Is It Safe to Put a Few Drops of Oil in My Baby’s Nose and Ears?
New parents are often given this “advice” by well-meaning family members or friends. Using oil has been recommended for so many things related to babies—ear infections, skin irritation and as a moisturiser. There are so many uses for oil, you may as well make your baby into a delicious little Indian fried snack before you put him in the bathtub! Before you go turning your precious angel into a tiny pakora, let’s take a step back and see if putting drops of oil on your baby is really safe or if it is just an old wives’ tale that has been passed down through generations.
Why Parents Put Oil in a Baby’s Nose and Ears
Caring for babies, along with cultural traditions, usually contributes to their use of massage oils. It is believed that applying massage oils creates a protective layer on baby's skin, helping them to breathe, keeping them from becoming dry (creating patches) and preventing the accumulation of dirt and/or cold into the baby's nose and ears. The most commonly used oils include mustard oil, coconut oil, ghee and/or almond oil. While the intention behind using oil is to provide comfort and/or enhance the experience for the baby, the oil may not provide safety for babies due to the difference in anatomy and development of the baby and adults. It's important to understand that what's safe for us may be an invasion of the baby's body.
Is It Safe to Put Oil in a Baby’s Nose?
In short, no. Baby noses have much smaller airways than adults do, so when an oil is placed into the nose, it may travel further down than intended. Babies are not able to use their nasal muscles to generate a forceful enough cough to remove the oil, allowing it to migrate deeper into their lungs over time, leading to additional breathing difficulties. A term for this condition is oil aspiration syndrome, and it is a terrifying diagnosis to deal with due to the medical risk involved.
Putting oil inside of a baby's nose can be extremely irritating to that area and cause additional congestion. Therefore, if your baby already suffers from a blockage in their nasal passages, using an oil to alleviate this could actually increase the severity of that condition. This creates an ironic situation, where something that is intended to help alleviate breathing issues is actually making breathing more difficult.
Is It Safe to Put Oil in a Baby’s Ears?
As mentioned previously, pouring oil into your baby’s ear is not good for their health. The eardrum is delicate; if you pour oil into your infant’s ear, dirt could become trapped, leading to potential infection or causing earwax to be pushed further into the canal rather than extracted. A reminder that earwax performs an essential protective function for the ears.
If your infant is suffering from ear pain or blockage, pouring oil into the ear will not cure these conditions; it may mask the symptoms, thus delaying appropriate treatment. If there is any sign of an underlying infection or tear in your baby’s ear, putting oil in the ear will exacerbate the condition. The purpose of your baby’s ears is to hear lullabies—not to conduct oil investigations!
What Should You Do Instead?
Saline drops prescribed by the doctor are an effective and safe way of clearing up your child's nasal congestion, as these are specifically made for babies and have no adverse effects. Using a humidifier for gentle steam vapour while keeping the baby at a distance from the hot water can also aid in alleviating this condition.
When it comes to dealing with ear-related issues, the most important rule to remember is: do not insert anything into the ear canal. No oils or cotton buds should be inserted, nor should any unauthorised home remedies be applied. If there is any indication of an ear infection or related medical condition, then consulting with a paediatrician will ensure the best course of treatment for your child, regardless of what Dadi may indicate otherwise.
Why Old Advice Still Confuses Parents
The values associated with parenting originated from a loving background and experience, but we will be able to do better in the future with the knowledge of baby anatomy. Parenting has so much guilt associated with it that there should be no additional stress caused by the confusion of contradictory advice.
You can laugh off people who tell you that the solution to every problem is using oil. There is no reason to put oil in your baby's ears or nose. All they need is to feel safe, have warmth and comfort, and be cared for gently.
How Nibzu Fits Into Gentle and Safe Baby Care
At Nibzu, the focus is on safe, thoughtful, and baby-friendly products that support healthy development without risky shortcuts. Just like we avoid putting unnecessary things into a baby’s body, Nibzu believes in offering toys and products that respect a baby’s natural growth. No sharp edges, no harmful materials, and no “because everyone does it” logic.
Parenting is about choosing what is best, not what is popular. So skip the oil drops, trust modern care, and let your baby explore the world safely with gentle choices, whether it is health habits or playtime with Nibzu. After all, your baby deserves care that makes sense, not just stories from the past.