The Baby’s Perspective: Why Essential Oils Might Be Risky for Baby Skin

A lot of "natural" baby skincare leans on essential oils for their scent and their reputation as gentle, plant-based ingredients. But natural doesn't automatically mean safe for a newborn or infant - and essential oils are one of the areas where that gap matters most.

At It's All Good, we're not against essential oils; we simply use them thoughtfully, in products where they truly belong. When used correctly, essential oils can be safe and beneficial, which is why we include them in deodorants, creams, and other products for older children and adults. For babies, however, we take a far more cautious approach.

Here's why we choose a more considered path:

Tiny systems are extremely vulnerable 

Leading paediatricians, dermatologists, and aromatherapists all agree: essential oils should be avoided in infants and young children, especially under 3 years old, while systems such as the respiratory, nervous, and immune systems are still developing. Very few essential oils are ever considered safe for this age group, and most are outright discouraged for infants under one year. Using them too early can increase the risk of irritation, respiratory issues, and long-term sensitisation.

Skin is not just a barrier - it's an entry point 

Infant skin is thinner and more absorbent than adult skin, so substances applied topically can reach the bloodstream more easily. When eczema is present, this entry point is even more exposed, increasing the risk of irritation, flares, and long-term sensitisation.

(Sensitisation means the immune system can learn to see a substance as a threat, potentially causing lifelong allergies after just one exposure.)

Potency matters 

Essential oils are far more concentrated than teas or infused herbs. Even tiny amounts can overwhelm a baby's immature detox pathways, increasing toxic load rather than reducing it.

Our approach to babies' skin 

At It's All Good, our focus goes beyond immediate skin benefits. We design products to nurture skin and protect long-term health, from babies to adults, doing everything we can to reduce toxic build-up that could impact life and wellbeing.

Our philosophy is simple: if something isn't necessary, we leave it out.

Our baby products are unscented by design because fragrance can affect a baby's health over time.

When we use botanicals, we favour gentler forms, such as herbs infused in a carrier oil, or no scent at all. Infused oils work by letting the plant steep in a carrier oil, so what transfers across is mild by comparison to an extracted, distilled essential oil - a gentler way to bring in a botanical without asking a baby's system to process something so strong. For developing skin and bodies, less is often the purest care and the most nurturing choice.

Our Lavender Birth & Baby Oil is a good example of this approach in practice - the lavender is infused into the oil rather than added as an essential oil, so it carries a gentle scent without the concentrated potency we're cautious about for babies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are any essential oils considered safe for babies?
Very few. The general guidance from paediatricians and aromatherapists is that most essential oils should be avoided for infants under one year, and used only with real caution (if at all) up to age three, while key body systems are still developing.

If a product is "unscented," does that mean it has no ingredients with a natural smell?
Not necessarily - some naturally occurring ingredients carry a mild scent of their own without being fragranced. "Unscented" means we haven't added anything- essential oil, fragrance oil or otherwise- purely for scent.

Is it safe to use a diffuser with essential oils around a baby?
This isn't something we can advise on directly since it falls outside topical skincare, but the same caution applies - it's worth checking current paediatric guidance before using essential oils in any form around infants.