7 Natural Oils That Effectively Calm Anxious Babies

7 Natural Oils That Effectively Calm Anxious Babies

3 Oct 2022 | 5 min Read

Sudeshna Chakravarti

Author | 799 Articles

Natural oils possess several medicinal and therapeutic properties. In some cases, natural oils can also help relieve stress and anxiety in babies. But since your baby’s skin is super-sensitive and delicate, you should follow some basic guidelines to prevent adversities. One of the things you can do is stick to using fragrant-free and plant-based products, and also seek guidance from your baby’s paediatrician to know the right dosage and methods of using natural oils.

In this post, we give you more insight on whether natural oils can help soothe and relax your anxious baby, and also a list of plant-based oils, which are safe for baby use. 

Can Natural Oils Help Calm Your Anxious Baby?

Natural oils offer several health benefits to babies. Since most of them are plant-based and mildly fragrant, they stimulate your baby’s senses and nervous system and provide a calming effect. Some natural oils possess soothing properties, and can even relieve colic, and tummy ache symptoms, and help promote better sleep. 

Which Natural Oils Are Safe And Effective for Babies?

Natural oils
Natural oils like coconut oil possess therapeutic values that help soothe your baby / Image source: Freepik

We have listed some safe and nourishing natural oils for babies, which can be used for multiple purposes, such as massaging, moisturising, as well as soothing your anxious young ones. However, make sure to consult your baby’s paediatrician for safety and guidance before incorporating the oils into your little one’s routine.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has a light texture, which gets absorbed easily into your baby’s skin during a massage. It is enriched with nutrients like vitamin E and bioactive compounds like polyphenols, which help nourish your little one’s skin and provide a calming effect. The oil also has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe inflammation or discomfort in your child’s skin.

For best results, you should always opt for virgin coconut oil, for instance, BabyChakra’s organic coconut oil, which is formulated with 100% unadulterated coconut oil to retain all vital nutrients and mildly scented to prevent overstimulating your baby’s senses. 

Sesame Oil

Sesame oil has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help induce sleep in your baby, and also reduce stress and anxiety. Massaging with sesame oil can also reduce the severity of pain in babies, which could be one of the causes of overstimulation in your little one.

Almond Oil

Almond oil emits a sweet fragrance and is pleasantly calming. In fact, massaging your baby with almond oil during bedtime can not only ease them but also help them sleep peacefully. Also, almond oil has emollient properties that help keep your baby’s skin healthy and improve their complexion and tone.

You can opt for BabyChakra’s nourishing baby massage oil, which is enriched with almond oil, and other botanical actives, such as moringa oil, avocado oil, and saffron oil that nourish and moisturise your baby’s skin and relax their senses to ease anxiety and stress. 

Chamomile Oil

Natural oils
Chamomile oil has relaxing properties and helps promote better sleep in babies / Image source: Pexels

Chamomile oil is an ancient medicinal herb, which has excellent soothing properties. Massaging your baby with chamomile oil helps calm your baby, increases their sleep duration, and also relieves colic symptoms. Apart from soothing your baby, chamomile oil is also effective against diaper rashes, sunburn, cold sores, and boils.

Lavender Oil

Lavender oil offers a soothing effect on the mind and body. You can safely apply lavender oil to your baby’s skin if they are older than three months to alleviate colic and gas symptoms, reduce pain, and also promote peaceful sleep in them. Diffusion or massaging are two ways to use lavender oil for your little one.

Dill

Dill oil is enriched with bioactive compounds, such as limonene, carvone, and phenols, which help soothe your baby’s senses and prevent overstimulation. Additionally, the oil has antispasmodic (reduces muscle spasms) and carminative (reduces gas) properties, which may help relieve colic symptoms in your baby. You can use dill oil both in the morning and evening routine of your baby.

Mandarin Oil

This pleasantly calming oil is usually safe for babies older than six months. Massaging your baby with mandarin oil when they are stressed or anxious can help soothe and relax them, and put them to peaceful sleep. Plus, mandarin oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties that help keep your little one’s skin healthy.

Safety Tips for Using Natural Oils for Babies

Natural oils
Do a patch test on your baby’s skin before using natural oils to determine whether your little one is allergic to it or not / Image source: Pexels

Make sure to adhere to the following safety tips while using natural oils for babies:

  • Consult a certified dermatologist before using natural oils on your baby’s skin. Make sure to determine what’s safe for your baby, based on their skin type.
  • Do a patch test before using natural oils for babies. This will help determine if your baby is allergic to a particular ingredient.
  • Avoid applying the oil around your baby’/s eyes, nose, or mouth to avoid accidental ingestion.
  • In case the oil gets into your baby’s eyes, wash with cold water multiple times, and also consult a doctor immediately.

Natural oils provide various therapeutic properties and can be used to relax and calm your anxious baby. You can safely use the natural oils that we mentioned in this list to massage your baby during their bedtime to ease their senses. However, if your baby has a family history of allergies and skin sensitivities, consult a doctor for guidance before incorporating natural oils to their skincare routine. 

Cover Image Credit: Pexels.com

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