In my last post I mentioned that I would share some information on which essential oils are safe for contact with your baby.

My sister lives in Ada, Oklahoma and has a thriving massage therapy business there. One of her specialties is pre-natal massage for expectant mothers. She and I are both great believers in the power of essential oils for healing common ailments, so we’ve have done extensive research on aromatherapy and the use of essential oils. However, just because something is all natural or chemical free it does not mean that it is safe.

Please keep this in mind if you decide to add essential oils to your laundry, especially if you are using soap nuts as an alternative to chemical based laundry detergents. Some people do feel they want to have both clean and scented laundry. Adding a few drops of essential oil to the soapnuts pouch before you drop it into the washing machine with your baby clothes or nursery linens is the answer to get the scent, as well as the chemical free cleaning.

Below is a concise article on which essential oils are safe for exposure and contact for infants and babies. The article actually discusses direct skin contact of the baby with an essential oil, but remember your baby is still developing internally as well as externally so before you scent the laundry consider which is safe for contact with your child.

In addition to the healing properties of essential oils, lavender scent also has a calming effect when inhaled that’s why you will find so many packaged baby cleansing products with lavender scent on the shelves in stores. We strongly suggest you use only essential oils and not chemically altered fragrance oils. This cannot be stressed too much.

How to Know Which Essential Oils Are Safe for Babies

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Essential oils must be treated with care at all times and many of them carry contra-indications as to their use, such as not using them during pregnancy or on babies. However, there are some essential oils that are not only safe for baby but are also good for baby.

Steps

1. Select the safe oils for babies according to the baby’s age.
   • From birth to 2 months: Chamomile (both German and Roman), Lavender, Yarrow and Dill are safe essential oils.
   • From 2 months to 6 months old: Adding to those already listed, you can also include Coriander, Neroli and Mandarin essential oils.
   • From 6 - 12 months old: Gradually add Grapefruit, Aniseed, Tea Tree and Calendula essential oils.
2. Be aware of how to use the oils safely and in what quantities. Always follow reputable instructions and always have a trusted recipe at hand.
3. Decide how you wish to use essential oils with your baby. There are some suggestions offered under “Tips” for starters. It is a great idea to do some research during pregnancy for suitable remedies for baby ailments and soothing.
4. Do not ever use eucalyptus or wintergreen on any child under 2 years of age. They can be lethal.

Tips

• Essential oils for babies have such uses as helping to alleviate diaper rash and dried skin, such as cradle cap.
• Massaging babies with essential oil is a delightful way to bond with and soothe your baby.
• Oiling babies can be refreshing, clean and fun. But don’t abuse your power; if they react unpleasantly to Burmuda or White Rhino scents, don’t force it. Alleviate your frustration by chewing ice or counting to 10 instead.

Warnings

• It is always prudent to ask your health professional for some advice before using on your baby or toddler.
• Always read the labels. If in doubt, do not use. The place of purchase should be able to provide you with advice if you ask.
• Do not ever use “essential Oils” that say not to use internally or on the skin. This are not essential oils but petrochemically distilled fragrance oils. Make sure your oils live up to everyone of these expectations: How To Find Out if Your Aromatherapy Essential Oils Are Pure Therapeutic Grade
• Are the fragrances of your pure therapeutic grade essential oils subtle, rich, organic, and delicate? Do they feel natural? Do they smell stronger, more real and less chemical than your current brand?
• Are the fragrances of your Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils consistent from batch to batch as an indication that they are pure and painstakingly scrutinized by small farms rather than carelessly, industrially, processed on a large scale?
• Does your essential oil supplier send each batch of essential oils it receives through up to five different independent lab analyses before the essential oil is released? Will they produce them on demand?
• Are the tests performed by well known standard independent labs?
• Does your essential oil supplier grow and distill its own organically grown herbs? Are the distillation facilities part of the farm where the herbs are grown so they are freshly distilled, maintaining their potency?
• Does your essential oil supplier use low pressure and low temperature to distill essential oils and preserve the essential oils fragile chemical constituents? Are the distillation cookers fabricated from costly stainless steel alloys to reduce the likelihood of the essential oils chemically reacting with the metal?
• Does your essential oil supplier have representatives traveling worldwide to personally inspect the fields and distilleries where the herbs are grown and distilled?
• Do they scrutinize the facilities to check to see that no synthetic chemicals are being used in any of these processes?
• Does your essential oil supplier care about the farms they use and make sure they are fair trade? Meaning the local farmers get fair pay and not 3rd world change.
• Does your essential oil supplier sell all essential oils in 2 sizes to save you money? And available to everyone without the hassles of network marketing?
• Does your essential oil supplier offer free shipping, low cost shipping, and discounts in appreciation of your patronage?
• Does your essential oil supplier provide knowledgeable staff to answer you questions about use, and supply as much information as possible free of charge?
• Are over 98% of your current brand of essential oils certified organic buy real certification? Are they willing to provide this upon request?

