Are essential oils safe for small children and pets?
Introduction
Essential oils are natural, but they can be dangerous if you aren't careful. Here's a general rule of thumb on the use of essential oils with children and pets: There's some debate over whether or not essential oils should be used at all with children under the age of 2, but it's generally considered safe as long as you dilute them appropriately and follow a couple other guidelines. If you decide to use essential oils on your baby, you'll need to do some extra research on what kinds of oils can be used at what ages. One thing most experts agree on is that Eucalyptus is not safe for babies under 2.
Yes and no. Essential oils are natural, but they are powerful, and they can be dangerous to certain age groups and animals.
Essential oils are natural, but they are powerful. They can be dangerous to certain age groups and animals. The debate over whether or not essential oils should be used at all with children under the age of 2 is ongoing, but there's no doubt that you should use your best judgment when it comes to using them around small children and pets.
Here's a general rule of thumb on the use of essential oils with children and pets.
Here's a general rule of thumb on the use of essential oils with children and pets.
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Essential oils are natural, but they can be dangerous to certain age groups and animals. It's important to remember that if your child has a known allergy to any plant or vegetable product (including fruits), then you should avoid using these products in the home. If you want to use an essential oil for your little ones' skin care needs, make sure it has been tested safe for kids over 3 years old by the company that makes it.
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Pets may also react differently than humans do when exposed to certain scents—even ones that seem safe at first glance! For example: If a cat is scared by something like lavender oil or tea tree oil (which both have strong anti-microbial properties), it could cause him/her an allergic reaction similar to what would happen if someone breathed too much pepper spray or perfume on him/herself; therefore we suggest avoiding cats altogether until after 30 days after trying out any new fragrance before giving them access again.*
There's some debate over whether or not essential oils should be used at all with children under the age of 2, but it's generally considered safe as long as you dilute them appropriately and follow a couple other guidelines.
There's some debate over whether or not essential oils should be used at all with children under the age of 2, but it's generally considered safe as long as you dilute them appropriately and follow a couple other guidelines.
Essential oils are natural and safe, so if you want to use them for your kids, go for it! Just remember that just like any other household product or foodstuff (like garlic), there are risks involved and you should be aware of those risks before using any kind of oil on your child.
If you decide to use essential oils on your baby, you'll need to do some extra research on what kinds of oils can be used at what ages. One thing most experts agree on is that Eucalyptus is not safe for babies under 2.
If you decide to use essential oils on your baby, you'll need to do some extra research on what kinds of oils can be used at what ages. One thing most experts agree on is that Eucalyptus is not safe for babies under 2. It's also not recommended for children under 3 because it contains potentially harmful chemicals like limonene and phenols.
You can safely use tea tree oil, lavender oil and other essentials oils on infants if they're old enough: 4 months or older (although this isn't always true). If you want more information about which essential oils are safe for your child or pet, check out these websites:
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[InfantSafe] - "What Is The Best Essential Oil For Babies?"
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[Parents] - "Are Essential Oils Safe For Babies?"
Here are some good options for infants who are sick or in pain: Tea tree oil and lavender oil are commonly recommended for various uses with infants.
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Tea tree oil and lavender oil are commonly recommended for various uses with infants. Tea tree oil is a good antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial; it can also be used as a skin cleanser. Lavender oil has soothing properties that make it useful when treating common childhood ailments such as eczema or teething pain.
You'll also want to make sure you have a pediatrician who agrees with your decision to use essential oils before using them on your child. You may have to find a doctor who specializes in integrative medicine or even seek out a naturopathic doctor if your regular pediatrician isn't familiar with essential oil therapy.
You'll want to make sure you have a pediatrician who agrees with your decision to use essential oils before using them on your child. You may have to find a doctor who specializes in integrative medicine or even seek out a naturopathic doctor if your regular pediatrician isn't familiar with essential oil therapy.
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians also recommends that parents do not give essential oils orally, as they can cause vomiting and diarrhea in children younger than six years old.
Additionally, it's important that parents don't give their kids more than 4 ounces (118 ml) at any one time; this is because too much could lead to side effects like increased heart rate and blood pressure, which isn't good for anyone!
What about cats and dogs? Dogs seem to tolerate most essential oils pretty well, but their noses are much more sensitive than ours, so it's always best to use less oil around them rather than more.
You might think that cats would be able to tolerate essential oils just fine, but they're not.
Cats are more sensitive than dogs when it comes to essential oils and their use should be kept to a minimum.
Essential oils can be found in the air or on surfaces around your home, so if you have an indoor cat who spends time outdoors (or vice versa), there's always the risk of exposure through their food or water bowls.
Conclusion
All of this said, there is no perfect way to use essential oils because they all have different properties and actions. You'll need to do your own research and determine what works best for you. If you're considering using essential oils on your pet, make sure they are diluted appropriately. Also, be sure not to exceed recommended doses or ingest any oils yourself as well!