Essential oils are a safe and natural way to give your family some amazing health benefits, children included! Many conditions, from simple cuts to muscle aches can be helped with properly diluted essential oils. This Mom’s Guide to Everyday Use of Essential Oils with Children is meant to give you a basic idea of how essential oils can be used in the daily lives of your kids. It’s certainly not all-inclusive, and some may find some suggested uses are not a good suggestion. Feel free to take what work for you and leave the rest.
Many essential oils can be used topically or via an essential oil diffuser for children. Uses include support of body functions, aid in healing digestive upset, help with calming and sleep, and more. But before we get started, there are a few important things to remember when using essential oils with childen, the most important of which is understanding that not all essential oils are safe for all ages. It is imperative to learn which ones are safe at which ages. The next most important thing to understand is that essential oils should never be used topically (at any age) without proper dilution in a carrier oil, lotions, or cream.
A Mom’s Guide to Everyday Use of Essential Oils with Children
Many experts feel that all oils should be avoided for children under 6 months of age. This means that mom should avoid the topical use of essential oils as well on any part of the body that may come into contact with baby, to prevent the transfer of the oils from your skin to baby’s.
I have a more complete list of which commonly essential oils can be used at which ages in my article, Using Essential Oils Safely with Children. Please do read it, especially if you have children under the age of 6. But for the quick purpose of this article, here are a couple of key points:
- Peppermint, Sage, Ravintsara, Marjoram, and Nutmeg should be avoided for children under 6 years of age.
- Rosemary, Eucalyptus, and “Thieves” type blends should be avoided in children under 10 years of age.
How to Dilute Essential Oils for Topical Use
My wellness blog has a free printable that contains a ton of information about getting started with essential oils, including a dilution chart. Feel free to hop over there and enter your email to download it or you can follow the suggestions on the Rocky Mountain Oils website.
Basically, essential oils should be diluted at the following rates for topical use:
- 0.5% >> 1 drop essential oil to 2 tsp of carrier oil – Infants (6-24 months)
- 1% >> 3 drops essential oils to 2 tsp of carrier oil – Elderly, Facial application
- 2% >> 6 drops essential oils to 2 tsp of carrier oil – Maximum daily recommended dilution
- 5% >> 15 drops essential oils to 2 tsp of carrier oil – Short term use
To diffuse essential oils, 5 drops added to 4 to 6 ounces of water is a good place to start, but I would not recommend putting the diffuser right next to your child’s bed during sleeping as it may be too strong. I generally diffuse in a 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off cycle during the day, and for only about the first 30 minutes at bedtime. It is not a good idea for anyone in your family for a diffuser to run continuously.
Always watch carefully, especially in the beginning, for signs of respiratory distress or skin reactions in your children. There are some so-called “experts” who say that allergies to essential oils is not possible, but there is plenty of proof in the research to dispel that information. A great general resource for the layperson from a world-renowned expert in aromatherapy is The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Worwood. I recommend that anyone planning to incorporate essential oils into their family’s wellness routine have a copy of this guide on hand.
Where to Apply Safely Diluted Oils
Where should you apply the oils? This may not seem like it matters but there are some places to apply essential oils, especially on children that are most effective for delivering their powerful punch. These areas are:
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The bottom of the feet
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Abdomen
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Lower Back
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Back of the Neck
A roller bottle is a great quick way to blend and apply essential oils on your child. It’s simple to mix a few basic blends to have on hand, or you can purchase some already diluted and specially blended for children. I recommend the Kids Line from Rocky Mountain Oils. RMO carries several blends in this line and 2 kits — the Kids Daily Kit and the Kids Line Complete Kit.
Everyday Use of Essential Oils with Children
If you choose to create your own blends to use on your children, I have some suggestions. As we’ve already stated, there are some oils that should not be used on younger children, but there are many essential oils that are safe to use in most children over the age of 2.
For moms with a wellness mindset who wish to have a guide to everyday use of essential oils with children, this list of the most common reasons to use them as well as recommended oils should be helpful. You will find that many essential oils have multiple uses and benefits, making using essential oils a more affordable option than many traditional drugstore products.
Boosting Immunity
Essential oils may help strengthen little immune systems so that they can better fight colds, flu, and other viruses. Common essential oils that are known to boost immunity include:
Focus and Concentration
Use essential oils to give brains a boost to aid in focus and concentration in school and at home. Some of the best essential oils for focus and concentration include:
Sore Muscles
A rough day of soccer or a little too much fun on the monkey bars can be helped with a powerhouse combination of essential oils. Some you may want to keep on hand include:
Sleep and Relaxation
One of the most common reasons moms love essential oils, this is an area we can all use a little help with at times. Essential oils provide a very gentle push to help turn off the stress of the day, calm thoughts that won’t shut off, and over-tired bodies. You’ll want these essential oils on hand for help with sleep and relaxation:
Upset Stomach
Essential oils are ideal for soothing upset tummies from illness, overeating, or just when a food just didn’t sit right. For those upset tummies, these essential oils work best:
Bug Bites/Small Boo Boo’s
After a kiss from momma, these essential oils are the next best thing for soothing small bumps and bruises and those pesky mosquito bites:
I also like to keep a good basic supply of essential oils and supplies on hand for a natural first aid kit as well, always my first line of defense before I reach for anything over the counter or prescribed.
Have you used essential oils for common ailments in your children? What are some of your favorites?