Related wikiHows

• How to Breastfeed Twins
• How to Find the Perfect Baby Shower Centerpiece
• How to Make Baby Wipes
• How to Put Shoes on a Baby

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world’s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Know Which Essential Oils Are Safe for Babies. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

If you want just the scent of lavender on babies clothes and linens conside taking a few tablespoons of lavendar flowers and putting them in a fabric pouch in the drawers or closets where you store your baby clothes and linens.

In my next post I will share information about non-toxic chemical free cleaning for pet owners. You’ll want to be sure to read that post because like a baby your pet can have dire health complications from exposure to certain chemicals. You’ll be surprised by some of the things I’ll share in that post.

This morning I found some more great YouTube videos on ways to clean and be green. Some of the tips for non-toxic cleaning products and homemade chemical free cleaners are excellent. There are also tips on ways to make your home more eco-friendly.

Keep it GREEN!

These days the environment is one of the most talked about topics in the media, on television, and in coffeeshops, as well as just about every place else.

Because more and more people are interested in environmentally friendly products and protecting their family, their pets, and the environment from harmful, often toxic, prepackaged chemical based cleaning products I want to share some great videos from Threadbanger with you.

In this video you’ll see easy to follow instructions for making environmentally friendly, chemical free cleaning products for wood furniture, kitchen counters, and glass. They are homemade environmentally friendly cleaning products that cost just pennies to make.

Below are some other great tips on Do It Yourself Projects you may want to check out:

One of my favorite places online is http://squidoo.com because I find so many passionate and very useful lenses there.

Recently I found this Squidoo Lens about homemade chemical free cleaning products.  http://www.squidoo.com/homemadecleaningproducts . Although the lensmaster only covers things you can do with baking soda and tea tree oil the hints are helpful to at least get you started replacing chemical clenaing products with homemade chemical free choices.

Another site you may want to visit for tips on creating an environmentally safe, chemical free home is http://www.vinegartips.com/cleaning/ which touts the value of vinegar as a household cleanser that is effective for killing most mold, bacteria, and germs. Since distilled white vinegar is perhaps one of the least expensive chemical free cleaning options those who are looking for frugal cleaning tips will also find that site very useful.

My absolute favorite site is http://www.care2.com/greenliving/healthy-home/nontoxic-cleaning the entire Care 2 site is perhaps one of the most content rich sites I have ever visited. Since their entire premise is that one person can make a difference the tips, articles, and information they provide offer each of us the chance to actually Make a Difference. They do it without breaking your budget, which is something that most of us are looking for right now.

I truly believe that most people do have a conscience and are interested in protecting the environment, reducing waste, and living a healthier life. The reason that more people don’t take action may be lack of information and increasing their expenses.

So http://non-toxic-cleaning.com is working on making a difference by offering the least expensive ways to clean your world without breaking your budget, and by giving you easy access to information that you can use today.

Welcome to our non-toxic cleaning blog.

What you’ll find at http://non-toxic-cleaning.com/blog is information about how to clean almost everything in your world without exposing your family, possessions, and the environment to toxic chemicals.

History has taught us that as “man” has evolved the negative impact on the environment has increased in exponential proportion. Environmental pollution is not caused only by factories, automobiles, and machinery. It’s also caused by laundry detergent, dishwasher powders and liquids, chlorine in swimming pools and spas, and insecticides, just to name a few.

The waste from packaged cleaning products increases the need for additional recycling which uses energy and releases the toxic chemicals into the environment through waste water.

The good news is that for every product that pollutes the environment while it cleans, there is a natural alternative which will clean without excessive expense and without exposing your family to harsh chemicals, toxins, and perfumes.

People with allergies to airborn pollutants, fragrances, and chemicals often are forced to pay a hefty price both economically and in personal discomfort just to maintain a clean home. We are your champions in the search for safe, chemical free, cost effective, natural, and safe cleaning products.

Each of our posts will offer either a product review of an environmentally safe, chemical free cleaning product or offer a home made recipe for cleaning almost every possession you own. The reviews will be based on personal experience and not just ads for products that market themselves as environmentally friendly. Whenever possible we’ll offer you a link to where to buy a product we recommend from the least expensive, best quality merchant.

We hope you will enjoy the vast resources and information we’ve compiled.