Lavender essential oil for babies is not only for calming and better sleep – but can also help with so many more ailments…
You want the absolute best for your little one. You want to help them sleep well; feel better quickly if they get sick; and stop any pain or discomfort. Most of all, you want them to be happy and content. And you want to do it using a safe natural home remedy…
Enter lavender – widely recommended as one of the best, gentlest and safest essential oils for babies and children. Just one whiff of lavender can immediately make your kid (and you) feel calm and more relaxed. Is lavender oil safe for babies? Absolutely! It’s the most widely used baby-safe essential oil to ensure a good night’s sleep for your baby or child. But lavender’s aromatherapy benefits don’t stop there. It’s also a great pain reliever, can help with colic, eczema, teething, heat and diaper rashes, ease a fever, cold, coughs and congestion, and naturally boost your child’s mood and emotions. Most importantly, it’s totally kid safe…
Here’s how lavender essential oil can help your baby, toddler or child sleep better, as well as many other ways you can use this exceptionally versatile natural home remedy…and do so safely…
LAVENDER OIL BENEFITS AND USES FOR BABIES AND KIDS
Proven to be one of the gentlest and safest of all essential oils for children, it’s not surprising that more and more moms are turning to lavender as the best essential oil for children. It can not only help ease a baby’s tummy and teething troubles and relieve any pains or sprains, but may very well be the ‘magic potion’ home remedy you’re looking for to calm a fussy, restless child or finally soothe your kid to sleep.
One study found that mothers that bathed their infants in lavender-scented water experienced multiple benefits for both mom and baby. Mothers became more relaxed, and touched and smiled at their babies more often. Their babies, in turn, looked at their mothers more, cried less often and spent more time in deep sleep after bath-time.
It’s also been found that a lavender oil massage can also help relax a fussy baby and encourage longer and deeper sleep. After introducing a bedtime massage routine with mothers and their babies, a study found that bedtime become easier, and the babies experienced less night-time waking.
As lavender essential oil quickly and safely relaxes the body and calms the mind, it can also be a life savior if your little one is anxious, insecure, or in any form of emotional distress - helping to soothe that incessant crying that can be so stressful for any mother.
But lavender oil offers so much more. A natural pain reliever, it helps ease the discomfort of colic as well as relieve the everyday headaches, teething problems, earaches and other pains and sprains that can inflict your baby and child.
A study found that a lavender oil aromatherapy massage can help relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of colic. Another study confirmed lavender as effective for treating babies in pain. It was found that newborns who smelled lavender while having a heel prick test felt less pain and were not as distressed as those in a control group.
And when it comes to diaper rash - or any other skin condition like eczema - lavender helps calm and relieve that as well. It even tames the itchiness and redness of mosquito and other bug bites, and helps soothe and heal small wounds, cuts and burns. Lavender can also help with a stuffy, congested nose from a cold, and ease a fever.
Here’s how to use the multipurpose aromatherapy benefits of lavender essential oil as a safe, natural home remedy to help your restless, distressed or injured child – and make your life so much easier…
Sleep: If you’re struggling to get your baby or toddler to sleep, lavender essential oil can be a big help. Try a calming oil massage with lavender and Roman chamomile, or a warm bath with a few drops of lavender essential oil before bedtime.
Otherwise diffuse a blend of lavender and Roman chamomile for 15 minutes before your kid goes to bed. Or try a quick spritz of a lavender spray in the child’s bedroom to soothe and calm them to sleep. A lavender-infused soft and cuddly stuffed animal warmed up in the microwave can also be the perfect night-time calming comforter for your little one.
Calm anxiety, crying and irritability: An essential oil whiz at easing any emotional distress, lavender oil can either be diffused as a calming scent, or used as part of a gentle, soothing massage.
Burns: Add 5 drops of lavender oil to a tablespoon of soothing aloe vera and mix well. Apply liberally to inflamed skin 3 times a day to help soothe pain and heal quicker.
Colic: A comforting tummy massage with lavender oil diluted in warmed olive or coconut oil can help relieve the pain. Warm lavender baths can also help relax and soothe colicky infants.
Cough, Cold or Congestion: Blocked stuffy nose or an irritation cough? Try a diffuser blend of lavender, frankincense and lemon oils in a well-ventilated room.
Cuts and wounds: Add 3 drops each of lavender and tea tree oil to 2 tablespoons of witch hazel and mix well. Using a cotton ball, gently apply to the wound 2 to 3 times a day.
Diaper rash: Also helps with heat and many other rashes; lavender essential oil can even soothe eczema. To relieve irritation and redness, blend 1 drop lavender and 1 drop Roman chamomile with 2 tablespoons of warmed coconut oil and apply.
Earache: Combine 2 tablespoons of carrier oil with 2 drops lavender, I drop Roman chamomile, and 1 drop tea tree oil. Put a drop on a cotton ball and place on the surface the ear, and also rub a small amount on the neck and behind the ear.
Fever: Dilute 1 to 2 drops of lavender in two tablespoons carrier oil, and massage a small amount on the neck, feet, back and behind the ears. Chill a lavender weighted blankie in the freezer to help reduce a high temperature.
Mosquito bites, bug bites, itchy skin: Mix 1-2 drops of lavender oil with a carrier oil and apply directly on the affected areas at least twice a day. Good for Mom and Dad too!
Pain Relief: For pain relief from minor headaches or sprains, mix a few drops of lavender oil in a bowl of hot water. Soak a small towel and use it as a hot compress to help it heal quicker. Another simple way is to use a lavender spa mask as a hot or cold compress to relieve the pain. Just cool it in the freezer for acute pain like a sprain, or warm it in the microwave for chronic aches and pains.
