How aromatherapy can help you have a relaxed family life and why essential oils are unfairly demonized. A few answers to frequently asked questions.

Who is actually behind the Babyduft natural aromacare® brand? That's me, Ursula Gigliotti, a passionate aromatherapist and mother of a young child. But also an entrepreneur and founder of the Swiss brand Babyduft natural aromacare® . Due to my job as a spa consultant and spa manager, I traveled a lot with my family, yet our daughter always slept well and was relaxed and healthy. The secret? I can tell you: aromatherapy! And now I'll tell you how I came to be so passionate about developing a safe and effective aromatherapy for babies and toddlers.

MUMs all over the world want relaxed nights

"I didn't wake up one day and think, I'm going to start a new baby care brand"

On the contrary, countless mothers asked me what my secret was for our daughter always being so relaxed and sleeping well. As an expat in Shanghai and Doha, I had a lot of contact with mothers of many different nationalities. They were truly envious that I never suffered from a lack of sleep. Some of the mothers were so exhausted and desperate that they admitted to giving their children sleeping pills. I was shocked by this statement, but also saddened by the lengths a mother can go when she's exhausted. So I made a decision: I wanted to do everything in my power to develop the best relaxation therapy and baby care that would help mothers all over the world enjoy a relaxed family life.

The secret to a relaxed family life is aromatherapy

As a qualified aromatherapist, I know the tremendous power of essential oils. However, not every oil is suitable for babies and toddlers, which often leads to misunderstandings. To make things as easy as possible for parents, I have developed an aromatherapy treatment in Switzerland, together with other specialists, that meets the highest standards of quality and safety. Since 2019, we have been developing and producing modern aromatherapy products in Switzerland that make the lives of parents and their children more relaxing.

Relaxed children are happy children

The scent of essential oils can send signals to the human nervous system through the nose that convey relaxation and security. Aromatherapy with pure, natural essential oils can influence the brain and promote the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. This supports feelings of happiness and leads to a sense of security. Babyduft® can help your child and you better process their experiences and fall asleep. Our unique aroma spray has also proven effective during the defiant phase.

Babyduft® Relaxation through body contact and suitable essential oils

The very first product in the Babyduft® range was Sweet Dreams body oil , as contact with the child is an important component in sleep therapy and in the child's development in general. But many mothers asked me for a quick solution when there is less time, or when there are several children, or when they are on the go. This is how the idea for the sweet dreams body spray was born. The special thing about it are the valuable, very relaxing ingredients such as rose, mimosa, sandalwood, vanilla and lemon balm. We have succeeded in developing a spray without alcohol that can be sprayed onto the skin or onto a blanket or cuddly toy. The spray meets all safety criteria and is a valuable companion for babies and small children to help them feel safe and secure.

Can I use any aromatherapy on my child?

Now here's the crux of the matter. I often hear people say, "Oh, I have that lavender spray at home." This sets off alarm bells for me, because not everything that's good for us adults is also good for babies or toddlers. While essential oils may seem harmless because they're 100% natural, their composition is actually quite complex. That's why it's so important to use products that have actually been developed for babies and toddlers. There aren't many suitable products, as it's incredibly time-consuming to manufacture them and have them certified by countless testing centers. I've taken this path to help mothers experience a relaxed, positive time with their children.

Beware of cheap essential oils

Be careful when purchasing essential oils online. For pure essential oils, I always recommend products from Primavera (a German company) or Farfalla (a Swiss company), as these are 100% safe. Products that are too cheap are likely to be adulterated or contain no pure essential oils, which can lead to allergies and thus bring the essential oils into disrepute.

What touches you becomes a part of you

The great thing about genuine, pure essential oils is that they always have an effect on both the body and the mind. For example, I chose mimosa for the sweet dreams line because this plant offers children a sense of enveloping security like no other. Mimosa is a rarity and rarely found in products, but in this increasingly fast-paced world, this element of comfort was very important to me.

It gives sensitive, delicate, and delicate children self-confidence, while mimosa helps outwardly robust, loud children relax and feel comfortable. Mimosa has a very nourishing effect on the body and is also very beneficial for sensitive skin.

