Essential oils are not just fragrance oils, they contain potent compounds and must be used with care, especially around babies and young children.
We only use essential oils that come with full GC/MS reports of every batch, so we may compare the compounds of the same oil batch to batch, as part of our quality control.
What Essential Oils are Unsafe for Babies and Kids?
As I searched for safe and effective essential oil blends for use on my children, I was unable to find products which were safe for use for children under 2YO. Those that listed their ingredients, contained EOs like peppermint and eucalyptus (unsafe due to the menthol in peppermint and 1,8-cineole in eucalyptus, both of which can slow breathing in young children) or rosemary, clove, cinnamon etc. which are unsafe for children under the age of 6, no matter what % of dilution. You may beg to differ and think it’s safe, and you’re free to do so. I just prefer to be on the side of “overly-cautious”.
What’s more worrying was I found many balms and salves that do not even list down the EOs they contain. Now this, I am unable to comprehend. Pray tell, why would anyone use anything that does not disclose their ingredients? Please, for the love of your children, at least find out what you’re applying on them. If there’s nothing to worry about, there’s nothing to hide, right?
Essential Oils Safe For Use on Babies and Young Children
I poured through several books by renowned authors like Eric Zielinski, Robert Tisserand and Valerie Ann Worwood, so you don’t have to, and shortlisted the following essential oils that are safe for use on babies and young children. There are some more, but I only chose the following for my Jo Lauren Organics blends after much testing.
Safe Essential Oils For Babies & Young Children Used in Jo Lauren Roll-Ons:
- Frankincense Carteri
- Vetiver
- Roman Chamomile
- Blue Tansy
- Lavender (Angustifolia)
- Mandarin
- Lemon
- Sweet Orange
- Palmarosa
- Sweet Marjoram
- Pine Scots
- Cedarwood Atlas
- Spearmint
- Cypress
- Dill Seed
- Ginger
I’d share the benefits of each essential oil so you may appreciate why I chose them. And yes, if you like our blends and you’re interested to create your very own blends, go ahead! That’s why I always believe in disclosing the ingredients we use. Just remember as a general guideline, for babies 3-24 months, only use about 0.25-0.5% dilution. For up to 6 YO, you may use up to 2% dilution of the EO blend.
Frankincense Carteri:
One of the 3 gifts offered to Baby Jesus, Frankincense is a precious oil for immunity support. It is also helpful for our respiratory systems, assisting in clear and deep breathing during the cold season. It is a safe and gentle oil, so it’s a great choice for sensitive and delicate people, including children and the elderly. Our certified organic Frankincense essential oil is sustainably-produced from the resin of wild Boswellia carterii trees in the rural landscape of Somaliland. We use it in our Immuno Kids & Dreamy Kids roll-ons.
Vetiver:
Vetiver is also a precious (root) oil which is very powerful and therapeutic, yet gentle enough for our little ones. It does a wonderful job in supporting our immune systems, and is even helpful in reducing inflammation. Our certified organic Vetiver essential oil is steam distilled from the roots of grassy plants in the rainforests of Madagascar. We use it in our Immuno Kids roll-on.
Roman Chamomile:
Roman Chamomile has a lovely, sweet herbaceous scent that reminds us of home-made warm apple pie! This beautiful oil helps lull frazzled young children and over-tired adults to sleep. Roman Chamomile is soothing and gentle, and especially good for helping with insomnia! Our certified organic Roman Chamomile essential oil is steam-distilled from delicate white flowers grown in the rolling French countryside. We use it in our Dreamy Kids roll-ons.
Blue Tansy:
One of the most luxurious essential oils, Blue Tansy is known for it’s mesmerizing scent and unmatched support for respiratory systems, especially during cold season. It is prized for its rich, sweet scent as well as its deep, royal blue hue. Harvested from a seasonal crop in the Morocco countryside, our certified organic Blue Tansy essential oil is limited in availability and is a very precious essential oil indeed. We use it in our EZ Breezy roll-on.
Artisan Lavender:
Cherished for its many therapeutic properties, lavender is one of the most popular and versatile oils. Our certified organic Artisan Lavender is hand-harvested, and steam-distilled from the flowering tops grown on the mountains of the idyllic French Riviera countryside. Its aroma is light at first, yet deeply-floral and fresh, with notes of honey. We use it in our Dreamy Kids roll-ons, and also our Miracle Balm & Lavender & Ylang Ylang Castile Foamy Wash!
Palmarosa:
Palmarosa is a rosy, sweet and slightly woodsy essential oil, known for its immune-boosting qualities, especially during cold season. Also used for managing pain, Palmarosa is a delightful oil for supporting digestive health and relieving tummy pains. Our certified organic Palmarosa oil is steam distilled from the tall, bright green grass of plants on sunny mountain slopes in Nepal. We use it in our Immuno Kids and Comfy Tummy roll-ons.
