At some point or the other you might have thought about using essential oils for kids. After all, essential oils are a wondrous way to help ease anxiety, deal with stubborn colds, create a jolly atmosphere and much more. As an unofficial ambassador of essential oils and why they should be used for kids, I have taken it upon myself to answer all your questions. From the safety concerns to best diy blends, this guide will wholly clear your doubts.
What Makes an Essential Oil Kid-Safe?
As parents, safety of your kids is obviously the priority. Remember these few points while looking for essential oils safe for kids, and you are good to go.
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Don’t just settle for anything, look for the best And essential oils are at their best when they are made from pure and natural ingredients. It helps preserve their potency and lessens the chances of any adverse allergic reactions.
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Kids' needs are different from that of adults. Even 1-2 drops of diluted essential oils are enough to work their magic.
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When working with kids, make sure that they are not accidentally consuming essential oils orally.
7 Best Essential Oils for Kids
Lavender Essential Oil
The most mainstream essential oil till date, lavender essential oil is known for its gentle healing and soothing properties. If your kids have been a little rough while playing tag or while doing obstacle courses, use lavender essential oil to help with the cuts and scrapes. A lavender infused bath can also be used to tone down the earlier burst of energy and excitement to prepare the baby for a goodnight’s sleep.![]()
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Sandalwood Essential Oil
With its trademark woodsy scent and many benefits, you will find that sandalwood is one of the personal favourites of the beauty and the wellness industry. It is often used in everyday products like soaps, perfumes, sunscreens, face washes and even room fresheners. The powerful bacteria and microbe fighting properties are another one of its plus points. Try out sandalwood essential oil for kids today!
Vetiver Essential Oil
Vetiver, also known as Khus, is used for making cooling beverages in many Indian households. Though you can’t ingest it in the form of essential oil, vetiver essential oil can always be diffused in a room. It can help ease migraines and other bodily pains in kids.
Rose Essential Oil
Who doesn’t appreciate the beautiful smell of a rose? My personal favourite way of using this oil is as an essential oil for candle making. As the delightful fragrance from the rose candle fills the room, you can clearly see the tension leaving your kid’s body. Also, rose essential oil creates the perfect ambience for a good fantasy story telling.
Chamomile Essential Oil
Chamomile essential oil is like the poster child of the therapeutic properties of essential oils. What makes it one of the best essential oils for toddlers? First, it is the gentlest of the lot. The mild anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile essential oil can provide relief from simple skin concerns like sun burns, diaper rashes, itching bouts or even more serious ones like eczema. A whiff of this diluted oil can reduce the urge to puke, making it one of the finest essential oils for vomiting child.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
As one of the kid safe essential oils for cough, jojoba diluted eucalyptus essential oil can be used to create a massage blend that can aid in the free flow of mucus. This can make breathing much easier for your child. The robust properties of this oil also allow us to use it in DIY air purifying solutions.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea Tree essential oil is sort of a natural fighter. It can be used to reduce the existence of dandruff and head lice in kids. You can use tea tree oil infused shampoos. Or you can just add a few drops of tea tree oil in your kid’s bathtub water for the best results.
How to Use Essential Oils Safely for Kids
Who says essential oils and babies are not a good mix! Here are 4 different ways you can incorporate kid safe essential oils to their everyday routine.
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Use them as a skincare ingredient in soaps and body lotions. Look for pre-made lotions that contain essential oil as one of the ingredients or add a few drops of the essential oil in a neutral body lotion.
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Add it to your kids’ bathwater. Fill the water in the bathtub to the brim and then add a few drops of essential oils.
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Using essential oils in any humidifier or diffuser is always the top option. Start from smaller quantities and build it up to larger quantities if your kids like how it smells.
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Create a roll on blend for aromatherapy by mixing a carrier oil with an essential oil. Use a very little amount directly on the pulse points.
DIY Essential Oil Blends for Kids
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A blend that repels insects
For an anti-mosquito roll-on blend, combine citronella essential oil and eucalyptus essential oil. The strong smell of eucalyptus deters the mosquitos and bugs. Rub it onto your kids’ clothes and do a patch test before use to make sure it does not stain.
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A blend that gives an energy boost
For an energy boosting diffuser blend, add vetiver essential oil and rose essential oil to a water based diffuser. Let it run for about 30 minutes before switching it off. It will help sharpen focus and reduce the feeling of lethargy in kids.
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A blend that reduces nighttime wakings
For a sleep inducing room spray blend, mix chamomile essential oil, lavender essential oil, witch hazel essential oil and rose water. Avoid using alcohol base in this spray because the blend is for children.
Precautions & Safety Tips
Let’s take a final look at the precautionary steps and measures before using essential oils for kids-
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Refer to the aforementioned list to know which essential oils are safe for children.
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Spending some time to learn about proper dilution techniques can go a long way. But, the general dilution ratio for kids is 2 drops of essential oil per tablespoon carrier oil. Still, if the blend is irritating to your child’s senses, increase the amount of carrier oil used or quit using the essential oil.
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Try out different diffuser oils to find out the scent that works the best for your kid. At Aromachology oil, we offer wholesale essential oils at reasonable prices with timely deliveries.
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Some essential oils like lime essential oil and grapefruit essential oil react negatively when exposed to sun and should only be used during nighttime.
Conclusion
Though the ways of using essential oils for children are limited in comparison to using it for adults, they provide the same healing and soothing benefits to everyone. From imparting positive vibes to improving focus it does much for your kids. Add essential oils to your shopping lists today to enhance your kids’ wellbeing routine!