Aromatherapy from burning candles can help soothe babies and reduce stress on parents. Though it may leave you wondering: Is burning candles around babies safe? We are here to tell you all you need to know about lighting candles around babies.
Lighting candles around babies is not totally safe, but you can take precautions to prevent harm. Burning candles that cast harmful fumes into the air can hurt your baby. Remember to burn natural candles with only pure ingredients. Keep in mind there are risks to burning candles around babies.
Do you want to learn more about burning candles around babies? We have so much more to tell you! Keep reading to learn everything you must know concerning candles, babies, and more.
What are the Risks of Burning Candles Around Babies?
The first thing you should know about burning candles around babies is the risks. The risks can be high when it comes to burning a candle around your little one.
Lighting candles around your infant could irritate your baby’s lungs and airways; this could be damaging as your infant’s lungs and airways do not fully develop until around age three.
Burning unfit candles around your infant at a young age could cause breathing issues, such as asthma or allergies.
How Can You Burn Candles With a Baby in the House?
If you’re a candle fanatic like me, entirely quitting burning candles when your baby arrives could be tough. Although, you do not have to stop burning candles after a baby arrives. Instead, you could take extra precautions when burning your candles.
You should ensure your candle is fit to be burned around your baby. Never keep a lit candle in your baby’s room, and don’t keep candles lit all the time. Limit the use of your candles to three to four hours a day.
Take Precautions When Lighting a Candle Around Your Baby
When burning candles around your infant, you must take precautions to prevent any issues. When selecting a candle to buy, ensure all the elements, like the wax and wick, are natural. Burning candles with only pure ingredients can ensure you are not putting harsh compounds into the air.
The wick, scenting, and wax are primary components; you should only purchase candles with natural wax, scent, and 100% unbleached cotton wicks. When burning your candles, ensure the baby is as far away as possible, possibly in another room, with proper ventilation, such as a window open.
What Candles Are Safe to Burn Around Babies?
There are several candles considered “safe” to burn around babies. Finding a candle free of all the nasty compounds can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Always ensure the candle states on its packaging that it solely uses pure essential oils and ingredients.
If a candle refers to “fragrance” of any sort, the scent is likely synthetic. Artificial elements, when burned, can harm you and your baby. Another thing to mention is when a candle is a “wax blend,” it could likely be a mixture of synthetic and natural ingredients. An example would be a paraffin and soy wax blend.
Waxes That Are Safe to Burn Around Babies
When picking out your potential candle, remember that some waxes can harm babies when burned. A perfect example would be paraffin, which is made from petroleum waste. When burned, this wax can cast toxic fumes into the air, such as toluene or benzene chemicals, known carcinogens.
Other synthetic wax, like gel wax, could give the same effects. Breathing in these toxic fumes can be as bad as breathing in secondhand smoke from a fire or cigarette.
Should You Burn Scented or Unscented Candles Near Babies?
You can burn both scented and unscented candles around your baby with proper precautions. However, it would be best to avoid heavily scented candles as they pose more health risks. Unscented candles are the best to burn around your baby as they pose the most minor health risks you can get with a candle.
Though this will not provide aromatherapy, they are best used for aesthetic purposes. Check out essential oil candles if you’re looking for a scented candle.
Essential Oil Candles
Essential oil candles can be ideal if you want to burn candles for aromatherapy purposes. There are several options for essential oil candles, though only a few are suitable for you and your infant.
The best essential oil candle scents to burn around babies include:
- Eucalyptus.
- Lavender.
- Lemon.
- Tea Tree.
- Chamomile.
- Mandarin.
- Dill.
At What Age Can You Start Burning Candles Around Your Baby?
You can safely burn candles around children without worrying about affecting the child’s health around age three. By age three, your child has fully developed lungs and airways that are more capable of inhaling the fumes from the candle with no damage.
However, it would help if you took precautions like proper ventilation and keeping your child away from the candle. Ensure your child cannot grab the candle. Children love to play with things they shouldn’t, that includes candles.
Is it Safe to Light Candles Around Toddlers?
You can safely light candles around your toddler of three and older. As explained above, your child’s airways have fully developed. Though, when your child is about three years old, this introduces a whole new problem.
By age three, your child is walking, likely talking, grabbing things, and climbing everywhere. Your toddler will probably go after a candle if it is within reach. Ensure your candle is in a safe spot where your child cannot grab it before lighting it.
Are Wax Melts Safe For Use Around Infants?
Unlike candles, wax melts are not commonly melted with a flame but rather a light bulb. We do not recommend you use wax warmers with a lit flame, as that can harm your baby’s health.
However, using a wax warmer with a lightbulb to heat your wax can potentially have no risks! This is due to fewer toxic compounds emitted from the burning wick. That said, ensure your wax melt is made with only pure ingredients for the safest results.
In a Nutshell
It can be safe to light candles around babies, presuming you follow the proper precautions, like using essential oil-scented candles or having sufficient ventilation when the candle is lit. You can also limit your use of candles to three to four hours a day to further protect your baby. Thank you for reading this article on the safety of lighting candles around babies. Feel free to share with your family or friends, especially expectant parents!