Your baby is teething. You want to help. You reach for the Clove essential oil…
WAIT!
Before you apply that ultra concentrated product to your baby’s gums, please read this post. I want to explain why this is not recommended, and offer you some safe alternatives.
Why you want to avoid using Clove essential oil on teething babies
Clove essential oil is on the list of essential oils to avoid using on children under age 2 (you can find that list here: Essential Oils and Children).
Let me explain why… I am sure we’d all agree that cloves (the herb) are strong. It only takes a small sprinkling of ground cloves in a pot to simmer to waft through the house pleasantly. If you’ve ever added ground cloves to your oatmeal, you know a little bit goes a long way! Steam distillation of the herb into an essential oil increases the potency by 100X or more.
According to Essential Oil Safety, Clove Bud (and Leaf and Stem) essential oils have a moderate risk for mucous membrane irritation and skin sensitization, and therefore should not be used on children under age 2.
To further emphasize the importance of using clove essential oil with caution, it is further recommended that those with hypersensitive, diseased, or damaged skin avoid this essential oil. Even healthy adults need to use with caution and use at no greater than a .5% dilution.
If you have used Clove essential oil on your baby before, don’t panic.
Although irritation is immediate and noticeable (redness), sensitization happens after using several times. To be honest, sensitization is a tricky one to predict. It might happen after the 3rd application, or the 10th (read more about sensitization here: A Word on Sensitization) or not until the 20th time it is applied.
This is why it’s important to stop now, even if you’ve used Clove essential oil before and figure you might as well keep using it. Do your baby a favor, and use another method.
So what can I do for my teething baby if I can’t use Clove essential oil?
German Chamomile hydrosol is a safe alternative. Like other hydrosols, this one can be used straight on your baby’s gums for teething relief, but is usually not available locally.
Lavender essential oil can be used, diluted according to age, and applied to the jawline or cheek for teething relief. You can find the proper dilution by using the chart on this page: Properly Diluting Essential Oils.
Where to Buy Essential Oils & Learn More About How to Use Them Safely
The author of this post, Lea Harris, is a certified clinical aromatherapist who offers thoughtful, well-researched, and unbiased information about essential oils on her site Learning About Essential Oils. She is not affiliated with any essential oil brand or company, and she’s generously agreed to create this series of posts for us Food Renegades to help educate us about essential oil safety.
(You should click here to read the full series.)
You may purchase essential oils locally, or you can buy them online.
(You should click here to see my preferred brand of essential oils.)
Thanks, Lea, for sharing this post with us!
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I didn’t use clove essential oil on my daughter’s gums when she was teething, but I did add a little cloves to the applesauce she loved to eat back then. When she was between 1 and 2, I made sure she had a steady supply of pumpkin bread (made with cloves). Between those and constant nursing, we survived.
Thank you for your comment, Holly! I think it’s important to distinguish between the essential oils of plants and the plants themselves.
Essential oils are incredibly potent distillations of the plants and should be used with caution. They’re still amazing resources. We just need to know how to use them safely!
As a subscriber…so glad to see this in my inbox…So much is swirling around w/EOs I have started researching too, I am glad your guest writer isn’t affiliated with any “company” – THANKS!!!
Thank you so much for posting this!
I am alarmed at the amount of MLM folks who are dispensing topical application and ingestion advice while selling their EOs..
Exactly! I have also been surprised to hear all the talk of taking essential oil pills, etc. because before that I thought you weren’t supposed to ingest it! Thanks Kristen for this series!! 🙂
Breathing essential oils gets in your body, the same as topical and ingested applications. so if you shouldn’t apply topically or ingest, wouldn’t it stand to reason you shouldn’t breath them either?? There’s plenty of scientific research done on essential oils to prove they can be applied topically and ingested, if they ARE PURE, and not distilled with chemicals. A lot of companies who sell cheap oils, use chemicals to distill.
I’d like to ask Lea if there is any concern with using lavender oil on baby boys. I have heard that lavender can have a negative hormonal impact on males. I would love to hear more on the subject from an aromatherapist. Thank you!
No, there is not. You can read more here: http://roberttisserand.com/2013/02/lavender-oil-is-not-estrogenic/
We’ve used Hyland’s products for teething as well as amber necklaces… you never even knew they were teething aside from the obvious teeth coming through the gums. They did get some rashes from time to time while teething as well as have some huge poopy diapers, but they were never extra fussy, etc. When we knew they were teething we also made sure to wear them even more if they wanted to be, which helped to provide extra comfort too.
Hyland’s teething tabs are a GREAT alternative. I used them myself for my daughter 9 years ago. I should have included them in the post as a recommendation! 🙂
I always figured it was the numbing effect on the throat that was the issue. I have used it on sore throats mixed with other things…and it is powerful!!! I figured that that was the reason…interesting note for sure. I would still not use it on a baby for the other tho..numbing of the throat is a spooky thing…
Michelle, glad to hear you found this post helpful! I plan for this to be the first of many.
