| Aromatherapy for babies is not widely practised in | | | | water. |
| present times but latest studies have shown that it | | | | 3) If you have chosen to provide aromatherapy to |
| can have excellent effects on the health of your | | | | your baby by way of massage, it is advisable to |
| baby. Common problems can be helped by | | | | perform a patch test a few days before to see if |
| incorporating aromatherapy oils in your child's life. If | | | | there are any adverse reactions on the skin. Perform |
| performed regularly, your baby can get relief of | | | | the test by applying a drop of the oil diluted in a |
| sleeping problems, colds, coughs, rashes, etc. These | | | | carrier oil, that you intend to use on the inner elbow. |
| oils can be administered to your baby in different | | | | This should be left on for forty eight hours and if |
| ways: | | | | there is no reaction, you may proceed to give the full |
| - Bathing your baby with a few drops of essential | | | | massage as the oil is considered quite safe for your |
| oils. | | | | baby's skin. However, if there is any kind of redness, |
| - Installing an oil diffuser that perfumes the | | | | itching or swelling, you should not use the oil. |
| surrounding air. | | | | 4) As mentioned previously, essential oils are not to |
| - You may also give your baby frequent massages | | | | be used neat. They are to be diluted instead with a |
| which is possibly the best way to provide | | | | carrier oil and then applied to the baby's skin. This |
| aromatherapy. Please note you should never apply | | | | dilution should be done in a suitable ratio. The ideal |
| essential oils neat to the skin. Always dilute them in | | | | ratio for mixing is to pour in one drop of essential oil |
| carrier oil such as almond or jojoba. | | | | to ten mils of carrier oil. Also ensure you use oils |
| However, there are a few things to keep in mind | | | | labelled 'essential oils' rather than 'fragrant oils' as |
| before you employ aromatherapy on your baby. | | | | these are synthetic replicas and aren't suitable for |
| 1) It is very important not to take aromatherapy oils | | | | use. |
| internally, especially so for a baby. Whilst some oils | | | | 5) The following is a list of the oils that are suitable |
| may be safe to ingest it is largely unknown what the | | | | for babies along with their specific functions. Any oils |
| body's response will be so it is best to avoid the | | | | that are more potent than these should be avoided: |
| circumstances. | | | | - For colds, eucalyptus oil (but only for children aged |
| 2) The oils should be kept at a considerably safe | | | | over 3 months) |
| distance away from the eyes, as they are very | | | | - For cases of skin rashes, eczema, etc chamomile |
| sensitive and there can be adverse effects if they | | | | should be employed. |
| are brought too close to the oils. If diluted oils do | | | | - Lavender oil is the best choice to soothe and lull |
| enter the eyes, flush out immediately with warm | | | | your child to sleep and for general skin care. |