Are there any essential oils that can be dangerous for my child?

Indeed, there are. All oils containing camphor are not suitable for children under 4 years of age. This includes, for example, mint, tea tree, spruce needles, and certain types of thyme or eucalyptus*. That's why we developed the Stay Healthy line. The Thyme Balm and Cold Bath contain the special thyme linalool, also known as children's thyme, and provides gentle yet effective relief during the cold season.

* If drops of these oils accidentally get into the nasopharynx of a child or baby, they can cause a life-threatening laryngeal spasm. Just as you would lock up medications, you should also keep essential oils safe from children. Furthermore, all reputable essential oils have a child-resistant cap.

Dosage of essential oils

Often, products intended for adults are used, but just as certain foods or medications are unsuitable for babies and small children or are even dangerous, essential oils require careful dosage. That's why we went to the expense and effort of developing two balms for the Stay Healthy Balm: one for babies and one for children one year and older. The difference lies in the dosage and the choice of essential oils.

Can I mix my own body oil for my child?

If you want to mix something yourself for your baby, I recommend using only pure essential rose oil for the first six months, which you add to almond oil, because essential oils should never be used undiluted on the skin. Add 2-3 drops of real rose oil to 20 ml of fatty plant oil. You'll quickly notice, however, that rose oil is very expensive. This is because it takes approximately 5,000 kg of rose petals to produce 1 liter of essential rose oil. You can find rose oil in our sweet dreams body oil. We've spared no expense because there is no other oil that has such a strong harmonizing and balancing effect, is particularly kind to the skin, yet also has wound-healing and immune-stimulating properties.

What is an essential oil anyway?

I could write 10 pages here, but to sum it up briefly: Plants produce fragrances as energy stores, information carriers, disease protection, temperature regulators, and attractants or defenses. Essential oils are obtained through steam distillation (e.g., lavender, rose, jasmine), cold pressing (especially citrus oils such as orange, lemon, etc.), or enfleurage (rare these days).

What other benefits do essential oils have?

The decisive factor in developing the Stay Healthy line was that I heard from so many mothers that even small children had been given antibiotics so often that it hurt my heart. Of course, this is a useful medicine for emergencies and can save lives, but that is precisely why it should be used as sparingly as possible. The power of nature gives us countless means to protect ourselves and our children from viruses and illnesses; we just have to use them correctly. That is the genius of today's world; there are already countless studies on the effectiveness of herbal remedies; we don't have to experiment and hope that it works and isn't dangerous. Thyme linalool oil, which we use in the balm and cold bath, has an immune-boosting, antibacterial and antispasmodic effect and is also skin-care.

False warnings bring essential oils into disrepute

Explained using the example of cedarwood essential oil:

In English, all conifers, including thuja, are referred to as "cedar." The essential oil of thuja can actually cause abortions and is therefore taboo for pregnant women and small children. I must say that I have never seen thuja oil sold by any reputable brands.

Now, the valuable cedarwood oil has a warning saying "do not use during pregnancy or if you suffer from epilepsy," and in France, cedarwood essential oil has even been banned. However, the fact is that the oil has absolutely no side effects and has even been proven to have anti-allergic effects. When used, the oil reduces histamine release, which is a great benefit for allergy sufferers. This is just one example of how essential oils are unfairly discredited due to false statements and misinterpretations. I must also add that the pharmaceutical industry has little interest in extolling the benefits of essential oils—quite the opposite.

I hope these words have shed some light on the vast field of essential oils. If you're unsure about using essential oils, buy ready-made products that are clearly labeled as to their age or seek out an experienced aromatherapist in your area. Some even offer consultations via Zoom. Only buy trustworthy products and carefully read the labels on the bottle.

I would like to share with you the following quote from Hildegard von Bingen:

"There is a power from eternity and this power is green"

Fragrant greetings

Ursula

Ursula Gigliotti is the founder of the aromatherapy line Babyduft natural aromacare® and lives and works with her family in Italian Switzerland, the natural paradise of Ticino.