Essential Oils Around Babies and Children
What poison centers, NIH and case reports say about essential oils near babies and children: swallowing, menthol, camphor, skin, hormone questions, and where to get help.
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If a child may have swallowed an essential oil or a product containing one, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). Call 911 if the child has a seizure, trouble breathing, or cannot be woken. [1][2] Do not try to make the child vomit. [2] See Essential Oil Poisoning: What to Do First and A Child Swallowed a Supplement or Natural Product.
Why children are different
Poison Control says children have thin skin and immature livers, which might make them more susceptible to toxic effects than adults. [1] Several of the documented harms below happened after a toddler swallowed a small amount of oil, or after a product was used on the skin more often than the label said. [1]
What sources report
| Topic | What the source found | Evidence label |
|---|---|---|
| Menthol (found in peppermint oil) | NCCIH says peppermint oil should not be applied to the face of infants or young children because serious side effects may occur if they inhale the menthol. [3] | Official statement |
| Camphor | Three toddlers (15 to 36 months) had seizures; two swallowed camphor and one was rubbed repeatedly with it. All needed drugs to stop the seizures. [4] Poison Control adds that camphor poisoning has occurred when camphor skin products were used on children more often than the label recommended, or covered with extra layers of clothing. [1] | Case series and poison center statement |
| Tea tree oil swallowed | Toddlers aged 17 and 23 months were drowsy, unsteady or confused after swallowing under 10 mL of 100% oil; the 23-month-old was symptom-free within 5 hours. [5][6] | Case reports |
| Lavender swallowed | An 18-month-old who swallowed a small amount of lavender fragrance became very drowsy and confused for hours; his brain-wave test was abnormal, then normal the next day. [1] | Case summary |
| Eucalyptus and sage swallowed | Poison Control says eucalyptus can cause seizures if swallowed, and that swallowing more than a very small amount of sage oil has caused seizures in children. [1] | Poison center statement |
| Breast tissue growth | NIEHS describes clinical cases linking skin use of essential oils with breast tissue growth in prepubescent boys, and a 2019 report in prepubescent girls using lavender-fragranced products, which resolved when exposure stopped. [7] NCCIH says it is unclear whether lavender was responsible. [8] | Case reports and cell-lab work; cause not established |
The NIEHS cell studies used tea tree and lavender oils on human cell lines in test tubes. [7] Case reports involved skin use, not aromatherapy; NIEHS says more studies are needed on inhalation. [7] See Lavender and Tea Tree Oils: Skin Reactions and Hormone Questions.
Safe-use points from the sources
Poison Control states that if you have bottles of essential oils at home and young children, consider discarding them safely; otherwise they must be locked up, out of sight and reach of children and pets. [1] The Poison Control page we read gives no dilution for children. Proper evidence not found in the sources we read for the effect of child-resistant caps on essential oil poisonings. We searched Poison Control, NCCIH, NIEHS and PubMed.
NAHA, a US aromatherapy professional association, states that infants, toddlers and young children are more sensitive to the potency of essential oils, and that some oils should be avoided or used only in highly diluted form under a knowledgeable professional's guidance. [9] That is a professional association's position, not a regulator's rule, and we do not repeat its percentages.
Diffusers and rooms where children sleep
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read that shows what diffused oil does to a baby's breathing or sleep. We looked at NCCIH, NHS and PubMed. NCCIH says lavender aromatherapy is considered possibly safe but may cause headache or coughing. [8] Ask a pediatrician before using any oil around an infant, especially a baby with breathing problems. See Essential Oils, Diffusers and Breathing Problems.
Products labeled for children
Poison Control says that if an essential oil is found in a medicine, use only according to label instructions. [1] The FDA treats claims such as relieving colic or helping you sleep as drug claims. [10] Check any claims with a pharmacist; see Children and Teens: Why They Are Different and Essential Oils Claims Checked.
Frequently asked questions
Are essential oils safe for babies?
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read that shows any oil is safe for infants. NCCIH specifically says peppermint oil should not go on an infant's face. [3] Ask a pediatrician.
Which oils are most dangerous to children?
Poison Control's examples of oils that are dangerous if swallowed include camphor, wintergreen, eucalyptus, sage and pennyroyal, and it notes children may be more susceptible than adults. [1] No list is complete; any oil swallowed needs a call. See Camphor Oil: Why It Can Be Dangerous.
Do essential oils cause breast growth in children?
Cases have been reported with skin use of lavender and tea tree products, and cell studies show hormonal activity, but NCCIH says it is unclear whether lavender was responsible. [7][8]
Can older children use oils on skin?
Poison Control says not all oils are suitable for skin and that product instructions matter. [1] For a child, ask a pediatrician or pharmacist first.
How should oils be stored?
Poison Control says locked up, out of sight and reach of children and pets. [1]
References
- Essential oils: Poisonous when misused, Poison Control (US). Read 2026-10-23.
- Poisoning, NHS (UK), page last reviewed 12 June 2025. Read 2026-10-23.
- Peppermint Oil: Usefulness and Safety, NCCIH (NIH). Read 2026-10-23.
- A cluster of children with seizures caused by camphor poisoning, Khine H et al., Pediatrics 2009, PMID 19403490. Read 2026-10-23.
- Melaleuca oil poisoning in a 17-month-old, Del Beccaro MA, Vet Hum Toxicol 1995, PMID 8588296. Read 2026-10-23.
- Melaleuca oil poisoning, Jacobs MR, Hornfeldt CS, J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1994, PMID 8057407. Read 2026-10-23.
- Essential Oils, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH), last reviewed March 19, 2026. Read 2026-10-23.
- Lavender: Usefulness and Safety, NCCIH (NIH). Read 2026-10-23.
- Safety, National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA, US professional association); page undated. Read 2026-10-23.
- Aromatherapy, US Food and Drug Administration, content current as of 09/08/2023. Read 2026-10-23.