Parents are well aware that things like curtain strings, small candies, prescription drugs and poorly secured televisions pose a serious risk to children around the home.

But there is one little known danger that most parents forget about entirely.

The culprit? Essential oils.

Australian paediatric doctor Dr Nelu, who has worked in some of the busiest emergency departments in the country, shared a warning in a bid to spread the message far and wide.

Australian paediatric doctor Dr Nelu, who has worked in some of the busiest emergency departments in the country, shared a warning about the danger of essential oils for children

Dr Nelu said essential oils can cause anything from 'severe vomiting to drowsiness to changes in the heart's electrical activity to chemical burns to seizures'

'Hopefully parents/childcare workers know that locking up cleaning products and medications away from curious little hands can be life saving but did you also know that an unknown danger is essential oils,' Dr Nelu said.

'Yes the seemingly harmless rosemary oil, eucalyptus oil etc can be so harmful to children if swallowed.'

Dr Nelu said essential oils can cause anything from 'severe vomiting to drowsiness to changes in the heart's electrical activity to chemical burns to seizures'.

'After a recent admission of an infant who was fed some oil by their cheeky older sibling it's a good reminder that people may not aware of how lethal these oils can be,' she said

What are the symptoms to look out for? CLOVE: large ingestions can have hepatotoxicity similar to paracetamol poisoning, renal failure, inhalational pneumonitis, coma FENNEL: Nausea, vomiting, seizure activity, pulmonary oedema GERANIUM: Allergic contact chelitis LAVENDER: CNS depression, ataxia, photosensitiser that promotes hyperpigmentation, contact dermatitis LEMON MYRTLE: Skin irritation and corrosion NUTMEG: hallucinations, coma THUJA: Multiple tonic-clonic seizures WINTERGREEN: (Methyl Salicylate): nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, vertigo, hyperventilation, seizures WORMWOOD: Acidosis, acute renal failure, respiratory acidosis, rhabdomyolysis, visual alterations, delirium, restlessness, paranoia, tremor, and seizures Source: Royal Children's Hospital Advertisement

'After a recent admission of an infant who was fed some oil by their cheeky older sibling it's a good reminder that people may not aware of how lethal these oils can be,' she said.

Dr Nelu said parents should adopt a few tactics to ensure their children aren't exposed to any dangerous essential oils.

'Try to buy bottles with the child safe lids where possible,' Dr Nelu told FEMAIL.

'Some kids are too clever for this so make sure all cleaning products, essential oils, medications, sprays and basically anything that could be dangerous if swallowed, are kept in high places or a cupboard that can't be accessed by kids with childproof locks on them.'

'If you are using these products, make sure either the kids aren't around or you don't put the product down with your back to the child (it doesn't take long for them to pick it up and put it in their mouth).

'Don't forget the poisons hotline has a wealth of information if you are worried about ingestion of any potentially harmful products.'

According to the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, common essential oils to be aware of include lavender, tea tree, nutmeg, sage, peppermint, wintergreen, fennel, geranium, lemon myrtle, thuja, woodworm and clove.

According to the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, common essential oils to be aware of include Lavender, tea tree, nutmeg, sage, peppermint, wintergreen, fennel, geranium, lemon myrtle, thuja, woodworm and clove

'Toxicity can occur from the essential oil itself along with the hydrocarbons or emulsifiers added to many of the preparations,' the site reads.

Eucalyptus oil is one of the worst essential oils for a child to ingest, with the RCH stating even small ingestions of the pure oil can lead to severe symptoms.

According to the hospital, symptoms of an overdose include drowsiness and dizziness with small exposures and ataxia, seizures, coma with larger exposures.

Tachycardia and Hypotension have been reported, as well as depression and apnoea, bronchospasm or signs of aspiration pneumonitis.

Dr Nelu said parents should also be aware of some other little known dangers in the home like button batteries and small magnets

'Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea are often present early, epigastric pain,' they wrote.

Dr Nelu said parents should also be aware of some other little known dangers in the home.

'Button batteries are so dangerous! These can be life threatening if swallowed and a child should be taken straight to emergency if there's suspicion it has happened,' she said.

'Also those small magnets, if two are swallowed at once this can cause major problems.

If your child has been exposed to something and you are concerned about poisoning, call the Poisons Centre on 13 11 26 immediately. Take the product with you to the phone (or a photo of it) so you have all the product details.