How to *Safely* Use Essential Oils With Kids

Essential oils can be a great addition to your little one's wellness routine to promote restful sleep, soothe scrapes and bruises, and just about a million other uses. 

When using essential oils with kids, there are a few safety tips to keep in mind! 

Always Dilute

When it comes to safety and essential oils, the most important thing to remember is to dilute! Essential oils are highly potent, which is why they come in such small bottles. So anytime you use essential oils with children, always dilute them with a carrier oil. 

You can follow this guide when diluting for children:

For Children Under 2 - essential oils are not recommended. 

For Children Ages 2-5 - 1 drop of essential oil per 10ml of carrier oil 

For Children Ages 5-7 - 2 drops of essential oils per 10ml of carrier oil 


What is a carrier oil? 

A carrier oil is an oil derived from vegetables, nuts, seeds, or kernels. They're thicker than essential oils and are used to carry the essential oil. Carrier oils reduce the risk of irritation and allow your skin to absorb the essential oils better. You can find some of my favorite carrier oils here. 

Avoid these oils with kids under 10: 

  • Cassia

  • Cedarwood (5+)

  • Clove

  • Eucalyptus

  • Geranium (14+)

  • Ginger

  • Lemongrass

  • Peppermint

  • Rosemary

  • Ylang Ylang

    Applying Essential Oils 

Avoid applying oils near mucus membranes - eyes, nose, mouth, ears, genitals. 

If you're using essential oils for immune support or better sleep, apply them to the bottoms of the feet. 

For sniffles and congestion, apply to the chest. 

For focus or to calm down, apply to the wrists. 

When purchasing essential oils, most companies provide safety information on the website or right on the bottle. Always read the label thoroughly - just as you would anything you're using on your little one!

Shop my favorite kid-safe blends here. 

Want to learn more about essential oil safety? Click here to download The Essential Oil Safety Guide.


And, as an added bonus, here’s where you can see the video tutorial!


**Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you shop from them at no extra cost (+ most likely a discount for you!) to you… Shopping from links in blogs is a simple way to support the blog. I appreciate you being here. XO



Essential OilsOlivia Shaffersafety, essential oils, kidsComment