There’s nothing more frustrating than being unable to console a crying baby. You can cuddle, walk, rock, sing or drive around in circles, but sometimes little ones keep wailing despite your best efforts.
To calm baby essential oil is used by many parents as some oils are known to offer relaxation and peace to kids. Many parents also prefer using these oils on babies, especially during winter, when the weather may be harsh on the skin. Others use them as quick remedies for certain illnesses and diseases.
However, not all essential oils may be safe to use on your baby. It is best to understand the effect these oils can have on your baby before you resort to using them.
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are concentrated plant juices that retain the natural smell and flavor, or “fragrance,” of their source. Essential oils are pure extracts of seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. Essential oils are collected through distillation via steam/water or mechanical methods, such as cold compressing.
Once the aromatic chemicals are extracted, they are diluted with a carrier oil to create a product that’s ready for use.
Which Essential Oils Are Safe for Kids?
There is some proof for the merits of essential oils, but very little analysis on how these oils may adopt babies.
People can use mixed essential oils or unmixed sunflower or grapeseed oil during a baby massage.
- Tea-Tree Oil
The anti-fungal and the anti-bacterial properties of this oil can help cure cuts, burns or even act as an effective repellent for bugs and mosquitos
- Peppermint Oil
This strong oil needs to be diluted well before use. It can ease indigestion and instances of irritable bowel syndrome in children. It can also be used for muscle pain, colds, and rashes caused by allergies.
- Lavender Oil
The lavender essential oil can soothe stress and tiredness in kids and promote good sleep. It’s anti-viral and anti-bacterial characteristics make it active in treating sunburns and cuts as well.
- Sandalwood Oil
This antiseptic oil can be perfect to treat cuts, sores, and boils. It also has anti-inflammatory features that develop healthy digestion. Sandalwood oil can also improve the functioning of the nervous and the circulatory systems in the body.
- Chamomile Oil
A few drops of Chamomile essential oil in the baby’s bath can cure pain and appease the baby, offering good sleep. Its anti-inflammatory properties help treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The oil can heal mild infections on the skin as well as the ear.
DIFFUSING ESSENTIAL OILS TO CALM BABIES
Essential oils can be used as natural room fresheners through diffusing. While candle diffusers work well for adults, you will need to take proper precautions while diffusing essential oils around your baby.
We’ll usually get them home, put on our essential oil diffuser and do something quietly too like reading a book or doing a jigsaw.
You can use a vaporizer too. You will also need to use a small amount initially in the vaporizer for about an hour to see if your baby has any negative reaction.
ADDING ESSENTIAL OILS TO BATH WATER TO CALM BABIES
It is possible to add essential oils to bath water but it’s not as simple as it sounds.
Herb-infused shampoos and body washes may also help take the edge off baby’s bad mood. Try to give him or her a pleasant, warm bath and use nature’s baby organics shampoo & body wash, which contains essential oils of vanilla, lavender, and chamomile.
Please don’t add essential oils straightforwardly to bath water. They are not water-soluble so will just form a layer on top.
Similarly adding to milk or bath salts first isn’t advisable either as they will separate on contact with the water.
ADDING ESSENTIAL OILS TO MASSAGE TO CALM BABIES
Baby massage routines vary according to the baby’s preferences, these steps are a proper starting point:
Take a small amount of the mixed oil by rubbing it between your hands. Smoothly rub the oil into the baby’s skin, starting on their legs. Use just normal squeeze to move the skin smoothly. To massage the baby’s chest and belly, spread your hands out towards the sides of the baby as if flattening the pages of a book. Use your fingers to make small circles.
However, some essential oils shouldn’t be used with certain medications and medical conditions, always check with your doctor before implementing therapeutic oils to your toddler.
If you’re pregnant, consult your doctor before applying any essential oils on yourself or your baby.
