Safe to add eucalyptus oil to bath - 3yrs and 11 month olds??

[Santosha]

My poor kids are so congested. I don't have a humidifier and am wondering whether it's safe to put eucalyptus oil in their bath? And if yes, how much? Google is giving me conflicting information.

TIA

[nothing2lose]

I don't know sorry! I always use an oil burner for eucalyptus oil.

I imagine a capful or two wouldn't hurt but not sure how effective it would be (too weak).

Maybe just run the shower for a while (hot water only) while they are in bath to steam up the room. Alternatively, fill handbasin with boiling water and put eucalyptus oil in there. The vapors would fill the room...

[~me~]

I wouldn't use it in the bath for the kids to bath in direct. I would imagine it would irritate their skin? Do you have any eukybear rub or vicks? You could put some on their feet and a little on their pj's collar.
Otherwise what n2L has suggested with regards to steaming or vapour is what I was going to suggest as well.

Would your 3yr old understand if you put vicks on a hanky or tissue and get her to smell it to help her?

[Olive]

Try rubbing Vicks on the shower head and steam up the shower with them in it, just keep head/eyes out of water

[Jaycee]

I don't think I'd bath them directly in it, the shower steam is probably your best bet along with some vicks on their feet

[Santosha]

Thanks ladies. I ended up putting it in the oil burner then running the hot water in the shower for a min to super-steam the room.... go the DIY humidifier!

[LimeSlice]

Yes, you can put it straight in the bath, no more than 3 drops and you will be fine.
Otherwise, if you are really concerned, put 5 drops in 5ml of olive oil (or whatever oil you have in the pantry) and add 5 drops of the mix to the bath.

Hope they are all better soon xx

[Indadhanu]

You can, and I do. DD loves it and when she is congested she often askes for an "luke-a-lick-tus bath". No irritation here. I only use a few drops, that's all you need really or it is way too strong.

[nothing2lose]

Nawwwwww @ Luke-a-lick-tus!

[Santosha]

Awww. There are some words you hope they never learn how to pronounce properly! Loving the luke-a-lick-tus! I was bummed when DD finally learnt to say hippopotamus instead of hippy-mottus and stopped telling me she put her toys away in the buggard (cupboard)!!

Thanks again ladies. Our steamy solution seemed to help in the short term but they're both snuffling and gasping and grizzling in bed now. Wish there was more I could do. Poor little loves, this flu is BRUTAL.