I purchased “Gum-omile Oil” by Herbs for Kids as recommended by another blogger months ago. It was recommended for teething support. I never ended up having to use it for our oldest, but now as our next one gets into teething— I question it’s safety… On the ingredients list, “clove bud essential oil” listed as the 4/5 ingredient. Any thoughts? There is so much stuff floating around about EOs, I don’t know what is truth and what isn’t. Makes me overwhelmed!
It stands to reason that at some point it’s diluted enough not to be a risk. But how much dilution would that be? We just don’t know.
I am disappointed. Yes, the article is good. Clove bud essential oil should not be used on children. But to advertise doTERRA??? This company is not all it’s cracked up to be. Food Renegade you do lots of research. PLEASE research these oils. And although you say the author is not associated with any company SOMEONE is! doTERRA is a multi level company.
I can assure you that Lea Harris is in no way connected with doTerra or any other essential oil company
I think she’s complaining that *I* am affiliated with DoTerra, Sherry, not that Lea is.
I am affiliated with doTerra because I love their business model (more ethical than other MLMs I’ve seen) and I think they’re a reputable oil company. I do disagree with their safety and usage guidelines (which is why I’ve invited Lea to write this series of posts).
That said, I am still happy to support them and buy their oils (much the same way that I’m happy to buy Bob’s Red Mill almond flour even though I’d never recommend folks buy Bob’s Red Mill Textured Vegetable Protein). I don’t have to agree with every company I buy from about their entire product line. I just have to know what I like and support that.
“I do disagree with their safety and usage guidelines”
You contradict yourself, why support a company you seem to believe supports unsafe usage, practices?
Your whole comment spins me in circles……….
So happy to see this post. The main chemical constituent responsible for sensitization in clove essential oil is eugenol which occurs at about an 80% concentration. Eugenol is regulated through IFRA, so internal use should be contraindicated, ESPECIALLY for babies!!!! Yikes.
What worked for me was a tea made with chamomile and fennel seed with some dissolved rock sugar. I would administer with a BPA-free plastic dropper which could be gummed. This also helped alleviate any tummy troubles that inevitably occurred at this time. But I would NEVER, EVER apply any essential oil neat to a baby.
Companies that encourage such practices should be avoided.
Chamomile tea is a great idea. A frozen chamomile tea bag would be good IF the paper wouldn’t dissolve in their mouths (what a mess that would be!). But certainly a chamomile tea could help.
I have use clove eo on my 1 year old before directly on her gums UGH I was so upset when I found out it is dangerous and havent done it since thankfully I only did that a couple times but as a mom it makes you feel awful knowing you put something harmful on your child in an effort to help them not knowing it was actually more harmful than good. Should I be worried?
Clove oil is hot/spicy. I diluted in olive oil and never had any problems. You can taste it yourself and make sure your dilution does not burn your tongue. It’s not like they are drinking the stuff. What did our parents do, wiskey?
I read the article and am wondering if this means clove oil in any form? Even if it is used in a “teething oil” concoction?
Thank you Kristin and Lea for this series! I cannot wait to read the future posts. I have been using essential oils for the past year with little knowledge about the safety of using them. I always consult several resources before applying on my children, however I have read a lot of BAD advice. Thankfully I never gave them to my children internally, they are so strong it seemed like an awful idea to me. I do use the Thieves oil blend on my kid’s feet diluted, which includes clove oil. I will be reading more on Lea’s site regarding dilution and sensitization. Thank you again for sharing this important knowledge which seems hard to find online, with all the other uneducated advice going around.
The Gentle Babies book is a GREAT reference about using essential oils safely on little ones.
I used Hylands teething tablets with some success for some of my children, but it did not work for all of them. I wonder about the safety using propolis tincture (glycerin base) for teething babies, because whenever I have bad gum or tooth pain, or a loose taste bud, or a sore etc. in the mouth propolis takes away the pain almost immediately, and makes healing expedited. My children are not teething age, but I have used propolis on them when they are cutting molars, with success.
I guess I’m a bit confused as to why it’s not safe if very heavily diluted. As per your article, “Even essential oils with strong safety concerns can be used safely if properly diluted.”
While this statement is correct, we don’t know what the safe dilution would be for using Clove on babies. So the recommendation is to avoid altogether. There are other alternatives 🙂
OK. I’m just trying to learn here. So how do you find out what the safe dilution of oils are? How did the current ratios come to be? I believe you said that any oil can cause contact sensitization. Since that’s the main concern you mention with clove, shouldn’t we avoid any topical oils for that same reason; the off chance that we may develop sensitization? Thanks for your reply 🙂
We relied heavily on Babyganics teething pods which are coconut oil, clove, and I think some stevia. They were a life saver for us when all (and I mean all) else failed. In hindsight I wish I had the knowledge that I could have harmed her 🙁
I am disappointed that you advocate DoTerra EOs, especially with their lack of integrity in their early history (how they started out) and that dishonesty that even rings through today in the way I have seen them promoted. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions/interests, of course, and I respect you in that. It’s just that I’ve been following your blog for awhile now and have trusted your opinion on many things and bringing out the facts about corrupt companies and lack of quality in certain foods or products. But I disagree with you about Doterra oils because I don’t feel they 100% encapsulate the same values and principles that you say you stand on in regards to quality and integrity.
