Does Lavender Help Babies to Sleep?

Before your little one was born, you probably heard the average amount of sleep that infants get during the day can be up to 16 hours or more during a 24-hour period. What you may not expect is that this doesn't occur in one long stretch. You might find your little one wide awake in the middle of the night or waking every few minutes during the day. Lavender is a natural remedy that many claim can help your baby feel sleepy when you want her to rest.

  1. Safety

    • Not all aromatherapy scents are safe for babies, and some should be avoided. Lavender is safe for infants from newborn and up, according to Valerie Ann Worwood, author of "The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy," on the Keeper of the Home website. However, it's important to talk to your little one's pediatrician before using lavender to help him sleep. At the same time, it's vital to use lavender oil according to the package directions to ensure your baby's safety.

    Application

    • Several applications work well for exposing your baby to lavender oil. You can place it in a diffuser, which distributes lavender-scented air throughout the room slowly. This method is ideal for your little one's bedroom or any room in which she naps. Using lavender oil for infant massage is another technique that can help your baby feel tired and fall asleep, notes Worwood. Learn to perform massage on your little one by taking a class or talking to her pediatrician about the appropriate technique. Massage works well for nap time or bedtime. Lavender oil is also appropriate for adding to your baby's bath water.

    Dose

    • It's important to get the dosage of lavender oil correct to keep your baby safe during its use. In a diffuser, Worwood recommends one drop of lavender oil with two teaspoons of water. For infant massage, use one or two drops of lavender oil with your base oil for infants up to 2 months old. After 2 months of age, you can use three to five drops of lavender oil for every 2 tablespoons of oil, says Worwood. For a bath, add a drop or two of lavender oil to running water.

    Considerations

    • Despite its sleep-inducing benefits, lavender might not be right for all babies. If you notice a skin reaction after infant massage or breathing difficulties with a diffuser, discontinue use and contact your baby's doctor. Some medical experts dispute the calming influence of lavender. For many babies, a bath or massage makes them sleepy with or without the scent of lavender, notes Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., on the Parenting Science website. If either method works, there's no reason to quit, but keep in mind that the lavender may not be playing as much of a role as your calming influence.

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