Babies and kids get sick more often than adults. No matter how hard you try to keep them away from the weather changes, they are always likely to feel under the weather. Flu, fever, runny nose, cough, cold, abdominal pain, etc are some of the symptoms that they often suffer from. It is not always possible to rush them to the doctor. You need some home remedy that can halt the disease progression and make them feel good. Essential oils can be good household medicines for kids and babies. These oils can work wonders in curing some of the most common illnesses among children. Let us see how you can benefit from these.

11 Health Benefits of Essential Oils for Kids and Babies

Treatment for cuts, bug bites, scraps and burns

This is more for kids than babies. Kids are always busy doing something or the other, and they often end up with burns, scraps, cuts, and even bug bites. You can use tea tree oil to treat these problems in kids. Tea tree oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties. If you go to a doctor, he too will prescribe medicines with that has anti-microbial properties. You can use tea tree oil on these areas with some degree of caution.

Cuts, sunburns, blisters

You can use lavender oil and some other essential oils to treat cuts, blisters or sunburns in your kids or babies. However, if lavender causes irritation, you can also use Mandarin instead.

Diaper rash and fungal infections

Babies do suffer from diaper rash. You can use a few drops of tea tree oil to treat diaper rash. It is antifungal and antimicrobial in nature. Add just a few drops of tea tree oil to any unscented baby oil and apply it on the rashes.

Indigestion and spasm

Indigestion and abdominal spasms are common in babies. This causes abdominal pain in them. To sooth the baby’s nerves you can use Dill or Anethum Sowa essential oil. This also has a antispasmodic and calming effect. It can also sooth problems of indigestion.

Sneezing, runny nose

Sneezing and runny nose are common during winter months. To help your baby in these conditions you can use eucalyptus oil. This essential oil has a good decongestive effect. It is also antiviral and antibacterial in nature. Just smelling some eucalyptus oil can be beneficial for your baby or kid.

Inability to sleep

Babies are fussy and sometimes it becomes difficult to make them sleep. The essential oils contained in Lavender have a good relaxing and soothing property. You can make your baby smell some Lavender oil by sprinkling it around its bed. It may feel better and go to sleep, if it is not suffering from any underlying problem.

Colic pain and constipation

Colic pain and pain due to constipation are common in babies. Chamomile oil can be a great alternative for medicines in this respect. It works as a good digestive aid for babies. It also has a soothing effect on the nervous system. So you can use some chamomile oil to alleviate your baby’s abdominal pain.

Hay fever and asthma

Some babies and kids suffer from seasonal allergies. Such allergies may even trigger asthma or allergic rhinitis. This can be quite painful for your little one. You can use some Rose Otto oil to make your child feel well. You can make him inhale it by infusing the essential oil with its bath water or by sprinkling some of it on its bed.

Mood correction

Fussy children have different shades of mood and they often throw tantrums. Tangerine or mandarin oil can be useful for balancing the mood of such children. These herbs are known to have mood enhancing oils. They can calm down hyperactive or over-stimulated children and alter their mood.

Sore throat

A Sore throat is a very common affliction not only for babies and kids, but also for adults. It is also very discomforting. You can use some Sandalwood essential oil to alleviate sore throat symptoms of your kid or baby. The baby needs to inhale optimum amount of the oil to get some relief. Sprinkling some sandalwood essential oil on the bed of the baby may work well. You can also infuse some of it in its bath water.

Ear infections

Ear infections are very common kids as well as babies. It is also quite painful. So if the baby is crying incessantly and putting his hands on his ears repeatedly, then you may infer that he is suffering from ear ache. St. John’s Wort, a herb, can offer a good remedy for earaches especially due to infections.

Essential oils have numerous benefits in day to day life and can be very useful to your little one. Keep the easily available ones handy at home, so that you can use them at time of need.

References

https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/essential-oils-for-babies#4