I am sure that you have heard about Young Living, Doterra, or any of the many other oil companies out there. Essential oils are making a huge comeback… why? Because they are natural, they work and there are so many to choose from that whatever your problem there is an oil for that! Yes we can use essential oils for teething. So without further to do, let’s get oily!
Precautions
and Supplies
This needed to be front and center: OILS CAN BE DANGEROUS IF NOT USED PROPERLY. They are hella strong. They are natural but we still need to use from precautions. First, please always dilute oils when using them for your children. This means either mixing the oil with a carrier oil (such as coconut oil) or diffusing them in a water vapor diffuser. Second, while some oils are safe to use from birth, I like to be extra careful with infants so I would not recommend using them until baby is at least 6 months old. Lastly, do a little test with the oil before full on use- example: rub a small amount of diluted oils on baby’s foot before rubbing it all over them head to toe! Also, please only use oils externally or diffused. Ingesting oils is another whole practice that I have 0 experience with and I am not responsible for what happens if you let your little one lick some oils!
Now onto the fun stuff!
A few helpful things to have:
- A water vapor diffuser- there are so many options out there but I find something basic and medium sized works best. Check this one out. It can double as a nightlight!
- Carrier oil- I really have an obsession with coconut oil, but jojoba is my second favorite.
- Essential oils- I have tried a few brands but I really like Purest Naturals. They have fair prices, tons of options and I have never had an issue with quality.
Lavender
Lavender is known for it’s calming effect. It is great for teething because it helps calm down baby when they have become an erratic teething monster! There are TONS of baby products that are already made with lavender scents and essential oils, but it is also a great one to diffuse in the room. Lavender can be a bit strong so try to go-slow with this one. It’s way easier to add more oil than to take it away or try to dilute it after it’s already on baby. Try it either in a diffuser or diluted and massaged onto baby, focusing near the jawline.
Chamomile
Similar to lavender, this stuff will calm anyone. It is a common sleep aid in the form of tea for adults. Because it is so calming and more mild than lavender it is really good as a whole room scent via a water vapor diffuser or mixed in with a lotion as a post-bath moisturizer. Perfect for before bed!
Ginger
Ginger is SUPER strong, so be extra careful with this one. It is known to help alleviate many types of pain when massaged into the sore area. Dilute it well with a carrier oil and gently massage it around baby’s jawline and neck. Since ginger is also a pretty “peppy” smell, I wouldn’t necessarily use it before bed, more during the day.
Mandarin
Another calming oil! If I wasn’t clear, teething babies are super fussy, so you can really never have too many options for calming them down! Mandarin is a great whole room room scent because it is a little lighter and also very sweet, so it covers smells like dirty diapers very well.
Dill
I am not a huge fan of dill in general, but the room scent particularly does not appeal to me. However, dill is calming specifically to the stomach. If your babe is anything like my first, they will be fussing and crying so much that they will suck in lots of air and create one unhappy, gassy tummy. Grab some dill, dilute it with your fav carrier oil and massage it right onto the belly. Both the dill and the massage will help handle those gas bubbles quick!
Last Thoughts
Essential oils for teething are a great natural alternative that allows you to treat symptoms without medication and even while baby sleeps! With careful use they are 100% safe for baby and can really be a lifesaver. Comment below if you have tried essential oils before! Did it help? Did I miss one that works well for you and your little one?
HI Nicke,
I worked with kids before but no experience with using essentials with them. Nice to know that they are safe to use for babies.
Personally, I’d like to use them but I’m afraid I’ll have allergy because with perfumes I get headaches.
Which scent would you recommend for me , which is not too strong?
Thanks,
Marita
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Hi Marita! Essential oils can definitely be safe for baby, just always remember to dilute. As far as reactions go, everyone is different but remember that essential oils are completely natural while most perfumes are not. If you are looking for help with teething, chamomile is likely the most gentle scent. Lavender is also a very mild and calming scent. It is not my personal favorite but if you dilute it or mix it with another scent it is not nearly as overpowering and it is really effective. Hope that helps, good luck!
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