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Are Essential Oils for Kids?

As mothers, we only want the best for our children rather we’re encouraging them to eat more veggies or teaching them the importance of saying, “thank you”. Not only can we use essential oils to support our motherhood, using essential oils for kids has many benefits too.

They are a mainstay in our family and we look to them every day – from using essential oils for upset stomach, blemishes, emotional support, green cleaning, better sleep, and more.

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How to Start Using Essential Oils for Kids

As with most things in life learning how to start is often the most difficult step when it comes to using essential oils for kids. Therefore I’ve simplified the process into 4 steps for using essential oils safely with little ones.

In this essential oil guide for kids, you’ll find everything you need to know to about making essential oil blends, using essential oils safe for kids, and few handy printables such as a dilution chart. Shall we begin? (If you’re not ready to tackle this today – pin it for later.)

Related: Start Diffusing Essential Oils

Related: FAQS Essential Oil Guide

Guide to Using Essential Oils Safely with Kids

First and foremost when using essential oils we must keep in mind that each is highly concentrated and should be treated as such. For example, you wouldn’t serve your child a cup of concentrated juice straight from a can or container without diluting it with water first, would you?

Well, essential oils are bottled up just like concentrated juice and they definitely fit the term “too much of good thing is not a good thing”. However, learning just four basic steps to using essential oils safely for kids will make any mama proud!

#1 Slowing Introducing

Essential oils should be introduced to children just like you introduce new foods. NO mama in her right mind would feed oranges, yogurt, and peanut butter to their toddler for the FIRST TIME in ONE MEAL!

Essential oils are made from plants, many of which are foods we eat. And your child could have an allergy or sensitivity to one just like food. So, it’s important to introduce essential oils for kids one at a time.

As a rule of thumb, introduce no more than one new essential oil a day. If they are going to have a reaction it will appear quicker than foods due to their high concentration and quick absorption. Experts say you should be able to see any signs of a reaction to an essential oil in first 15 to 30 minutes after applying or diffusing.

So, be on the safe side and slowing introduce essential oils to your child. In just a few days to a weeks time, you’ll able to create some fun and safe essential oil blends for kids without worry!

#2 Diluting Correctly

A little really goes a long long way when it comes to essential oils! You see, babies and children have thinner and more sensitive skin than adults. So, we mothers have to be extra careful.

And of course, their body size is much smaller than ours. Therefore they require only a small amount of essential oil to have the same benefit we would experience in a higher ratio.

Knowing how to dilute essential oils for kids is key to truly enjoy and benefit from them! Use an essential dilution to chart to always dilute accurately. Pin one here or print this one from the Oily Chic Library.

#3 Applying Safely

Because essential oils are so powerful, look to simple kid-friendly applications that are well diluted or activities that involve experiencing the aroma of the oil FIRST rather than applying to the skin when you are introducing oils.

For example, diffuse an oil, try one in a homemade bubble bath, or a pillow mist. Each is a great way to experience a new oil without the risk of skin irritation.

But, when you are ready to apply an essential oil topically pick one of these carrier oils to dilute. Happily, there are a number ways to dilute essential oils with a carrier oil such as in an essential oil roller bottle, eye dropper bottle, spray bottle with a fine mist, or simply in the palm of your hands.

After diluting apply to a larger surface area of the skin like the back or an area where the skin is thicker like the bottoms of the feet. Here’s a list of several key areas to apply essential oils safely.

#4 Choosing Kid Safe Oils

There are many essential oils safe for kids to support their everyday wellness. It’s a good idea to start with oils that are gentle and mild when making essential oil blends for kids.

For examples oils such as chamomile, lavender, rose, grapefruit, geranium, and tangerine are all by far more mild than tea tree, cinnamon, or camphor for example.

I find it helpful to use an essential oil blending wheel to create essential oil blends for kid and adults. Print one from Oily Chic Library, along with blank blending worksheets to record what you’re making and how your child responded to it.

30 of the Best Essential Oils for Kids:

Print a handful for essential oil blends for kids from Oily Chic Library too!

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While there are many essential oils for kids this list of 30 is a great place to start! And with these four basic steps covered to using essential oils safely for kids, you can confidently become a crunchy mama (if you’re not already).  What’s your favorite kid-friendly oil? Drop it in the comments below and tag #oilychic on Instagram to share your oily mama tales.

P.S. Young Living has an incredible and adorable essential oils line just for kids. They take care of the diluting and blending for you and wrap it all up in cute bottles. Don’t have your oils yet? Get Oily Now!

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