Little Ones and Essential Oils

Essential oils and kids are a hotly debated topic. Mommy groups and discussion threads get pretty heated when it comes to essential oils and kids. 
 
While aromatherapy is lovely for the entire family, there are a few guidelines you should follow when considering using essential oils around your kids and babies. 
 
At Sha Faun Enterprises, we use Young Living essential oils in our everyday lives, but we do keep certain oils put up and away from our little ones. 
 
Here are a few tips and tricks on using essential oils around your little ones and a few things NOT to do. 
 
Stick with "kid-safe" oils: 
 
Certain essential oils are not safe for use around kids. "Hot" oils like cinnamon, clove, oregano, and thyme aren't safe for kids because their little bodies can't handle the strength of these oils. 
 
Here are a few of our favorite kid-friendly oils: 

• Lavender
• Chamomile
• Ylang Ylang 
• Bergamot
• Peace and Calming Young Living blend
• RutaVala Young Living Blend
• Any of Young Living's Kidscents 

 
Always Dilute and Perform a Patch Test: 
 
Our little ones have sensitive little bodies. So anytime you are trying a new essential oil with your kids, you should ALWAYS dilute it in a carrier oil such as sweet almond oil. You should also try a patch test first to make sure their skin can handle the essential oil. 
 
Even during bath time, you should dilute your baby's oils in a carrier oil first. 
 
How to Perform a Patch Test: 

1. Combine one drop of essential oil with one teaspoon of carrier oil. 
2. Apply one drop of the mixture to your child's inner elbow. 
3. Watch for reactions for 24 hours. 

 
Patch tests help you determine which kid-friendly oils you can use in your little one's sleepy time rollers and bath bubbles without worrying about a reaction. 
 
When using essential oils on your little ones, be sure not to put any oils on their hands or wrists where they can easily rub in in their eyes. We love using a kid-friendly roller on the bottoms of the feet and then putting some cotton socks over their feet. 
 
How to use essential oils with your little ones: 
 
Essential oils are excellent for calming our little ones down for a good night's sleep, soothing boo-boos, and much more. Here are a few of our favorite ways to use essential oils with our kids at Sha-Faun Enterprises. 
 
Sha-Faun's favorite essential oil uses for little ones: 

• A few drops of sleepy lavender into your favorite unscented bubble bath for a soothing bedtime routine. 
• Use a few drops of Peace and Calming blend in your unscented lotion for a pre-bedtime sleepy massage. 
• Place a few drops of Sweet Orange and Lavender in an oil roller for a calming roller for smelling or rolling on the bottom of those little feet. 

 
We have one last word of caution with essential oils and your little ones.
 
Many citrus oils are photosensitive oils that can increase your chances of sunburn while in the sun. So be careful with these types of oils if your little one plans to play in the sun.  
 
For more ways to use essential oils with your little ones, start your Young Living essential oil journey today!