I have always been a strong supporter of natural and herbal treatments for ailments and health conditions. Only recently did I discover essential oils. To me, essential oils were a natural choice. After all, many of these oils came from the same plants I chose my herbal supplements from. I started using essential oils on myself first, and then started to use them on my kids. I have been amazed at the results. There are a few essential oils every parent should have on hand.
Lavender
Since I began using essential oils, lavender is the essential oil I have used the most for my children. Lavender is great in soothing and calming diaper rash. Lavender can also be used to soothe and console a fussy or cranky baby or child. It can be applied topically, added to a bath or diffused aromatically.
Wild orange
I am often a highly stressed and irritable person and although it might seem like being a child or baby is easy, kids can be stressed and irritable as well. Wild orange essential oils are great for calming, relaxing and improving anyone’s mood, adult or child. Wild orange essential oil can be applied topically, but I’ve found that diffusing wild orange oil works best for improving mood.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus essential oil is a great addition to any medicine cabinet, especially when there are kids in the house. Eucalyptus oil is especially helpful when dealing with respiratory problems, such as stuffiness and congestion associated with a cold or flu. In fact, eucalyptus oil is often an ingredient in many over-the-counter medications. Many people, when switching to essential oils, replace Vicks Vapor Rub with eucalyptus oil.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is by far one of the most popular essential oils on the market. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic and can be used in homemade cleaning recipes. I love using tea tree oil to clean surfaces and toys because unlike bleach, I know it’s natural and not chemical-laden. Tea tree oil is also extremely mild and no known allergic reactions to tea tree oil have been documented. Tea tree oil is an effective cleaning agent and many eco-friendly and natural cleaning products use tea tree oil in their product formulations.
Chamomile
Babies and young children are prone to periods of pain and discomfort while their teeth are breaking through the gum. Chamomile essential oil can help provide relief to a teething child by adding a couple drops to a wet washcloth and letting the child chew or suck on the washcloth.
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