Is eucalyptus oil safe for children?

Eucalyptus oil is a popular product for many years because of its many benefits. However, babies may not be able to use this oil.

Although eucalyptus oil has medicinal effects and is widely used by adults, it is not necessarily the right product for young children, especially when children are under 10 years old. Therefore, you should consider if you want to use it for children.

Ingredients eucalyptus oil

Eucalyptus oil (eucalyptus) is extracted from the leaves of eucalyptus. The oil is composed of more than 100 different compounds. Crude eucalyptus oil may contain many compounds in different dosages than commercially available oil.

Why can not children use eucalyptus oil?

The cineole present in eucalyptus oil can cause respiratory and neurological problems in children. There are products that contain less cineole, but this is not enough to be safe for babies as there are still some substances that can be harmful to the baby.

Unlike other oils like almond oil and coconut oil, eucalyptus oil has very strong properties. Baby skin is extremely soft and sensitive. As a result, this oil can cause your baby to develop a rash, mild burns and irritation on the skin.

Some babies face stronger side effects like stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Some babies have a serious reaction to eucalyptus oil including epilepsy and even a coma, but very rare.

Note when using eucalyptus oil

Do not apply oil near the nose or mouth of a young child as it can cause breathing problems.

Keep out of reach of young children to avoid accidentally applying oil to the eyes or sensitive areas.

Be careful not to swallow eucalyptus oil. Side effects may be more serious if there is a family history of breathing problems such as asthma .

If your child accidentally swallows eucalyptus oil and shows signs of difficulty breathing , immediately take him to the emergency room.

Some believe that when the oil is diluted with water or other drugs, no harm is done to a newborn baby. However, this is not true. Babies are still small, a very little amount of oil can cause side effects for the baby. Therefore, be careful when using eucalyptus oil for children.

This oil is not recommended for nebulizers or humidifiers.