Teething: Try one of these simple home remedies - a gentle jawline massage with diluted lavender oil, a lavender-infused warm compress along the jawline, or a diffuser blend of 2 drops each of lavender and Roman chamomile, to help ease the pain.
There Are Many Uses Of Lavender Oil You Probably Want To Know About – Read More
HOW TO SAFELY USE LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL FOR BABIES AND KIDS
Are essential oils even really that safe for your baby, toddler or child? They definitely can be - provided you stick with kid safe essential oils and follow specific usage guidelines. Lavender is well known as one of the best, mildest, gentlest - and safe - essential oils for babies and kids. But like all pure essential oils, lavender is highly concentrated and potent, so extreme care is needed before use.
When using lavender essential oil on your child, it’s important to properly dilute the pure essential oil with carrier oil as their skin is so much more sensitive. It’s also best to do a patch test safety-check to assess skin sensitivity before use. Apply a small dime sized amount of the diluted essential oil to an arm or a leg, and leave for 24 hours. If there is any reaction - like redness or pain to the touch - discontinue use, and try again when the child is older.
An important cautionary note. No essential oil should ever be used for newborns under 3 months. Similarly, they should never be ingested by a child. It’s also advisable to avoid using with infants or kids who have asthma.
There are many different ways you can use lavender essential oil for babies, toddlers and kids. Just choose which would be the best for both you and your child…
Diffusing: A diffuser is recommended as one of the safest ways to use essential oils for all children above 3 months of age – from infants and babies to toddlers and older kids. It’s best to avoid using humidifiers and nebulizers for your little ones.
It’s also important to never use adult doses for children – always check the diffuser instructions on how much oil to use for your baby or child. If in doubt, a broad rule of thumb is to use 1-3 drops of lavender oil starting off with the lesser amount for young babies and toddlers. Diffusers should also only be run intermittently - turn on for 15 minutes, then off for 30 minutes – in a well-ventilated room – and never run continuously or overnight.
Apply To Skin: Lavender essential oil should always be well diluted in a carrier oil before using on the more sensitive skin of a child. Common carrier oils include fractionated coconut oil, olive oil, or almond oil. For children older than 3 months, safe dilution ratios of between 0.5% to 1.5% are recommended:
0.5% dilution for babies 4 months-1 year (1 drop of essential oil in two teaspoons carrier oil)
1% dilution for ages 2-5 (1 drop of essential oil in one teaspoon carrier oil)
1.5% dilution for ages 6-15 (3 drops of essential oil in two teaspoons carrier oil)
Apply a few drops on the back of the neck, chest and tummy - in fact, anywhere on the body where your child is unlikely to put the treated area (like their foot) in their mouth.
You can also make your own roller ball for easier on-the-go application for young kids. Fill a 0.25-ounce glass roller ball bottle with a carrier oil, and add 1 drop of lavender essential oil (a little over 1% dilution).
Massage: A wonderful relaxing option for babies and toddlers which not only calms and soothes before bedtime, but also makes for a closer bond with your child. Mix one tablespoon almond oil, ½ tablespoon olive oil and ½ tablespoon coconut oil (melt over low heat if solid) together with 5-10 drops lavender essential oil.
Sleep Spray: Mix 10-20 drops of lavender essential oil with 2 tablespoons of witch hazel and stir. Add 3 tablespoons water and pour into a 4-ounce spray bottle. For babies and toddlers, use as an air freshener or a sleeping spray in an open well-ventilated room as part of their pre-bedtime routine. Once your toddler has got past the stage of putting everything in their mouth, a ready-made lavender linen spray can be used to mist their pillows and other bedding items before they go to sleep.
Bath: Dilute lavender essential oil in a carrier oil as above. Simply add a few drops of the diluted oil to a warm bath. If your little one loves to splash about as part of their bath-time routine, bathing with essential oils is not advisable as they may get some oil in their eyes or mouth. Once they are older, you can switch to pure lavender bath salts as a simpler bath-time option.
Weighted Blanket: It’s well-known that many kids sleep better under a weighted blanket, particularly if they are hyperactive. If that blanket is infused with the calming scent of lavender, even better. Choose a soft, plush, weighty lavender blankie that can also be warmed in the microwave or chilled in the freezer.
Stuffed Plush Animal: One of the easiest ways to introduce your toddler or child's life and sleep routine is with an adorable heatable lavender stuffed animal that will quickly become a favorite cuddle buddy.
Super-Soft, Cute and Cuddly Stuffed Plush Animals You and Your Child Won't Be Able to Resist – Read More
IMPORTANT NOTES AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:
It’s important to consult with a medical practitioner before using essential oils near babies and children. It is also highly recommended you seek additional advice from a certified aromatherapist. Essential oils should never be used on newborn babies under 3 months and kids who have asthma, or ingested by children.
Always ensure you use a 100% pure lavender essential oil (lavandula angustifolia) from a reputable brand, and not a ‘fragranced’ oil, which will not only won’t work as suggested, but in the case of babies and kids, may even cause harm.
Keep essential oils out of children's reach. If an oil is ever ingested, give the child an oil-soluble liquid such as milk or cream. Immediately seek emergency medical attention. A few drops of pure, baby-safe essential oil shouldn't be life-threatening, but for your protection, it is best to take these precautions.
Now that you know the many benefits of lavender essential oil for babies, browse our online store for a wide range of lavender essential oil products.