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As many of you know, I’m a passionate advocate of dōTERRA essential oils for the incredible natural benefits they can bring to our lives.  My husband, two young children, and I have all been using them for over seven years, both aromatically, topically and internally.  During this time I’ve had quite a lot of queries about how to use oils with children, whether or not it’s safe, which ones are best, what I’d recommend etc.  So, I thought it was about time I wrote a post in answer some of the most common questions.  Firstly though, if you’re at all nervous or uncertain about using oils with your children, please know that when properly diluted and used in smaller amounts, there’s no reason why your whole family can’t reap the rewards of Nature’s Medicine Chest.

Where do I start?

The general advice is to only use diluted high-grade oils (like dōTERRA ’s CPTG range) as children are more sensitive to oils than adults.  Essential oils are very potent and a drop goes a very long way.  Here’s a useful guide to some recommended ideal amounts and some more information about a few popular ones to start with.  However, if your children are taking any medication, do make sure by checking with your doctor that there are no contraindications or potential side effects that could manifest with specific oil use, eg, increased skin sensitivity.

And remember, small children won’t understand the labels and safety instructions on the bottles so make sure you keep them out of reach.  Always ensure that you, not them, are handling any applications and dosage.

What’s the best way to introduce oils to children?

Aromatherapy, or diffusing, is a great way of introducing oils to your family without worrying about potential skin reactions.  Studies have shown that diffusing certain oils may support a healthier indoor environment, and enhance feelings of relaxation, encouragement, excitement, focus, and well-being too.  A fabulous oil to start with is doTerras OnGuard (protective) blend which is well known in our community as the ultimate seasonal bug buster.  It’s one I have diffusing often during winter to help us stay well.  The OnGuard range is also very child-friendly and their toothpaste tastes wonderful, as well as not being full of unpronounceable harmful chemicals.

Oils for sensitivities

Many of us are sensitive to the harsh synthetic chemicals found in commercial cleaners so why not swap to cleaners that harness the power of essential oils – I wrote a blog all about this here.  There are some wonderful cost effective recipes for making your own cleaning products.   I ditched all of our toxic cleaning products when our son was born.

Oils for topical application

The main thing to remember here is that children’s skin is thinner than adults’ and generally more sensitive.  Even though most oils tend to be non-irritating on the skin (especially on the bottom of the feet, where the skin is thickest), it’s a good idea to dilute essential oils in a good carrier oil like Fractionated Coconut Oil before applying on children.  As well as diluting the intensity, you’re also adding extra moisture and pampering their delicate skin.

And on the subject of feet, that’s a great way to start using oils topically.  A gentle foot massage routine with some Lavender or Petitgrain oil before bedtime is sure to help them drift off!  Both these oils contain linalool, which is particularly helpful for supporting restful sleep.   Children’s bodies are growing quickly and they need all the sleep they can get at night so they can recharge and be ready for the next day.

Oils for schools

Whether your children go to school or are home-schooled, essential oils can have numerous benefits for kids as well as teachers. dōTERRAs blog has lots of interesting articles written by teachers about the positive results diffusing On Guard can bring.  One of the main differences they’ve noticed is the reduced number of absences, both for children and teachers.  And mixing OnGuard with Wild Orange or Lime seems to help kids stay focused too.  One teacher lets her children take turns choosing oils and putting them in the diffuser themselves, “they love it and ask for it daily.”

Many schools also take a non-toxic cleaning route with products such as dōTERRA's OnGuard Foaming Hand Wash in preschool bathrooms and use OnGuard Cleaner Concentrate to clean tables and desks. Some of the best essential oils that have been used in classrooms are: OnGuard blend and Purify (cleansing), Rosemary and Peppermint (concentration and focus), Wild Orange, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit (energising) and Lavender, Spikenard and Bergamot (calming).  You can download your FREE report on diffusing essential oils here.

Specific oils for children

To make life even easier, dōTERRA has just brought out a brand new collection of oils for children, available in both Europe and America.  These six colour-coded proprietary pre-diluted rollerball blends are the perfect way to safely introduce your children to the wide-ranging benefits of essential oils, and set them on their own path to a happier, healthier lifestyle.  

Let’s take a quick look at them:

Calmer Restful Blend helps quiet the mind before bedtime, support restful sleep, and encourage relaxation with essential oils of Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Buddha Wood, and Fractionated Coconut Oil.

Thinker Focus Blend helps instil a sense of alertness and focus while doing homework, during tests, or anytime concentration is needed with a blend of Vetiver, Peppermint, Rosemary, and Clementine essential oils with Fractionated Coconut Oil.

Brave Courage Blend promotes feelings of confidence, courage, and self-belief, and also helps manage stress and feelings of anxiousness. This energising and invigorating blend combines essential oils of Wild Orange, Osmanthus Flower, Cinnamon Bark, and Amyris Wood.
Strong Protective Blend promotes a natural immune defence, and is soothing to the emotions and skin during stressful times. This blend combines Frankincense, Cedarwood, Rose, and Litsea essential oils with Fractionated Coconut Oil.

Rescuer Soothing Blend reduces feelings of tension in the neck and shoulders and can help your child unwind and relax after a busy day. This relaxing blend is comprised of essential oils of Lavender, Spearmint, Copaiba, and Tomar seed with Fractionated Coconut Oil.
Steady Grounding Blend evokes calm and balanced feelings when emotions seem close to the surface. As a parent, you notice when your child seems to be extra sensitive and this grounding blend combines essential oils of Amyris Wood, Balsam Fir, Coriander, and Magnolia with Fractionated Coconut Oil.

Obviously, it’s up to you and your children as to how and when you feel it’s best to use these lovely new rollerball essential oils, but here’s a quick video that you might find helpful to watch too:

What if I have more questions?

Please do feel free to email or message me and I’ll do my best to help! dōTERRA has pages of information about safe usage of essential oils on their websites as well.  If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can email productsupport@doterra.com for a quicker answer (please don’t rely on Google).  And speak to your family doctor too, so they can get a holistic picture of your health alongside their medical literature that may help guide your decisions.

Introducing my children to essential oils is one of the best decisions I ever made.  They have a natural curiosity about what makes for a healthier and happier environment, and to see them beginning to take charge of their own health is just wonderful.  I’d love to help you get your family started on this path too.