As mamas, we want the best for our children! Along with this, comes the job of making important choices about their health and well-being. One of the big concerns that many moms have been facing are the increasing amounts of toxins and harmful chemicals have been invading our homes. These little invaders often come in the form of the products that touch our skin, the air we breathe, and the food we eat. With increased awareness of these little invaders, moms have started to use more natural alternatives for their precious ones.
Essential oils, due to their effectiveness and wide range of uses, have been providing moms with the tools to battle much of what they encounter on a daily basis. Essential oils are natural oils typically obtained by distillation and have the fragrance and therapeutic benefits of the plant or other source from which it is extracted. These precious oils date back to ancient times but have started to stand out more recently due to the great need for detoxifying our homes and families.
Essential oils can be used for children in 2 main ways: topically and aromatically. Aromatic use is the best way to get started and most commonly achieved by using a diffuser. Topically, essential oils are to be diluted due to their concentrated nature before applying to a child’s skin. A carrier oil, like coconut oil or grapeseed oil are great options for diluting essential oils. A common site for skin application is the bottoms of the feet. This area tends to be less sensitive and is the location for many contact (vitaflex) points for the entire body.
My favorite mild and gentle oils to use on my kiddos are Lavender, Lemon, and Frankincense, and Copaiba. With these and many other kid-friendly oils and blends on the market, Moms can address tummy troubles, boo boos, sniffles, immune boosting, calming/relaxing before bedtime, tantrums, teething, and many more!
Bottomline: Quality of essential oils matter. You’ll see essential oils in most stores and checkout counters. These are frequently “oily imposters” and will not provide the therapeutic benefits that you will receive with good quality essential oils. Using an essential oil company who owns their own farms or controls the land/pesticide use/etc is tremendously important due to the concentrated nature of essential oils. Without having this important info, you could be hoping to do what’s best for your family but exposing them to toxins unknowingly.
Essential oils in their purest forms are a fabulous benefit to any household. They are a great tool for empowering moms by providing a natural first line of defense. Experimenting and finding which scents and uses work best for their families is a fun part of the essential oil journey. Essential oils can even be pre-diluted and placed in glass roller bottles for convenience and on-the-go versatility! So many oils and so many uses— let the fun begin!!!
Liz is a mama of 3 who has used essential oils with great success over the years. Contact her at oilymamaliz@gmail.com with oily questions or recommendations on which oils to have in your home arsenal.
