5 Safety Practices
When I first started using essential oils and essential oil-infused products I only used them on myself. Initially I was very wary about using essential oils on and with my kids until I had more information. When it comes to taking care of your kids, I imagine you’re also cautious. I practice these five things to confidently and safely use essential oils with my kids:
- Research
- Consider Quality
- Know Your Brand
- Dilute
- Start Low & Little
Do Your Own Research
In the age of the internet, when tons of information is available to you at the click of a button, it’s easy to think that a quick google search can tell you everything you need to know about anything. With essential oils, I did not find that to be the case at all. While my search yielded a ton of information, it was conflicting and often cautionary information that confused and alarmed me, rather than educate me. I spent months sifting through as much as I could. Then I bought books, and I finally listened to my friends who were successfully using oils with their kids and I went to some of their classes. Get a copy of my must-have resources when you subscribe.
After all that, I finally started using oils on and with my kids and I’ve only had positive results. I learned more from the books, conversations and classes, than I did in those first few months on the internet. It’s not my place to tell you how to do your research, but I will say I wish I hadn’t wasted those first few months on fruitless and confusing internet searches. I wish I’d trusted my friends’ experience and attended her classes sooner. Now, I write this blog and I teach those same classes, in the hopes of making your research journey faster and easier.
I also never stopped building on the knowledge I first gained at the beginning of my health journey.
Consider Quality
Consider carefully what quality essential oils you’re using. This can be a bit of a challenge because there’s no universal grading scale for determining and/or labeling essential oils for quality.
A bottle of essential oil can be labeled “100% pure”, or “therapeutic grade” or “highest quality” and be anything but. I like to ask a couple of questions to help me: Does the company make a quality guarantee for their essential oils and products? Does what’s inside the bottle match the quality claims on the label?
What Is It?
At the beginning of my essential oils journey, I spotted oils on a shelf at Walmart labeled “100% Pure Peppermint.” The bottles had words like “quality” and “therapy” on the packaging and I thought, “why am I paying $25 when I can pay $5?”
So, I picked up a bottle labeled “100 % Pure Peppermint Essential Oil” and I started reading the back of the box which said: Do Not Inhale, Do Not Ingest, Do Not apply topically. I remember thinking, “what in the H – E- double hockey sticks am I supposed to do with this product?” It obviously wasn’t the same Peppermint essential oil that I used (because I could inhale, apply and even ingest the peppermint I buy.) What was in this bottle, if it wasn’t peppermint like the package stated? I continued to read the ingredient list. The first ingredient listed, which means most of what was in the bottle, was Ethanol!
Essential oils come from plants, which means that every step in the process affects the quality of the final product. Every part of the process matters, from planting the seed, to sealing the bottle. That’s why I’m grateful that the essential oils I use come with a Seed to Seal Quality Commitment. Learn more about that here.
Know your Brand
Initially I chose this brand, in part, because the quality was unmatched. Young Living is the only company that offers a Seed to Seal Quality Commitment. But today there are several quality brands to choose from.
However, even high-quality oils are formulated for different uses. Most oils are not formulated for use with babies or kids. If they are formulated for use with kids, the brand has specific limited use statements. Examples include: “For aromatic use only” or “Dilute 1-2 drops to 10ml of carrier oil.” 1 drop to 10 ml is a very high dilution ratio. Only use essential oils the way they are intended for use by the brand that makes them.
I continue to use Young Living because the products are formulated with all age humans in mind . Moms have used these oils with their kids for over 30 years. I also like to stay informed on the new products the brand puts out because they’re often products that make my health journey with the kids so much easier: Some examples would be the launches of the KidScents line and the Vitality line of products.
Dilute
To dilute an essential oil means to add the essential oil to a carrier oil before applying topically. A carrier oil is a fatty oil, like vegetable oil, that has a slower absorption rate than essential oils. Adding an essential oil to a carrier oil slows the absorption rate of the essential oil which reduces any sensations for sensitive skin, and makes the oil last longer and go further. Which brings us to the 5th practice for using essential oils safely with kids:
Start Little and Low
When using essential oils with babies or kids I always start by diffusing only 2-3 drops at a time. I gradually increase the number of drops each night. I also only use a few drops, when introducing my older kids to new essential oils or blends.
When applying essential oils topically to babies or kids I always dilute and I always start low on their body – I typically will start application on the bottoms of their feet. I remember when my first five kids were all under the age of eight our favorite part of bedtime was when I’d call “oily feet!” I’d gather them all, have them lay on their backs with their feet sticking up in the air and I’d use a roll-on bottle to apply our selected essential oils to their feet. I’d massage their feet a little too. Oh, what ticklish feet they had and the giggles that would ensue. I miss those days.
Now my first five are all old enough to apply their own oils! On the one hand I miss the giggles, but on the other I’ve partially accomplished my goal of raising oily kids by creating independent little oilers