Different Ways to Use Essential Oils for Kids

It is necessary to understand that just as you have to pay attention to which essential oils are safe for children, you need to ensure that you use them in the correct manner. In this post, I’ll tell you the different ways to use essential oil for kids.

MUST READ: HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS FOR KIDS

Different ways to use essential oils for kids

There are different ways to use essential oils for kids. And the following are a few key points that you need to keep in mind when using essential oils for kids:

CONSIDER INHALATION

Inhalation is one of the best ways to benefit for a child who has a congestion. In fact doctors recommend inhalation for children up to 6 years old. Since essential oils cannot be applied topically on to them, an inhalation is one of the best ways to use essential oils for young children.

You could use an essential oil like Sushwasa in the diffuser or use the Sushwasa mist to spray the room and the linen. The most effective way to use the diffuser is to close the room and leave the oil diffuser with essential oil for kids in the room, 10 to 15 minutes before their bedtime. This will allow the child to sleep peacefully and enjoy the benefits of the essential oil with ease.

[click_to_tweet tweet=”From steam inhalation to making your own natural vapour rub, there is so much you can do with essential oils for kids.. Read more about the A2Z of oils and essential oils in the #BlogChatterA2Z series. ” quote=”From steam inhalation to making your own natural vapour rub, there is so much you can do with essential oils for kids.. Read more about the A2Z of oils and essential oils in the #BlogChatterA2Z series. ” theme=”style5″]

BODY WASH FOR KIDS

The basic ingredients are Castile soap and water. There are other ingredients you can add to the DIY body wash to make it even healthier and smell good; like essential oils. You can also add a bit of a moisturiser to make their skin soft and supple.

Ensure that you add a carrier oil because essential oils could be too strong for their tender skin. Want an energizing bath? Pick up a lemony citrus fragrance, if you are looking at a night time bath go for geranium and lavender as these are soothing essential oils. I used to have a pump dispenser that would let out the foam making the bath time more fun!

What you need

½ cup of Liquid Castile Soap [use the unscented one by Veda]
½ cup distilled water
2 tablespoons of your choice of carrier oil (coconut oil or almond oil)
1 tsp of their fav moisturiser (optional)
10-15 drops of essential oils

To make the body wash; just all the ingredients to the pump dispenser and it is ready to use. Do shake before every use to make the maximum benefit of the essential oils.

VAPOUR RUB FOR KIDS

I have two variants of making this vapor rub, if you are completely vegan choose the first option,or else you can look at the second option.

Vapor Rub Ingredients – Variant 1

• 1/2 cup virgin coconut oil
• 10 drops each of Eucalyptus Oil, Peppermint Oil, Lemon Oil and Lavender Oil.

Making the Vapor Rub

Blend all these ingredients with a hand-mixer till till oil begins to thicken a bit. Store it in an airtight container. Its best to store in a cool place and apply some on your warm and rub it before applying.

Vapor Rub Ingredients – Variant 2

This makes a medium sized jar of vapor rub.

• 1/2 cup virgin coconut oil/ olive oil / olive oil
• 2 tbsp of beeswax
• 10 drops each of Eucalyptus Oil, Lavender Oil, Peppermint Oil, Rosemary Oil and cinnamon/clove oil (omit rosemary for use on babies and small children)

Making the Vapor Rub

• Melt beeswax with the oil of your choice in a double boiler. Do not let it smoke or over boil. It should just have melted completely.
• Add all the essential oils (adjust accordingly if you are making it for children below 4 years).
• Use a wooden spoon to completely blend the oils. It will start to solidify so blend it quickly.
• Pour into tiny glass jars with lids. You can also pour it in chap stick holders to store it in your purse with no spills!

Some things to keep in mind when using essential oils for kids

• Based on how old your child is, you need will need to add or omit certain essential oils top ensure that they do not have any allergies or cause any harm to them. As their immune system and body develop, you can find that there are other essential oils for children that you can use as they grow older.
• Always opt for natural and organically made essential oils. There are dime a dozen essential oils in the market; to recognize an organic essential oil, they must be eco-certified. For example Juicy Chemistry. Omved and Anveya essential are the essential oils that I can recommend to you.
• Dilute the oils; never ever use them directly on the skin. You can use a carrier oil to dilute them, but the best way to use them is in extreme diluted forms as I have mentioned above.
• Essential oils are NOT for consumption. Always keep that in mind.
• Before using any essential oil for children allergies, it is a good idea to run a skin test to see how your child’s skin will react to essential oil. Moreover, it is a good way to determine that your child doesn’t end up having an allergic reaction.

Avoid essential oils for babies till they turn at least 3 months old. Young babies have very thin and permeable skin, which means any applied oil can enter their bloodstream immediately. They may also be more prone to adverse reactions than older kids or adults and may find it harder to recover from them.

Using Essential  Oils for Kids (age-wise)

To make it easier for you, here is an age wise distribution of oils to be used for each age. The list only contains common oils, so please seek professional help in case of any doubt.

3-6 months

• Chamomile
• Dill
• Lavender

6-24 months

• Bergamot
• Cedarwood
• Citronella
• Lemon
• Pine
• Sandalwood
• Tea Tree

2-6 years

• Basil
• Clove
• Lemongrass
• Oregano
• Patchouli
• Thyme
• Ylang Ylang

6-10 years

• Star anise
• Cardamom
• Nutmeg

For children of all ages, experts suggest staying away from eucalyptus, peppermint and rosemary oils. These are some essential oils that you can use for kids. Do ensure and check if your child has any allergies before you use these oils.