If you’re a mom, grandma, auntie, or an adult who takes care of kids, essential oils can benefit you.
Some oils are safe to use on children – to stop the sniffles, soothe an upset stomach, and keep biting insects away.
Other oils can help you stay calm and function at your best.
And essential oils will improve your environment, whether you use them for freshening the air or cleaning the house.
Let’s begin with which essential oils are safe for children.
How to Use Essential Oils for Children
Some oils are mild enough for delicate skin and developing bodies. I’ll list a few here.
But please keep in mind that you need to properly dilute the essential oils with a carrier oil if you apply them to the skin of a child.
Here’s a quick overview of how to do that.
Proper Dilution of Essential Oils for Children
- For infants, combine no more than 2 drops of essential oil per 1 ounce of carrier oil (or 6 teaspoons)
- For toddlers, no more than 4 drops per 1 ounce of carrier oil
- For kids and pre-teens, 3 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil
- For teens and adults, 3 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil for massage or whole-body treatments, and 7 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil for spot treatments like pimples
With regards to diffusion, you can use the usual amount of essential oil; you’ll just run the diffuser for only half an hour to an hour at most around kids.
To illustrate, most ultrasonic diffusers that have a water reservoir need 4 or 5 drops of undiluted essential oil. They dilute the oil themselves by diffusing it in the water vapor.
Meanwhile, nebulizing diffusers require 10 to 15 drops. Since they diffuse potent pure oil only, limit their use around infants and small children.
The Best Essential Oils for Children
Before I dive in, let me tell you now that it’s easy to find high-quality essential oils online without signing up for a multi-level marketing company.
If you’re not sure how to shop for them, use my guide to choosing the best essential oil brands.
Roman Chamomile
One of my top picks for children is Roman chamomile.
It’s useful for unwinding at bedtime and relaxing at bath time.
Put a couple of drops in the bath water, or diffuse it for half an hour before going to bed.
Citronella
Diffuse citronella to keep biting insects away. It may also help your little ones breathe easier.
Frankincense
To help those bumps and bruises heal faster, dab them with a little frankincense. It speeds up healing.
When diffused, frankincense creates a calm, grounded atmosphere and boosts the immune system.
You can also use frankincense to rejuvenate your complexion and keep it young. It’s one of the best essential oils for the skin.
Lavender
Lavender’s an all-time favorite for restful sleep. It’s also an antiseptic to treat scrapes and bug bites. Plus, it’s one of the mildest essential oils to use on the skin.
Diffuse it, blend it with a carrier oil for topical treatments, or fragrance your homemade cleaning products with it.
Lemon
Do you have a child that hates to get out of bed in the morning? Diffuse lemon to improve the mood and get the energy flowing.
Lemon essential oil is also a pleasant addition to homemade cleaners.
Spearmint
Try spearmint in place of its more aggressive cousin, peppermint.
Spearmint calms a queasy stomach and improves concentration.
You may have noticed that I left some popular essential oils off this list. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying them as long as you take proper precautions.
Do extra research if you’re pregnant or nursing. Resources about the best essential oils for pregnancy will help you avoid problems.
Essential Oils for Parents and Caregivers
If you’re functioning at your best, you can take better care of the kids.
After a long day, relax in the bath with a few drops of lavender and chamomile. Or make yourself a customized body lotion to enjoy before bed.
The less stress you feel, the more patient you can be.
You can find more of the best essential oils for stress and anxiety in my article.
In the morning, keep cool during the carpool by diffusing bergamot, clary sage, or cedarwood. Yes, you can buy a diffuser for your car.
Then, during cold and flu season, eliminate germs with eucalyptus and tea tree oil.
Essential Oils for Your Home
Our sense of smell affects our well-being. Put essential oils to good use improving the mood and cleanliness of your home.
Diffuse them, clean with them, and use them as pest repellents.
Get rid of the fug in the basement or your teenager’s bedroom by spritzing a homemade air freshener.
- Blend five drops each of lemon, lavender, and rosemary essential oils with 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol and 1 cup of water. Shake well then spray.
Keep the kids’ bathroom clean and fresh and sanitary with this homemade cleaner:
- Put ½ cup white distilled vinegar and ½ cup water in a spray bottle
- Then add 12 drops of essential oil
- Antiseptic oils to choose from include clove, eucalyptus, lemon, lavender, peppermint, (Melaleuca)
Since the cleaner has acidic vinegar in it, it’s not ideal for marble or stone. But it’s perfect for dissolving hard water on faucets and cleansing countertops.
Essential Oils and Pets
One other thing to consider: if you have pets, be sure you understand which essential oils you should avoid using. For example, tea tree oil and citrus oils are toxic to many animals.
But chamomile and lavender can calm your pets just like they can your children and yourself.
Check with your vet for more information.
Conclusion
While essential oils can’t replace medical treatments, they provide many benefits for both adults and children.
Just like with any tool, the more you learn and practice with them, the more you’ll get out of them.