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With more and more people using diffusers, I think it is important to address the issue of diffusing essential oils around children. Is it safe?
Safety is a confusing topic in aromatherapy. There is often conflicting information, especially when it comes to children. Safety information is often based on certain chemical components in an essential oil. If an oil contains something known to be toxic, or carcinogenic, the entire oil will carry a precaution. Sometimes the research on the toxicity or carcinogenicity of an oil is based on animal research, often with rodents. We can’t always assume that giving rats high doses of an oil can be extrapolated to humans.
In light of this, consider everything in this article, and any article, to be the best guess given what we know right now.
Is diffusing essential oils safe around kids?
Yes, if done sensibly. Generally speaking, diffusion is one of the safest ways to use essential oils. This is because small amounts of essential oils are diluted into the entire volume of air in the room. When diffusing around children, the factors to consider are:
- type of diffuser
- length of tim
e the diffuser is run - the essential oil used
Passive diffusers such as clay discs, fan diffusers, and oil lamps work by simple evaporation of the oils into the air. Dosage will be very low so we will not discuss them here. Instead, the focus will be on safely diffusing with ultrasonics and nebulizers.
Is it safe to diffuse essential oils around babies?
For babies, the most important factor is what type of oil are you diffusing? Lavender and Chamomile are generally considered safe for our youngest loved ones. If you are trying to soothe a baby who won’t sleep, it should be okay to diffuse these two oils occasionally. As a mom, I do caution about diffusing too often as babies sleep routines might become dependent on the scents.
I would also caution against making a habit of diffusing around babies. Essential oils can have powerful anti-bacterial and anti-viral effects. As moms we want to protect our kids from germs, but ultimately we are not doing our children any favors. Exposure to some germs, and getting sick occasionally are important for building a healthy and strong immune system.
The tricky thing about giving advice for diffusing around very young babies (0-6 months) is that the true answer is that we don’t know what is safe. No one is going to conduct research on babies to test whether it is safe. We can only speculate. I would personally recommend waiting to diffuse until a baby is 6-12 months old, and then only with baby safe oils like Lavender and Chamomile. From ages 2 on, the number of kid safe oils increases.
Oils that are safe around children
Note: This section was compiled by referring to Tisserand and Youngs’s Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed.(affiliate link, Amazon), Shirley Price Aromatherapy for Babies and Children (affiliate link, Amazon), and NAHA resources. Please know that I tend to err on the side of caution when writing for this site. There may be instances when an oil can be used on a younger child, however you should do so under the advice of a qualified aromatherapist who can provide an individualized recommendation.
Popular oils that are considered safe to diffuse for older children (ages 2+) include most citrus oils (mandarin, lemon, grapefruit, bergamot), frankincense, ginger, tea tree, and patchouli.
Can I diffuse Peppermint or Eucalyptus around babies and children?
Guidelines have relaxed in recent years for diffusion of these oils. According to Robert Tisserand, you should not diffuse Peppermint around any child under 3 years of age.
Eucalyptus globulus or Eucalyptus radiata can be diffused in small amounts around children under 3.
Any oil high in 1,8 cineole should be used with caution around young children. Aside from peppermint and eucalyptus, this component can be found in some rosemary chemotypes, niaouli, laurel leaf, and ravintsara. If in doubt, ask your supplier whether an oil is high in this component.
Oils high in 1,8 cineole should not be used around the noses and faces of young children as it may cause respiratory difficulties. This includes both topically applying it near the nose, and directly inhaling it. In light of this, if you are diffusing around children you should ensure they can’t directly inhale the mist, especially from a nebulizer.
Check out Safe Essential Oils for Kids, Only at Plant Therapy! (affiliate link)
Essential oils by age
Under 2:
Lavender
Chamomile
Ages 2 and up:
Benzoin
Bergamot
Black Pepper
Cedarwood
Citronella
Clary Sage
Clove Bud
Coriander
Cypress
Dill Weed
Fir, Balsam
Frankincense
Geranium
Ginger
Grapefruit, Pink
Helichrysum
Lemon
Lemongrass
Mandarin
Marjoram, Sweet
Melissa
Neroli
Orange, Sweet
Palmarosa
Patchouli
Peru Balsam
Petitgrain
Pine, Scotch
Rose
Sandalwood
Spearmint
Tangerine
Tea Tree
Vetiver
Ylang ylang
Ages 3 and up:
Jasmine
Eucalyptus (see notes above)
Peppermint (see notes above)
Ages 6 years and up:
Anise
Sweet Basil
Bay Laurel
Cajeput
Cardamom
Cinnamon Leaf
Fennel
Juniper Berry
Myrtle
Niaouli
Ravintsara/Ho Leaf
Ages 10 and up:
Rosemary
An easy answer
Some oils are available in different chemotypes, which may not all carry the same safety precautions. Basil, Rosemary, and Thyme are examples of oils that have different chemotypes. It can be prudent to check with your supplier to ensure the chemotype they carry is okay for children.
The easiest way to make decisions about essential oils for kids is to check out Plant Therapy’s Kidsafe line (affiliate link) of essential oils and blends. This takes a lot of the uncertainty out of selecting oils. Oils that are KidSafe are suitable for kids over the age of 2.
When using blends, be sure to check the ingredients in the blend for any oils that might be unsafe for your child. Plant Therapy also makes it easy by offering a line of Kid Safe blends for a wide variety of uses (affiliate link).
Ultrasonics: Concentration and Time
Ultrasonic diffusers spray a mist of already diluted essential oils into the air. Most diffusers call for 5 drops of oil in about 4-6 oz. of water. The dilution here is already less than 1% and then this is being further diluted by the volume of air in the room. Obviously if you stand right next to the mist you will inhale more, but generally this is still pretty safe.
