A bath with eucalyptus etc. warms and clears the respiratory tract. However, parents should critically examine bath additives containing essential oils for infants and small children. This is shown by a current “eco test”.
Frankfurt/Main. A warm bath can make the cold season more pleasant, even for children. But special cold baths, such as those that can be bought for children in drugstores and pharmacies, often contain substances that are not recommended for young cold patients, according to an analysis by the magazine “Öko-Test” (issue 11/2026).
16 cold baths for children were examined by chemical pharmacists at the University of Frankfurt am Main on behalf of “Öko-Test”: Only three received the overall rating “very good”, three failed with “poor”. The testers differentiated between ordinary cold baths, certified natural cosmetics and those from the pharmaceutical category.
What parents should know
The most important thing to look at on the package is the age recommendation. “Öko-Test” criticizes ten products because, despite containing certain essential oils, they are also recommended for children under the age of three or do not expressly exclude use at this age. According to the European Medicines Agency's guidelines used in the test, eucalyptus and thyme oil are not recommended in bath additives for children under three years of age.
Even small amounts of some essential oils can be problematic: eucalyptus and peppermint oil as well as camphor can cause glottal spasm in infants and young children. In rare cases this can lead to respiratory arrest. Thyme oil can cause skin irritation and hypersensitivity reactions.
“In our opinion, infants and small children in particular should avoid cold baths with essential oils such as eucalyptus and thyme oil,” advise the eco-testers. They also see the current recommendation from three years as relevant for the herbal medicinal baths in the test, some of which are approved for children aged two and over.
Even if the manufacturers claim, according to “Öko-Test”, that their baths have been subjected to a safety assessment and only contain small amounts of essential oils and extracts. With a view to the possible side effects, the eco-testers ask: “Then why take the risk at all?”
Three bathrooms performed “very well”.
The three “very good” products are Dresdner Essenz Children’s Nose-Free Bubble Bath, Kindgesund Atme Wohl Aroma Bath and Kneipp Naturkind Cold Time Bubble Bath. According to “Öko-Test”, they cost 23 cents, 2.16 euros and 40 cents per 20 milliliters in July 2026. The manufacturer's dosage recommendations vary depending on the product. All three are only recommended for ages three and up.
The laboratory found Delta-3-Carene, a fragrance that the testers classified as a strong allergen, in five bath additives. Three of the products containing this substance received an overall rating of “poor”.
Allergenic fragrances that were not listed in the package insert were also detected in the medicines in the test.
The best way to bathe babies and children
The eco-testers give these general bathing tips for babies and children:
Not too hot: 36 to 38 degrees is considered a suitable water temperature.
Not too long: 10 to 15 minutes of bathing time is enough. Longer baths can dry out the delicate skin, then: apply cream.
Not too much: Parents should dose bath additives sparingly according to the manufacturer's instructions and keep them out of the reach of children so that they are not swallowed.
