Are Essential Oils Safe for Kids? An Age-by-Age Guide

With children, caution comes first: no essential oils under the age of 3 without medical advice, never by mouth, and after that only a few gentle oils, well diluted, on the advice of a doctor or pharmacist. Parents often ask me this because they want to soothe their child naturally. It is a lovely intention, but a child's skin, lungs and nervous system do not react like an adult's. Here are my age-by-age guidelines, the oils to avoid and the right habits at home.

Why children are more sensitive

Essential oils are highly concentrated. For a small child, the same drop is a much stronger dose than for an adult, and some compounds can cause seizures, breathing problems or skin irritation. Anses, the French health safety agency, actually advises against using essential oils on children in general.

What poison centre data shows

Between 2011 and 2021, calls to French poison centres about essential oils almost doubled, exceeding 4,000 a year in 2018 to 2020. Children are the most affected: half of the people exposed were aged 3 or under, and 14% were under one year old. Two situations come up again and again:

• a child grabs a bottle left within reach and puts it in their mouth (38% of cases);
• a bottle mix-up (36% of cases): in nearly 8 out of 10 of these, a parent gave essential oil instead of vitamin D drops, which come in a similar dropper bottle.

My age-by-age guidelines

Under 3: not without medical advice

Under 30 months, French regulators contraindicate medicines containing terpene compounds (camphor, cineole, menthol, eucalyptus, niaouli, pine…) because of the risk of seizures. The same compounds are found in many “winter” essential oils. So under 3, I advise you not to use anything without your doctor's advice, not to diffuse oils in a baby's room, and to stick to simple measures: saline nose drops, humidified air and plenty of fluids.

Ages 3 to 6: very little, very diluted

On professional advice, you can use one or two gentle oils, such as true lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), well diluted in a carrier oil, massaged on the back or the soles of the feet. Never near the face, and never oils rich in menthol, camphor or cineole.

Over 6: a wider choice, always diluted

From age 6, the list gets a little longer, but the rules stay the same: dilute, use for a short time, never by mouth. Always check with your pharmacist, especially if your child has asthma or takes medication.

Teenagers

Teenagers are closer to adults, but they should never swallow essential oils: Anses reports the case of a teenage girl hospitalised with pneumonia after swallowing one.

Essential oils to avoid with children

• Peppermint: its menthol can slow a small child's breathing.
• Oils rich in 1,8-cineole or camphor: Eucalyptus globulus, cineole or camphor rosemary, ravintsara, niaouli, spike lavender.
• Tea tree: Anses advises against giving it to children.
• Any oil by mouth, at any age.

Safe habits at home

• Store bottles up high, closed, away from medicines and baby care products, and above all never next to vitamin D drops.
• Never diffuse oils around a baby; air the room well afterwards.
• Do not combine several oils that contain the same compounds: the doses add up.
• Wash your hands after a massage, before touching your child's face.

My tip

I suggest keeping your essential oils in a closed box, stored with your own products, never in your child's bag. And when your child is unwell, always start with the simple things: rest, drinks, a clear nose. Essential oils only come as a complement, if your doctor or pharmacist agrees.

When to get medical help

If your child has swallowed essential oil, do not make them vomit and do not give them anything to drink: call Poison Control straight away (1-800-222-1222 in the US) or NHS 111 in the UK. Call emergency services (911 in the US, 999 in the UK) if your child becomes unusually drowsy, has a seizure, coughs or struggles to breathe after exposure. Also see a doctor if skin redness persists after an application, or if your child has a lasting fever or breathing difficulties.

Go further

In my ebook “Using Essential Oils Safely for the Whole Family Every Day” (€14.90), I detail the precautions for every age, the contraindications and the six oils to keep at home.

Prefer to learn by video? Discover my online course on using essential oils safely.

Frequently asked questions

At what age can children use essential oils?

Under 3, no essential oils without medical advice. From 3 to 6, only one or two gentle oils, well diluted, on professional advice. Over 6, the choice widens, always diluted and never by mouth.

Can I diffuse essential oils in a baby's room?

No. Never diffuse oils around a baby. Some compounds, such as menthol or cineole, can affect their breathing or trigger seizures. For a blocked nose, use saline drops and humidified air instead.

Which essential oils are not safe for kids?

Peppermint, oils rich in cineole or camphor (Eucalyptus globulus, rosemary, ravintsara, niaouli, spike lavender) and tea tree. And no essential oil by mouth, at any age.

What should I do if my child swallowed essential oil?

Do not make them vomit and do not give them anything to drink. Call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222 in the US) or NHS 111 in the UK straight away, with the bottle at hand. If they have a seizure or trouble breathing, call 911 or 999.

Read next

• Are essential oils safe? The safety rules to know
• Dry cough or chesty cough: which essential oils help?
• Ravintsara essential oil: uses, benefits and safety

This article gives general information and does not replace advice from a healthcare professional. Sources: Anses, Vigil'Anses no. 24, “Essential oils: use with caution!”, 2024 (in French); Anses, Essential oils: risks and precautions (in French); Vidal, Terpene derivatives: new contraindications in children, 2011 (in French); Tisserand Institute, Inhalation safety for kids.