Sweet Marjoram:
Calming and warming, Sweet Marjoram is used to induce relaxation before sleep. It belongs to the mint family, but unlike peppermint, is absolutely safe for babies and young children. It is also helpful in reducing the presence of unwanted bacteria and fungus. Our certified organic Sweet Marjoram essential oil is steam-distilled from herbs cultivated in Egypt. We use it in our Dreamy Kids roll-ons.
Pine Scots:
Pine Scots is one of the most comforting oils to reach for during cold season. Apart from supporting a healthy respiratory tract and lung function, Pine Scots is also helpful in alleviating minor pain and inflammation, as well as easing unwanted muscle spasms. Our certified organic Pine Scots essential oil is steam-distilled from the needles of trees in the forests of France. We use it in our EZ Breezy roll-on.
Cedarwood Atlas:
Gentle yet powerful, Cedarwood Atlas is the gentle giant of essential oils. Treasured for its ability to promote clear breathing, Cedarwood Atlas makes an amazing choice when looking to support healthy lungs. Our certified organic Cedarwood Atlas essential oil is steam distilled from the bark of wild-harvested trees in the forests of the Moroccan Atlas Mountains. We use it in our EZ Breezy roll-on.
Spearmint:
Not to be confused with peppermint, Spearmint is a safe oil for use on babies and young children. When Spearmint is applied to the abdomen, it can help relieve a queasy stomach and bloating. It is an excellent choice to use for supporting a healthy digestive system. Our certified organic Spearmint essential oil is steam distilled from the bright green leaves of Spearmint plants in India. We use it in our Comfy Tummy roll-on.
Ginger:
Possibly the most comforting essential oil choice for our bellies, Ginger helps support a healthy digestive system. Ginger can also give our immune systems a boost, especially during cold season. Our certified organic Ginger essential oil is steam-distilled from the rhizomes of brilliantly flowering red and green plants in Ivory Coast. We use it in our Comfy Tummy roll-on.
Cypress:
Cypress is an excellent purifying essential oil and is ideal for supporting a healthy respiratory system all year long, especially during times of cold season. It is said to help “open up our lungs”, bringing relief in instances of spasmodic coughing, or to help open up the airways. Our certified organic Cypress essential oil is steam-distilled from the twigs of wild Cypress trees in the hills and mountains of France. We use it in our EZ Breezy roll-on.
Dill Seed:
One of the most under-rated essential oils, Dill Seed is mellow yet very effective in helping to boost immune systems as well as to soothe and ease digestive discomfort. It does have a very distinctive green scent that one would associate with cheeseburgers! Let us know if you think so too? Our certified organic Dill Seed essential oil is steam-distilled from the seeds of the Dill plant cultivated in countryside of Hungary. We use it in our Comfy Tummy roll-on.
Mandarin:
Mandarin has a fresh, sweet and uplifting scent and is gentle enough to give sensitive and delicate immune systems a boost. It also helps soothe and calm nerves, as well as to help alleviate symptoms of cold and flu. Our certified organic Mandarin essential oil is cold-pressed from the fresh zests of fully-ripe Mandarin fruits in Brazil. We use it in our Immuno Kids and Dreamy Kids roll-ons.
Lemon:
This is one of my favourites, I absolutely love the fresh, crisp and uplifting citrus scent of Lemon. Strong and refreshing, Lemon helps support a healthy immune system, uplifts and revitalizes. Our certified organic Lemon essential oil is cold-pressed from the fresh zests of Lemons in Sorrento, Italy. We use it in our Immuno Kids roll-on.
Sweet Orange:
Nothing screams “happy!” like Sweet Orange! But beneath its citrusy, sparkly, and refreshing scent, lies its steady ability to help support our immune systems as well as reduce digestive issues and pains. Our certified organic Sweet Orange essential oil is cold-pressed from the zests of hand-picked fruits in the sun-kissed orchards of Brazil. We use it in our EZ Breezy and Comfy Tummy roll-ons, as well as our Sweet Orange & Bergamot Castile Foamy Wash.
Jo Lauren Pre-diluted Essential Oil Blend
With this, I hope you have a better understanding of the various essential oils I’ve painstakingly picked out and blended, each essential oil playing a vital role in the blends I’ve created. As with all Jo Lauren Organics products, I believe in complete transparency and honesty, as I would expect of any business that I would make purchases from. You may be assured that our line of pre-diluted essential oil roll-ons are:
- Pre-diluted and absolutely safe to use
- Effective and works as expected
- Gentle and lovely scents
Our blends are formulated for babies and young children above the age of 3 months old, but are also effective for older children and adults, just apply more often! Unlike some others, our roll-ons do not have an overpowering aroma, but have the most gentle and enchanting scents that even the most picky of kids can’t resist! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!