According to noted expert Robert Tisserand, ultrasonic diffusers should be run for 30-60 minutes at a time only when needed (in general). Rest periods between diffusion cycles should be at least 30-60 minutes. He does not recommend routine diffusion around children unless doses are extremely low (a few drops per day or less).
Diffusion around children should be on an as needed basis. You can control the dosage by adding fewer drops to your water, or by reducing the time you run your diffuser around kids.
Nebulizers: Concentration and Time
Nebulizing diffusers spray undiluted essential oils into the air. Therefore the concentration is much higher. Nebulizing diffusers will emit a drop or two of oil into the air in a typical 10 minute cycle, depending on how high you set the output. These molecules are so fine they remain suspended in the air for a few hours.
Nebulizing diffusers should be run for 10 minutes, 2-3 times a day for adults. For children, reduce both the time and the frequency, and only use when needed. For children, ultrasonics are preferable.
Recap
- When diffusing essential oils around children, adjust the dosage by reducing diffusion time and frequency
- Ultrasonics spray a less concentrated mist into the air than nebulizers and are preferred for children
- Use diffusers around children when needed, not routinely
- Only diffuse essential oils and blends that are safe for your child’s age
Did this help? Let me know in the comments if you have any further questions.
If you know someone who could benefit from this information, your share would be greatly appreciated.
First published October 20, 2015. Updated May 3, 2018.
Is frankincense safe to use by a 5 yr autistic child?
Hello,
Generally speaking, Frankincense is considered safe for a 5 year old child. If your child is on medication, you would want to double check with your doctor before adding complementary therapies to his treatment. As you know, autistic children respond to stimuli in various ways, so sometimes they may react to an oil usually good for one purpose (e.g. grounding) in ways we don’t expect. Start with a low dilution and test for their response. If they are non-verbal and can’t tell you how an oil makes them feel, you may want to avoid essential oils. Consulting an experienced aromatherapist may be a good idea. Best of luck!
Thank you so very much! Very clear, concise, and to list by age was exactly what I was looking for. This was the most helpful article I’ve read to date.
Thank you for the lovely compliment!
Why is rosemary oil only safe for 10+? I did not know this and diffused rosemary in an unventilated room with the window closed. When I came back with my 4 year old son he threw up after one minute of walking in. Then we went out for about 7 hours and when he got out of the car he threw up again (maybe association of being near the house). So weird. What is it in rosemary that makes it unsafe in children under 10% and what is the best way to detox him from it?
I am so sorry to hear that. There are many chemotypes of rosemary but the most common is the 1-8 cineole variety (and often this is just labelled as “Rosemary,” whereas the other varieties are specified, e.g. Rosemary Verbenone). The two components of concern are 1-8 Cineole and Camphor. 1-8 Cineole is the same component that is in peppermint and eucalyptus and can potentially cause respiratory distress in young children. Camphor is possibly neurotoxic (damaging to nerve tissue). If this happened today you might check with your doctor or poison control to be on the safe side, however I don’t think the vomiting is related to the rosemary (but I am not a doctor!). If he went 7 hours without vomiting, and did not re-enter the house before vomiting again it could be coincidence (virus, something he ate). Again, not a doctor but as a mom that is my opinion based on what you described. In terms of detoxing–the time it takes for the body to eliminate half of 1-8 cineole is 104 minutes, and after another 104 minutes half more is gone–so only 25% remaining. After 7 hours, very little would be left in his system. Camphor has a longer half life of around 5-6 hours, so about 50% cleared after 5-6 hours. I would open the windows in the room to clear any remaining rosemary as a precaution. I can’t find anything to suggest vomiting as a response to rosemary other than 1-8 Cineole has caused poisoning in a young child when placed directly in the nose. If you do follow up with this with your doctor/poison control and they find it is related to the rosemary, I recommend reporting it to the Atlantic Institute/Aromatherapy United http://aromatherapyunited.org/eo-reaction-report-form/. The more information we have, the more refined safety information becomes! Hope your son is okay!
Is wintergreen safe to diffuse around 4 year old son? He has a very bad cold!
Hello,
I would recommend something else. Wintergreen is high in methyl salicylates. According to Essential Oil Safety “salicylates are contraindicated in children due to the risk of developing Reye’s syndrome.” I don’t like to give specific advice over the internet but maybe look at spearmint if you have it? Robert Tisserand has revised his recommendations about peppermint and eucalyptus, and in a diffuser they should be okay, just use in moderation (i.e. not too long).
Hi, please can you explain why Frankincense Carteri is considered safe for use with children but Frankincense Serrata is not?Thank you
Great question! There is some conflicting information out there for sure. Usually when a particular oil is not safe, it is related to one of the chemical components in that particular oil. Boswellia Serrata may contain small amounts of estragole, which is carcinogenic to rats, however it is not thought to be significant. Serrata may sometimes contain small amounts of thujones, which are neurotoxic, but again, the levels are not thought to be significant. I have looked through several of my books and they do not single out Serrata as being any less safe than the others. I can find nothing in Essential Oil Safety, 2e that confirms that Serrata is less safe. I have looked up the main chemical components individually and nothing is raising flags. In fact, only on the Plant Therapy website do I see that distinction. Serrata, due to its chemical makeup is better for respiratory conditions, and shares some similar components to eucalyptus–which may be a clue. Darn, I was hoping to find a clear answer! I think this is a question for a chemist–there is a group on Facebook called BTA: The chemistry of essential oils. Someone there may have an answer.