Essential Oils for Babies and Toddlers

Essential oils are so amazing! Uses range from cleaning your house, helping to clear up skin conditions, relaxing your nervous system or soothing a cranky child.
Here are a few of my favorite recipes and tips for using essential oils for babies and toddlers.

*ALWAYS BE SURE TO USE
THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS!*

*ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS! DILUTE OILS WITH HIGH QUALITY VEGETABLE OILS WHEN USING THEM ON BABIES OR SMALL CHILDREN.*

TEETHING RECIPES

TENDER GUMS OIL

1 tablespoon vegetable oil or glycerin (sweeter flavor)

1 drop Clove Essential Oil

SOOTHING CLOTH

Use 1 drop Roman Chamomile oil on a clean, damp washcloth, put in the freezer for 10 minutes. Let baby chew on it. Refreeze as often as needed. You can also tie a piece of organic cotton in a tight knot and use it the same way. The knots are the perfect hardness to rub on gums for the counterpressure of the teeth pushing through.

NON TOXIC TOY CLEANER 
Mix together 2 cups of water and 5 drops of Lemon oil, or my CLEAN blend, in a spray bottle. It is safe to use on toys, to clean, disinfect, and kill germs. You can also add Lemon oil, or CLEAN, to handsoap. Or, use it in a spray for disinfecting the air. It has high antibacterial properties. It's antiseptic properties can last for up to 20 days. I also use this spray on baby's highchair and exersaucer.



CALMING A FUSSY CHILD

RELAXING BATH OIL

Mix together 2 drops each of Orange, Mandarin, and Tangerine oils, or use 6-7 drops of my RELAX blend, with 1 cup of almond or olive oil. Add a few drops to your child's nighttime bath. You can also add to any unscented baby lotion. I use California Baby unscented baby lotion for sensitive skin. I give my baby a nice, relaxing massage after her bath each time. She now expects it as part of her bedtime routine. It always calms her down, and it relaxes me as well. 

Sometimes when babies get fussy, it raises our level of irritation, and they are so in tune with our emotions, that they can feed off of it, getting even more antsy. I have found that taking a few moments to calm MYSELF, in turn calms my baby down. In my opinion, the best thing ever is cuddling a sweet smelling child! 

*NOTE* Tangerine oil has a scent similar to Mandarin oil, but contains NO anthranilic acid ester and therefore has no sedative effects. Anthranilic acid esters are highly sedative. Mandarin is wonderful to use with children suffering from anxiety, nervousness or stress. Works wonders on anyone who has a high stress level.

 
CALMING PAJAMA DRAWER SACHET

Take a few cotton balls or even a folded up paper towel or small piece of cotton fabric, add a drop or two of Lavender oil, Geranium oil, Clary Sage. Or, add 2 drops of my RELAX blend. These oils are very calming, soothing and promote restful sleep. Place the item with the oil on it in the drawer with nighttime clothing. You can also place a tissue with a few drops of the oils on it in the baby's bed a few hours before bedtime, removing when you put baby into bed. Then slip in into your bed, or into your pillowcase, for you can also benefit for this treatment as well.

BEDTIME TIPS 

I highly recommend creating a nighttime routine as early in life as possible that gets baby relaxed. Start about an hour before bedtime. Begin with a bath using the relaxing oils and follow with a light massage. It can be a quick application of the lotion or oil, or it can be more extensive. I try to follow my baby's cues as to what she is in the mood for. Some nights she barely wants any massage, other nights she has more patience to lay still. Even if you choose not to have bathtime, you can do a gentle massage of the legs and feet with the calming oils/lotion while you get baby into their pajamas.

Turn down the lights, play gentle music, have a few minutes of quiet time. Soon your child will anticipate bedtime! When they know what is coming, they are more apt to enjoy the process. Make it an enjoyable experience, don't try to rush it. Try to schedule the time out for yourself so you look forward to this time also. When bedtime becomes a fight, nobody enjoys it, nor looks forward to it.

The older that children get, the more they crave routine. As your child gets teeth, be sure to start brushing them before bed. I try to get this out of the way first, as it is usually not the most fun. Then move on to the more relaxing aspects! Including a story at any age is a nice way to wind down.

I have found with each of my four children that when I make myself as relaxed as possible at bedtime, it all goes so much easier for everyone invloved. Knowing that I have this special time with my children keeps me focused on what is important. Any TV shows I want to watch can be recorded and viewed after they fall asleep. Giving them a half hour of my night is a pleasure. But I have definintely had to change my way of looking at bedtime to make it work well for us. You will find your own groove as you go along, and what works for some children, might not work for others. You know your child best, so decide what works for you, and most important, stay as consistant as possible. Routine makes children feel safe. We all feel more comfortable when we know what is coming, and the same goes for our children.

So listen to your heart, and most of all enjoy this special time with your children. Soon enough they will be teenagers who would rather listen to their ipod as they fall asleep rather that read a book with you!  Blessings! Sweet Dreams!

*ALWAYS USE THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS*
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