoms of colic. Chamomile, similarly, has a natural soothing effect and can help with sleep or uplift an unsettled baby. However, other oils, such as eucalyptus and rosemary should be avoided in children under 10 years old. Although often seen as magic natural remedies for coughs and colds, they can cause respiratory issues.
Essential oils can be very beneficial to your growing family and massaging your growing baby is a lovely way to bond, just make sure you do your research first, to keep your bundle of joy gurgling with contentment. We wonder whether the little royal Prince will be enjoying an essential oil massage in the coming months?