Essential Oils for ChildrenEssential oils are a natural and beautiful way to take care of your children’s health. They are effective against germs, support immunity, and do not have the side effects associated with drugs. Essential oils are healing, comforting and soothing. They allow you to nurture both the physical and emotional aspects of your children’s health in a truly holistic way…through fragrance and touch. These healing oils are natural “plant based medicine” and they work with your child’s body to strengthen and support health.
They are safe to use on children, babies and infants. We use them on ours…all the time, they work!They are useful in fighting infections, relieving pain, cleaning and disinfecting, killing germs, and so much more. We use them for diaper rash, earaches, colds, flu, mosquito bites, allergies, and asthma …just about anything you can think of. Basically, there are four things to keep in mind when using oils on infants and children… 1. Dilute the oils 2. Test the diluted oil on the bottom of the feet 3. Never use the oils in the nose, eyes, or ear canal (outside of the ear is fine) 4. Use only certified pure, therapeutic grade, essential oils. This is important! Avoid using oils directly on premature babies as their skin is extremely sensitive. You can, however, use the indirect method which does work well… 1. Place 1-2 drops of oil into your hands 2. Rub them together until almost dry 3. Hold your hands a few inches over the area on the baby’s body you want to address 4. Do not get the oils close to the infant’s eyes, nose or mouth. How to Dilute Oils for Children Dilute the essential oil with a vegetable (olive oil) or carrier oil before applying. This will help to avoid skin sensitivity but will not reduce its potency. Recommended Dilutions Infants and small children Dilute 1-3 drops of essential oil with 1 tablespoon (tbsp.) of carrier or vegetable oil Children 2-5 years Old Dilute 1-3 drops of essential oil with 1 teaspoon (tsp.) of carrier or vegetable oil Test for Sensitivity
Watch for irritation and redness. If irritation should occur, wipe off with a vegetable or carrier oil. Do not use water! Water and oil don’t mix, it just spreads the oils. Most children respond extremely well to oils without any problems. If your child has sensitive skin or is prone to allergies, the feet are the safest place to use oils. In fact, due to their large pores, the feet are an effective place to use oils on any family member. If you have safely tested an oil on your child’s feet, you can test it next on the inside their arm, just above the elbow. Once you have tested an oil on your child, without any reaction, you can apply it to other areas of the body, such as the back, behind the ears, neck, etc. Basically, oils can be applied to most areas of the body, as long as they are diluted. The exceptions are the eyes, nose, and inside the ear canal. The Power of Touch Essential oils support health on many levels, including physical, emotional and spiritual. Massaging these oils, into the bottom of your child’s feet, can a pleasurable experience that not only heals… but it also comforts, soothes, and enhances bonding. Science has proven that touch, in itself, is very healing. A loving touch boosts the immune system and is comforting and relaxing. When you combine touch by massaging essential oils into your child’s body you create a powerful, healing energy. Diffusing Oils for Children Essential oil diffusers create a micro fine mist that can suspend these healing oils into the air for hours. This is an effective way to get these oils into your children’s respiratory system, and throughout their entire body. When the oils are breathed in through the nose, they enter into the lungs and are absorbed into the bloodstream. They travel throughout the body to kill germs while boosting the immune and respiratory systems. This can be extremely therapeutic in caring for illness, especially for colds and flu. We always diffuse for colds, flu, stuffy nose and chest congestion. We run the diffuser in the bedroom, while they sleep at night. I highly recommend you try it….you will be amazed! We diffuse for allergies, asthma and wheezing. Tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia) and lavender diffused together have worked wonders for us. If you have children in school, their exposure to illness and germs is high. In addition, they can easily bring these germs home. Diffusing antiviral or antibacterial oils will kill those airborne germs and greatly reduce your family’s exposure. Diffusing for infants Infant’s lungs are much more sensitive than adults or children. Some oils could cause discomfort. I recommend a very light, intermittent, setting on the diffuser, to see how the baby adjusts. Another option is to diffuse for only five minutes, then wait an additional 15 minutes, before bringing the infant into the room. This is even more important in small rooms. Our babies and infants have done well and they have benefited from diffusing. Some oils like cinnamon, oregano, and peppermint are very strong and it is recommended not to diffuse them until they are older. Instructions are included when you purchase a diffuser. I personally prefer the ultrasonic diffusers that have a timer. Conclusion Remember that diluting the oils, before application, is always the important issue in safety and for comfort. It is also important to read and become familiar with
Using Oils Safely.
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Massage 2-4 drops of the diluted essential oil into the bottom of the feet. 
