Essential Oil Remedies for Your Babe!

Understanding the powerful uses of essential oils has been a long time passion of mine. I have discovered their many therapeutic uses long before my little guy was born and now I am finding ways to incorporate their benefits into remedies for times when he may have a stuffy nose, sleepless night, or an upset tummy.

The ways that I utilize essential oils for my little sprout are by diffusing them in his room, mixing them with a carrier oil
for a massage, applying them to a wash cloth for teething and mixing them with his bubble bath.

If I had to pick just three essential oils to have on hand for little ones then I would recommend having Lavender, Roman Chamomile and Eucalyptus Smithii.

Here are some of my favorite essential oil remedies for children:

*Pure organic lavender

Research has confirmed that lavender produces slight calming, soothing, and sedative effects when its scent is inhaled.

To soothe an upset baby put 1 drop Lavender on your shoulder or nursing pillow and rock or nurse the baby to sleep while the baby's head rests on your shoulder or pillow. You could also put a drop of oil on a tissue and place it into their crib or your pillow (if you are a co-sleeping family).

Lavender is an awesome oil to use for a soothing baby hand and foot rub. Use 3 drops of essential oils per Tablespoon of base oil. Choose Sweet Almond, Apricot Kernel or any other unscented carrier oil.

*Roman Chamomile
Chamomile essential oil can effectively minimize irritability and nervousness in many children. Chamomile, Mandarin, Lavender oil and Vanilla oil are the four primary essential oils for this purpose. It has been used for centuries to calm crying children, soothe stomachaches and relieve teething pain. Chamomile Oil can also help combat depression, insomnia and stress. The oil is also noted to neutralize allergies, cleanse the blood and support the liver in releasing toxins.

To relieve teething pain in children use 1 drop Roman Chamomile oil on a washcloth wrapped ice cube.

I also diffuse Roman Chamomile in his room for its calming effect.

*Eucalyptus Smithii is the only Eucalyptus essential oil that should be used on children. Eucalyptus Globulus (check the bottle before you buy) which is the most common is usually rectified and is not suitable for children. A top note in aromatherapy, this oil is said to be helpful for chest infections, to facilitate breathing. It is also an effective analgesic.

The way I use this oil is to diffuse it in my little guys room when he has a cold or congestion from allergies. At the first sign of a stuffy nose place 1 drop of Eucalyptus Smithii on the corner of your pillow or on your babies crib sheet. This can sometimes even stop a cold from coming on. Do not use Eucalyptus on babies younger than 2 months.

When my little guy is congested with allergies I drop 4-6 drops of Eucalyptus Smithii onto the shower floor, wait for the steam and then take him in the shower with me to help relieve his congestion. This is usually/*always* accompanied by a rendition of "Baby Beluga". When we are done he is happy and relaxed with clear sinuses.

*Most digestive woes are helped by a simple tummy massage.

Tummy-Rub Oil
2 drops Roman chamomile
1 drop fennel
2 drops dill
1 drop melissa
1 ounce carrier oil
Mix together and massage the tummy gently

For more detailed information on using essential oils with babies and children the book Aromatherapy for Mother and Baby By Allison England, R.N. is a great resource to check out!


Please Note:
Children respond very well to LOW Dosages of essential oils .
Never use straight essential oil on a babies/child's skin. It is far to concentrated and can cause a reaction. A little goes a long way. A guideline when applying essential oils to children's skin is to use one-third to one-half the adult dose, or a 1-percent dilution (five or six drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil.)