In brief

• The magazine Öko-Test tested 16 cold baths for children, of which only three achieved a very good rating.
• Ten products contain essential oils, yet are recommended or permitted for children under three years old.
• Eucalyptus and thyme essential oils are not recommended in baths for children under three years old, because they can cause laryngeal spasm.

Test of 16 cold baths

The magazine Öko-Test commissioned pharmaceutical chemists from the University of Frankfurt am Main to examine 16 cold baths for children (Erkältungsbäder für Kinder im Test: Diese Badezusätze können gefährlich werden – wochenblatt-reporter.de) (Erkältung: Warum Erkältungsbäder für Kleinkinder problematisch sein können – DER SPIEGEL) (Öko-Test: Vorsicht bei Erkältungsbädern für Kleinkinder – pharmazeutische-zeitung.de). Only three products received an overall rating of “very good,” while three received “insufficient” („Öko-Test” warnt vor Erkältungsbädern für Kleinkinder - Erkältungszeit | Apotheke Nachrichten – headtopics.com). The results were published in issue 11/2026.

Age recommendations

Testers were most critical of the age information printed on packaging. Ten products contain certain essential oils, yet are recommended for children under three years old or do not clearly exclude this age group. According to European Medicines Agency guidelines, which the test refers to, eucalyptus and thyme essential oils are not recommended in bath additives for children under three years old.

Respiratory tract and larynx

Baths with eucalyptus and similar oils warm and may open up the airways. In infants and young children, several of these oils, including eucalyptus, peppermint and camphor, can cause laryngeal spasm even in small amounts, and in rare cases even respiratory arrest. Thyme oil, in turn, can irritate the skin and trigger hypersensitivity reactions. The testers believe the youngest children should avoid such baths, which also applies to baths with herbal remedies, some of which are approved from the age of two.

Differences between product categories

The testers compared ordinary cold baths, certified natural cosmetics and products registered as medicines. Parents should therefore check the age stated on the packaging and the ingredients before buying, rather than relying solely on advertising claims.