Lavender Oil and Kids: Why the Bottle Stays High Up

A small bottle looks harmless on a nightstand, and that is exactly where it tends to end up. For anything involving babies and children, we have one rule for our lavender oils and it is about where the bottle lives: capped, high up, and out of sight. We do not offer dilution, dosing or diffuser schedules for children, and we would rather say so plainly than guess.

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Why children are treated differently

Poison Control notes that children have thin skin and immature livers, which might make them more susceptible to toxic effects than adults, and that essential oils not in use should be locked up, out of sight and reach of children and pets. It also describes a case worth knowing: an 18-month-old who swallowed a small amount of lavender extract that his mother used as a home fragrance. Three hours later he was extremely drowsy and confused, and he was back to normal in about six hours. It is one case, not a rate, and the amount swallowed is not known, but it shows how little it can take with a small body.

Think about the size of what is in the house. Our smallest bottle is 0.5 oz, about 14.8 ml, which at roughly 20 drops per milliliter is nearly 300 drops. Because no source we know of gives a quantity of lavender oil that is meaningful for a child, our guidance is about access, which is the one thing a household controls. A closed cabinet beats a low shelf.

If a child swallows essential oil, Poison Control says to use its online tool or call a poison center at 1-800-222-1222 in the US, and says the guidance is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day.

What the case reports say about lavender on skin

You may have come across the breast-growth reports, so here they are in proportion. In 2007, doctors described three prepubertal boys with normal hormone levels who developed breast tissue while using products that contained lavender and tea tree oils. The tissue resolved shortly after the products were stopped, and cell experiments showed both oils had estrogen-like and anti-androgen-like activity (Henley et al., 2007). In 2019, a second series reported three girls with early breast development and one boy with prepubertal gynecomastia, all continuously exposed to lavender-containing fragrances, with the same pattern of resolution once the products were stopped. The authors noted that the cause could be multifactorial and that whether lavender oil's estrogenic potency is enough to cause such effects is unknown (Ramsey et al., 2019).

These are case reports. They show an association, not a cause, and they say nothing about how often it happens. NCCIH puts it carefully: a few cases of breast tissue swelling have been reported in children using topical lavender products, but it is unclear whether lavender was responsible, since the condition has many causes. We find that a sensible reading. It is a good reason to avoid daily, repeated use on a child's skin, and a good reason to raise the subject with a pediatrician. Our hormones page covers this in more depth.

A household habit that works

Most of what we can usefully say about children comes down to habit. Pick one place for the bottle and keep it there: a high cabinet with a latch, away from the bathroom counter and the nightstand. Put it back after every use, even when you are only stepping away for a moment, because a few seconds is plenty of time for a toddler. If grandparents, guests or babysitters visit, tell them where it lives and why.

It is also worth thinking about where a child spends time rather than just where the bottle sits. A bag left open on the floor is within a child's reach in a way a cabinet is not. We find it helps to walk through the house at a child's height once, just to see what a small person can see.

Telling the grown-ups in the house

Safe storage only works if everyone knows about it. If you have older children, a short, calm talk about why the bottle stays shut and out of reach is more effective than a rule with no reason. Explain that it is a strong scent, not a toy and not a drink, and make it easy for them to ask you if they are curious. Curiosity is natural, and a clear answer from a grown-up usually satisfies it.

Questions for the pediatrician

A pediatrician is the right person for anything involving a child's skin or health. Questions worth asking:

The same applies to anything touching broken or inflamed skin, where Poison Control advises against essential oils. For a general view of reactions and spot testing for adults, our allergy guide is a good start, and our storage guide covers keeping bottles tightly capped.

For little ones, the simplest approach is also the safest one: leave the decisions to the pediatrician and keep every bottle high and closed.

Lavender Essential Oil bottle

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender Essential Oil from our own shop, in sizes from 0.5 oz to bulk.

From $12.99

Shop Now →

Sources & Further Reading