Aromatherapy involves essential oils, and these should be used with extreme caution – particularly on children. What are ‘essential oils’? Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts from plant materials – leaves, bark, roots or flowers. They are powerful and should never be used undiluted on the skin – this applies to adults too. Always dilute in a ‘carrier oil’, such as almond or baby oil. For adults, a 2% dilution is recommended, for children, 1% (five drops of essential oil in 20ml of carrier oil). However, different manufacturers’ oils will vary in concentration, so read the instructions.

When using essential oils with your child, it is imperative that you find a reputable supplier of therapeutic-grade essential oils, using organic or wild crafted varieties when possible. Synthetic copies of oils commonly used in perfumery are not appropriate, and may even be harmful to your child's health. To maintain efficacy, essential oils should be kept in dark amber or cobalt glass containers, in a dark and cool location, away from the child's access. Wooden storage boxes from craft or 'Pier One' type stores can make a nice container for the bottles.

Aromatherapy is a new approach to emotional well being. It is a healing form that uses essential oils. These aromatherapy oils are the vital essence of aromatic plants and flowers in a condensed form. When used properly they have restorative effects on the body, mind and even the spirit. Babies are extremely sensitive to smell. They can recognize their mothers scent and distinguish it from someone else's at an age as young as six weeks. Fragrance, pleasant or not, comforting or not, becomes a memory. Fragrant essential oils can play an important role in giving our children a good health start.

Most over-the-counter and prescription drugs list different dosages based on the size of a child or warn not to use the medicine with children. Essential oils used with children must be respected in the same way. Recipes for use on children should have significantly lower dosages of oils than if the same recipe is used by an adult. Additionally, many oils should not be used at all with children. When in doubt, don’t use it on your child.

When using aromatherapy for children, take into consideration the fact that they are smaller than adults. They have much less body weight and their bodily systems are undergoing significant development. You can therefore either increase the amount of carrier oil to achieve the necessary dilution or decrease the number of drops of essential oil. A pipette, a device similar to an eyedropper, delivers approximately one-quarter the standard amount.

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