As a parent, you want to do everything that you can to keep your little one happy and healthy. However, every parent knows that sometimes there’s simply nothing that you can do to stop your child from becoming unwell. No matter how hard you try, periods of sickness are always going to come around, so it’s down to you to do your best to keep your child healthy for the majority of the time and support their speedy recovery when needed.
Today, more and more people are using essential oils to support their health. However, as a parent, it’s crucial that you practice caution when it comes to using essential oils for your child. Bear in mind that essential oils which are safe for adults to use might not always be the same for little ones, so it’s important to be aware of the safety rules and considerations before using these oils to help boost and support your child’s health. We’ve put together some of the main considerations to keep in mind before you allow your child to use any essential oils.
#1. Make Sure You’re Using a Safe Oil:
Before you begin, it’s important to make sure that you are first using an essential oil that’s safe for children. Certain oils, such as lavender oil or frankincense are generally safe for little ones, although it’s always best to dilute them at least a little bit beforehand. Other oils, such as rosemary essential oil, must always be diluted before use and are usually best avoided in younger children and babies. Bear in mind that some essential oils may be suitable for children, but only those over the age of ten. These include garlic essential oil, oregano, tree moss and turpentine.
#2. Get the Know the Signs of Overuse:
Before you start using essential oils with your child, it’s vital to ensure that you’re fully aware of the signs of overuse or adverse reactions that could appear as a result. Understanding these signs will ensure that you’re in the best position to know when’s best to stop using a certain essential oil with your child if needed. Redness, itching, and irritability are just some of the most common signs to watch out for; these could indicate that your child is allergic to the particular essential oil, or the oil needs to be diluted further.
#3. Diffusing Essential Oils:
One of the easiest ways to use essential oils in your family home is through a diffuser. Not only will this make the entire house smell wonderful, but you’ll all be able to breathe in the goodness and enjoy a range of health benefits as a result. However, it’s important to make sure that you are only using essential oils that are safe forchildren. If you do wish to use an essential oil that is not, make sure that it is in a room that your children are not currently in and make sure that you give some time to ventilate afterwards.
#4. Using Essential Oils on Yourself:
Certain essential oils may be perfectly safe for you to use on your own, but don’t forget to take into consideration the fact that you are likely to come into close contact with your little ones. Applying essential oils topically to yourself is generally OK, but make sure that you are following certain guidelines. For example, if you wish to apply topically underneath your clothing, wait around 15-20 minutes before getting close to your children as this will be enough time for the oil to evaporate. If applying to exposed skin, wait for at least half an hour.
#5. Cleaning with Essential Oils:
In addition to being great for your health, essential oils can also be used for a range of cleaning tasks around the home. You can safely clean with essential oils that aren’t safe to be used with children, but much like topically applying them to yourself, it’s best to follow some rules. Make sure that your kids are in a different room whilst you’re using essential oils to clean, and wait a few minutes to give the oils a chance to evaporate before you allow your little ones back in.
#6. Topically Applying Essential Oils:
Topically applying the wrong essential oil or too high of a concentration of essential oil to your child’s skin can cause adverse reactions, so it’s vital to take extra care when using essential oils with your children this way. It is not recommended to topically apply essential oils to babies under six months of age due to their thinner skin and less mature immune systems. After the age of six months, essential oils can be used for a specific purpose, and for short periods of time. For example, bug bites and bee stings could be treated with essential oils, but regular use is not recommended. Once your child turns two, you can begin careful topical application of safe essential oils that are highly diluted (a 1% concentration of essential oil is recommended). After the age of six years, heavily diluted essential oils are still recommended, but their immune system will be more mature making adverse reactions less likely.
#7. Staying Safe:
Essential oils can have a variety of wonderful purposes when it comes to boosting your child’s health and well-being, However, it’s crucial that you are aware of safe practices to protect your child. Always store any essential oils out of sight and reach of children; a locked cabinet is usually the best option, and always go for essential oils that are in child-proof bottles. Take extra care to prevent ingestion of essential oils as this can lead to a wide range of serious reactions such as vomiting, seizures, respiratory problems and stomach pain. Take extra care when diluting; if unsure the safest option to choose is diluting via a diffuser or humidifier.
Essential oils can be great for improving the health and well-being of the entire family. But, it’s crucial to keep these safety considerations in mind when using them with kids.