Generally speaking, I would encourage you to ask your physician about the sorts of things that are suitable for children, especially very young ones. I am not a parent or a physician, and I rarely formulate anything for very young children.
That said, you are hoping to make something to use on a young person, make sure you are watching your preservatives and essential oils.
Some preservatives are not allowed for use on those under 3, or if they are, they are only allowed in rinse-off products. You can learn more here. I would recommend looking at commercially available products made by large corporations and see what they use to preserve their baby products.
When it comes to using essential oils on babies, I will refer you to Robert Tisserand. Please visit this page and scroll down to the “Children” section (please read the entire page, but that section is especially relevant). Out of an abundance of caution, I would generally choose not to use any essential oils in products for very young children. I would leave the product unscented or get the scent from ingredients like cocoa butter, coconut oil, or hydrosols. Sensitization to essential oils is often life-long, and I wouldn’t want to accidentally inflict that on a very young person.
Beyond preservatives and essential oils, I would recommend sticking to quite gentle, benign ingredients. Avoid high-strength actives (babies don’t need retinol or acidic peels!) and anything that could potentially be irritating. Babies have far more delicate skin than adults and they definitely don’t need any anti-ageing anything! Again; I would recommend looking at commercially available products made by large corporations and see what ingredients they use in their baby products.
Posted in: General Usage
