Essential oils are super beneficial for everybody, even the littles in your life! In fact, using them with kids is super empowering both for them and for you. The first place to start is with oil safety. As with anything with our kids, it’s important to educate ourselves and follow the best practices.
ESSENTIAL OIL SAFETY TIPS FOR USING OILS WITH KIDS
Always dilute essential oils before using them on children to reduce the risk of sensitivity and control “dosing.” See the dilution chart as a good reference.
Avoid sensitive areas when applying – keep away from openings - eyes, ears, nostrils, and the like.
Topical application of certain oils, specifically citrus essential oils, could have photosensitivity. If you know that they'll be outside within 24 hours of application, you can still use them, but apply them on locations that are not exposed to sunlight - back/spine, bottoms of feet, belly, etc.
Essential oils are very potent, you only need a small amount to be effective on anyone, but especially littles.
Kids are intuitive without knowing it. Are they asking for a certain oil? Are they drawn to a specific oil or blend? Let your kids help you decide what to use.
TOPICAL APPLICATION TIPS
there really isn’t a “wrong” place to apply – just dilute appropriately
Tummy hurts?
roll around belly button
Head is filled with tension?
apply to back of neck and/or forehead
Boo boo?
apply on or around the area
Teeth and gums?
roll along jaw line and dilute to apply to the gums
Joints?
roll directly on area in need
Immunity support?
along spine and/or bottoms of feet
Mood support?
over heart, back of neck, or bottoms of feet
3 WAYS TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS
Aromatically you can whip up a diffuser blend to support their sleep, help with focus during homework time, support their immune system, mood and more.
Topically when our kids fall down and scrape a knee, “oily mama’s” can rest assured that we have an oil for that. When their tummy isn’t feeling quite right, we have an oil for that too. Just remember to dilute if using a straight essential oil.
Internally we can support our kids with vitamins, minerals, nutrients, probiotics, and more. Got a teether? Dilute a drop of Copaiba and rub on the gums for some quick relief!
I know with littles it can seem that it’s always “that time of year.” Between seasonal threats in the spring and summer to the germ fest that seems to fill the rest of the year it’s good to have a natural solution to support feelings of clear airways and easy breathing.
Add 4-6 drops of the Breathe® Respiratory Blend to your diffuser or use the Breathe® Vapor Stick for easy, mess-free topical application. Simply swipe on chest or bottoms of feet for a cooling and soothing experience both topically and aromatically.
Sometimes our little ones body temperature gets elevated. This is actually a good thing, their body is doing what it was designed to do. However, as parents, there are things that we can do to assist our children as they go through this.
DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS
LUKEWARM BATHS
GET PLENTY OF REST
USE YOUR ESSENTIAL OILS
Apply diluted Peppermint and Lavender to the spine as well as the bottoms of the feet as needed to naturally assist the body in reducing temperature.
If you have littles, you will inevitably have boos boos to tend to, that’s where this magic boo boo spray comes in. It will have your kiddos back in action before you know it.
In a 2oz glass spray bottle add 5 drops each: Frankincense, Lavender and Tea Tree essential oils, fill halfway with carrier oil (I like Fractionated Coconut Oil), and top off with distilled water. Shake well before each use. *For infants, decrease essential oils from 5 drops each to 1 drop each.
If you find that you need something on the go and/or want a ready-made product that’s packed with five powerhouse essential oils that are very soothing and healing to the skin - Frankincense, Helichrysum, Tea Tree, Cedarwood, and Lavender.
A common occurrence as a parent of children can be ear discomfort. They start tugging at their ears and you know, something isn’t quite right. That’s your cue, mama! Grab your ear discomfort blend. It’s great to have it pre-made and ready to go. In a 10mL roller bottle add 5 drops each: Lavender, Tea Tree and Frankincense essential oils, topping the bottle with Fractionated Coconut Oil. *For infants, decrease essential oils from 5 drops each to 1 drop each.
Roll on behind the ear every 20 minutes for the first hour, then once per hour for the next 3 hours.
Potty training can be a difficult time for everyone involved, but especially for the kids if they’re struggling with digestive tract issues. A simple hack to try is to add a drop of Peppermint essential oil to the toilet bowl water and have your kid sit down. The aromatics of Peppermint help the body relax and can cause the urge to poop.
Teething is when teeth first come through a baby’s gums. It can be a very frustrating time for babies and the parents. Have this teething roller blend on hand, so when you don’t have to expend more energy when you’re already tired and just needing a little help. In a 10mL roller bottle add 1 drop each: Copaiba, Lavender, Roman Chamomile, and Frankincense, top with Fractionated Coconut Oil. Roll along the jawline as needed before bedtime to soothe those aching gums.
If you're looking for more info about using essential oils with kids, check out my blog category Pregnancy/Baby/Kid, or feel free to
reach out to me directly if you have specific questions.
xoDanette