Erica, as with all things, there are many sides to the story. When we’re dealing with two companies that have an intense rivalry (and in which both sides have sued the other), I wouldn’t take anything either company claims at face value.
Please be assured that I’ve researched this. I’ve affiliated with doTerra not out of ignorance, but choice, because I believe they’re a reputable company that makes good oils and has a highly ethical compensation plan (which I prefer to other MLMs that I’ve seen).
In any case, I definitely don’t care to engage in any brand wars. Publicly, I support all reputable essential oil suppliers and encourage you to buy from the company you feel best about.
I am not trying to sell sell sell doTerra here, but educate us all about how to safely and properly use EOs.
It’s actually a cool and useful piece of information. I’m happy that you simply shared this helpful info with us.
Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Im not super knowledgeable here but I question the use of lavender on boys. I’ve read of a connection between it and estrogen.
Shannon, here’s the list of essential oils that should not be used on or around children from Lea’s website: http://www.learningabouteos.com/index.php/2014/02/07/essential-oils-and-children// There’s also a link about how to properly dilute essential oils.
Perhaps entirely unrelated, but I’m curious, none the less: clove cigarettes have been linked to respiratory arrest. I would think that clove EO, if ingested, might have a similar impact. Any idea?
I don’t know about respiratory arrest, but when I was young and stupid I smoked clove cigarettes and within a month I was coughing up blood. That can’t be good for you.
Yes, I had a similar reaction to clove cigarettes as a teenager. Hmmm. I might just try out a chamomile ice cube in a mesh feeder before bed….
Your dentist uses clove oil?
mine doesn’t… but the dental hygenist gives me a choice of cinnamon or peppermint to scrub my teeth with…
Hi! Love your blog! I was wondering if it’s safe to ground fresh cloves with coconut oil and use the coconut oil to rub baby’s gums?
Thank you for doing this. People are going nuts with the eos, with the thought of more is better, or they are safe
I agree about the Clove Oil on small babies, but I am very sad that you are allowing people to post on your site that are with Robert Tisserand. I know that he has oil experience, but his book is based on clinical studies that he is not qualified to interpret. He’s not a doctor and yet he writes an entire book on Essential Oil saftey. He is also with the people who believe that you should never take any oil internally.
My biggest problems with his writing has to do with 1,8-cineole essential oils (Rosemary, Peppermint, Etc.). He states that no one should use Peppermint Oil on “young children” because their breathing might slow. I’ve read this section in his book and his main arguement is a few children who died due to some unknown dosage of 1,8-cineole oil. Everyone agrees that overdosing can cause problems, so how is this proof that these oils when diluted and used properly will cause harm? In addition, the rest of his proof is regarding premature babies and dogs. OF COURSE, you wouldn’t use Peppermint Oil on premature babies and dogs. But now, his followers, such as Lea Harris now state that you shouldn’t use Peppermint Oil on children under the age of 6 (some state until the age of 10)! That age description isn’t even in his book!
Peppermint Oil on young children is so effective for lowering fevers. I dilute a drop or two of peppermint oil with olive oil and put it on my son’s feet. It has brought his fever down multiple times now. This is so much healthier than Tylenol!
Alright, so you can see that I’m uber passionate about this. I am just all about good knowledge sourcing on Essential Oils. I hope this makes you reconsider using the Essential Oil Saftey book as a source. Thank you for reading!
NEAT USE should be avoided PERIOD.
.5% to 5% max mixeatio, start at the lower then titrate it up.
When a MD gives an order for morphine, 2-5 ml we don’t give 5 ml to start, common sense.
So………. I guess we should follow Mr Young, LMAO. Tisserand is a well respected, regarded chemist in this EO field……….. I’ll follow him first, as does the NAHA>
What do you recommend or not recommend for pregnant mamas to use? I’ve read that lemon oil (diluted) on the liver can help with nausea and dizziness during pregnancy… was planning to try it the next time around, but want to know what you’ve found. Thank you!!!
i personally believe most essential oils, including clove, are safe to use as long as their diluted with a carrier! much safer than man made chemicals and junk you can find on the shelf at your pharmacy. Obviously, if the essential oil concoctions causes irritation or seems to make ailments worse, stop using them.
Totally agree!
I’ve noticed you’ve recommended using hydrosols rather than oils for babies several times, but I can’t find any recommendations for what I should be looking for in a hydrosol. Any thoughts or specific recommendations of brands or places to buy (affiliate links would be great!) would be very appreciated! Thank you!
Also, is there a difference between Roman chamomile and German chamomile? I assume so, but I thought I’d ask.
Thanks,
Tina
What if outof ignorance i put 3-4 times undiluted clove oil on my 4-5months old.baby. in the meantime sje developed allergic rhinitis. Could it be sensitization? Will the mucous membrane heal? How do i know and what can i do about it?
If this is not safe for babies why is it the main ingredient in babyganics teething pods?