Tuesday , February 11 2025

Essential Oils Dilemma: Can Kids Reap Their Benefits?

Essential oils may seem like a trend, but they have been used for centuries to promote wellness. They are a tried and proven solution for a range of conditions. Used thoughtfully and carefully, essential oils can help not only adults but children as well to feel calmer and sleep better and can help reduce nausea, discomfort and pain.

Many parents wonder if essential oils are safe to use on their children. The simple answer to this question is yes, but there are certain safety guidelines and recommendations that need to be considered. Children are more sensitive than adults and are still developing, so the rules for using essential oils are different for them than they are for adults. For that very reason, when choosing kid friendly essential oils, there are a few things to keep in mind.

  • Quality matters – the essential oils found at most bed and bath stores generally aren’t pure, which means they aren’t safe for your child and you;
  • Dilute the oil for topical use – you should ALWAYS dilute essential oils for kids with a carrier oil (like almond oil or coconut oil) when applying them topically. Kids’ skin is more sensitive and using oils in their concentrate form may cause rashes;
  • Diffuse oils for aromatic use – for this purpose, you will need to get a diffuser that is made for essential oils. The diffuser shouldn’t heat the oil at all because that would denature it. Putting oils in humidifiers or nebulizers isn’t also a good idea because they are made of plastics that can ruin the oils. When diffusing oils for your kids and for yourself too, make sure there’s adequate airflow.
  • NEVER apply essential oils directly in the ears, nose or eyes – Make sure your kid doesn’t accidentally touch the oil and accidentally rub it in his/her eyes. If that happens, use fractionated coconut oil to ease the burn.
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Source: Google

Here are some of the best kid friendly essential oils and mixtures that can do wonders.

Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint for Allergies

When mixed together equally, these essential oils are fantastic for those pesky seasonal symptoms. Apply the mixture on the spine 2-3 times per day, or on the bottoms of the feet for kids under the age of 3. If for some reason you don’t want to use peppermint, tea tree oils can be a good substitute in this combination.

Tea Tree, Lavender and Frankincense for Scrape, Cut and Wound Healing

The antiseptic properties of tea tree oil make it perfect for cleaning up scrapes and cuts. Lavender is soothing and Frankincense is a powerful wound healing solution. Make a spray in a 10 ml glass spray bottle, combining water and 10 drops of each of these oils.

Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Lemon and Tea Tree for Respiratory Support

A respiratory blend containing these oils can be really great for opening airways and improving congested breathing. The blend can be diffused or diluted and applied on the chest. You can also put a couple of drops in the shower and the steam will ‘diffuse’ them. You can get the same effect by applying the blend on the feet instead of on the chest.

Tea Tree for Ear Pain

Ear infections are often caused by viruses and they are self-limited. Bacterial ear infections also tend to clear on their own. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t use essential oils to help the process. Tea tree oil, diluted and applied around (not into) the ears is a great way to combat any infectious culprits in the ears. You can do this 3 to 4 times per day. If this doesn’t help alleviate the pain, try grapefruit essential oil. This oil is great for easing discomfort. Remember to dilute and apply around the ears. If after 24-48 hours your child is still really uncomfortable, antibiotics may be necessary.

Orange, Clove, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus and Rosemary for Sore Throats

A blend containing these oils can help soothe sore throats. If your child is old enough to gargle, put a mouthful of warm water in a short-sized glass and add 2 to 5 drops of this blend. Tell your child to gargle this liquid and spit it out. Do as much as needed to help with the symptoms. If your child is too young and doesn’t know how to gargle, then you can dilute this oil blend and apply it to his/her neck and jawline. This blend is also amazing for supporting a healthy immune response. Apply it to the feet or the spine daily.

Vetiver, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Frankincense, Clary Sage, Marjoram, Labdanum and Spearmint for Healthy Sleep or Calming

This blend is incredibly calming both at bedtime or during a tantrum or meltdown. Apply the blend diluted to the feet or spine to achieve the wanted effect. You can also use this blend on yourself at night when it is time to calm your mind and get some sleep.