As a mom, I want to make sure that my children are always protected. As a holistic healer, I look for natural remedies and medicinal aids before using synthetic or lab-created products. I try to find the best of both worlds, melding the modern day offerings without damaging the environment or my family’s health. I’m not against using Tylenol, especially when they’re miserable (listening to them cry breaks my heart). But if we can manage the pain of teething with peppermint and lavender, or tame muscle cramps with some rosemary and wintergreen… Why wouldn’t I take the natural route? That’s why I love essential oils: use the right combination and many of your problems will evaporate.

Sure, that’s easy for me to claim. I don’t mind being a guinea pig. I’ve learned, sometimes the hard way, what works, what doesn’t, and what I’m allergic to. Through trial and error I know what blends work best and what causes side effects better left avoided.

Using my kids as guinea pigs is not something I’m willing to do. But give them an alternative way to manage with little-people aches and pains? Heck yeah. Use all-natural products in lieu of a bunch of synthetic stuff on their little bodies? Absolutely. So when trying essential oils for littles, here’s what I’ve learned.

Start Small and Early

I don’t recommend slathering your kids in fifty different things or replacing your entire body care collection with new products overnight. Start with one new thing every week or so and make sure there’s no negative reaction. I also never use anything for the first time right before bed. Testing things earlier in the day, during waking hours, will make sure you don’t miss a potential reaction while they (or you) are sleeping.

A Little Goes A Long Way

I have to remind myself of this even still. No matter how much my back hurts, drowning it in wintergreen is not going to make it better. With kids, smaller bodies mean (much) smaller doses. It’s way better to start small, with one or two drops, and gradually (over days, not minutes) increase dosages until you find the perfect ratio. ALWAYS dilute your oils. Essential oils should never be put directly on skin: dilute with a carrier oil, in a lotion, or in a wash/soak. I’ll say it again: never put essential oils directly on your little one.

Always Use Quality Products

Amazon is overrun these days by cheap “oils,” most of which are not pure or therapeutic grade. I cannot stress enough: when it comes to little ones, invest in good essential oils by reliable companies. It’s not going to be worth saving a few bucks if your baby breaks out in hives because the oil wasn’t pure. Look for “therapeutic,” “organic,” “pure,” or other keywords. Even then, I always look for the ingredient list on the bottle. If I can’t find it and it doesn’t list only the essential oil I’m purchasing, I skip it. I don’t limit myself to a single brand, so you’ll rarely see just one linked on my posts. There’s a host of information about the major brands. Find what works for you.

Okay, so now that we got that out of the way. Here are a few easy blends for littles:

Night-Night Ball

For children under 3:

Combine 1 drop each of lavender, cedar, and chamomile in a rollerball. Top off with your favorite baby-safe oil (I use grapeseed oil). Shake to combine and let sit for a day.

At night, roll gently on the bottoms of baby’s feet to promote calm and restful sleep.

For children 3-10 years old, you can double your drops to two of each.

Time for Homework Roller

For school-aged kids to help promote calm and focus.

Combine two drops each of cedar and lavender and one drop of patchouli in a rollerball and top with your favorite oil. Let sit for a day, then apply to temples and wrists about half an hour before it’s time to settle down for homework or studying.

Happy rolling!