Kids and Essential Oils
We all know kids are amazing! We love their energy, curiosity, and playfulness. I, like you, would do anything for my kids. They are my life. Yet, there is trouble in the shadows. We know that our young children are dealing with a lot today. The CDC recently released these disturbing facts:
CDC Graphic
ADHD, anxiety problems, behavior problems, and depression are the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children. Estimates for ever having a diagnosis among children aged 3-17 years, in 2016-19, are given below.
In a recent study, the CDC found that teen girls are experiencing record high levels of violence, sadness, and suicide risk. Among their findings related to girls (boys fared much better in this study) were these:
Nearly 1 in 3 (30%) seriously considered attempting suicide—up nearly 60% from a decade ago.
1 in 5 (18%) experienced sexual violence in the past year—up 20% since 2017, when CDC started monitoring this measure.
More than 1 in 10 (14%) had ever been forced to have sex—up 27% since 2019 and the first increase since CDC began monitoring this measure.
CDC Graphic
This is a huge wake-up call for all of us as we help our teens navigate the social media minefield, and manage the social pressures found at school and the stressors that can impact kids at home. What can we do to help? The CDC recommends supporting suicide prevention and connectedness programs at your local school. Keeping open nonjudgmental lines of communication also is critical. As adults we need to listen, truly listen, when our kids talk to us. And, while I don’t mean to be preaching to the choir, yet how often have we seen families out for dinner and parents, or even everyone at the table, on their phones? What message does that send to the kids and to each other? Who is more important, those who are receiving a text or those sitting around the table? When do our kids learn to carry on a conversation that is longer than a sound bite or retort, and thus also develop listening skills? And, when do families actually converse as a family? There really should be a basket for phones at every family dinner table.
Of course, plenty of sleep, which means no phones, iPads, and the like in the bedroom if possible, and lots of good nutrition. Here’s where doTERRA can help. It has a full product line of pure essential oils, natural vitamins, and supplements for kids, along with lots of good information waiting for you. Here is a great set of healthy recipes for you put out by the USDA.
Of course, I’m here to help. Please contact me to share your wellness concerns. Together we can put together a plan for your family’s health and wellness.
So, let’s give our kids a hug and tell them just how amazing they are. They may wonder why, but you’ll know, and soon they will too.
Here are some wonderful suggestions written by Nicole Stevens, PhD, Director of Clinical Research for doTERRA.
1. Essential oils are not novel. While it may seem like essential oils are just the latest and greatest thing, they’ve actually been used by humans for millennia. Essential oils contain constituents that will be recognized by our body systems and handled appropriately. Rest assured that if you use essential oils on your children, you’re not inventing the wheel.
2. Kids are not tiny adults. Remember that oils are potent, and you only need a very small amount to achieve efficacy, especially when it comes to children. A little bit goes a very long way. Adjust amounts accordingly
3. Dilute. Kids’ skin is different from adult skin; it’s thinner 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 great idea to dilute essential oil in a good carrier oil before applying to children. You’ll still get the same benefits of the essential oil—you’re just adding extra moisture and pampering delicate child skin. The doTERRA Touch products are great for this, by the way. They’re our favorites!
4. Diffuse. Aromatherapy is an excellent way to enjoy the benefits of essential oil without the worry of skin reactions. Inhaled oils have long been studied for their ability to enhance feelings of relaxation, encouragement, excitement, focus, and well-being. Additionally, diffused oils may support a healthier indoor environment. That’s always a bonus when you’ve got a houseful of kids.
5. Oils FOR kids, not BY kids. The labels on doTERRA’s oil bottles remind us to keep them out of reach of children. Kids won’t understand the potency of the essential oils—they only know that these lovely liquids smell divine, and may go overboard in using them. Adults, not children, should always be doing the oil applications, and judiciously at that.
6. Be informed. doTERRA has mountains of information about safe usage of essential oils on their websites. There’s an entire team of support staff who answer questions about essential oils and products (just email productsupport@doterra.com). And don’t be afraid to chat about oil usage with your family doctor or pediatrician—medical professionals like having a holistic picture of their patients’ health situation, and they have access to other medical literature that can help guide your decisions.
Not sure where to start? Here are some of the favorite doTERRA products in our house, and ways they can be used with children.
1. doTERRA Touch®. These products are awesome because they come pre-diluted. Young skin is different from adult skin—it’s thinner, more delicate, and generally more sensitive. It’s a great idea to dilute any essential oils before applying them to children, and this kit takes the mess out of dilution.
2. doTERRA OnGuard® products. We love all the products containing doTERRA OnGuard, and they are very kid-friendly. The toothpaste is wonderful. My kids enjoy the taste and I enjoy that it’s not full of chemicals that even I can’t pronounce. The cleaner concentrate makes the bathroom fresh and I don’t have to worry about toxic residue. And, of course, we diffuse doTERRA OnGuard like crazy during the winter months.
3. doTERRA Balance® and doTERRA Serenity®. These blends have done wonders for our family. We recently moved, and my kids were having trouble sleeping in their new rooms. A nice massage with these oils (diluted and applied to soles of feet) helped everyone feel relaxed and grounded in the new surroundings. We often return to these blends when the stresses of life have everyone worked up.
4. Citrus oils. We diffuse oils every day, and the citrus oils are my kids’ favorite. They are so uplifting and energizing—perfect for the dreary winter days when no one feels like rolling out of bed. It’s a natural way to chase off the post-holiday blues. Our favorites are Wild Orange, Lemon, and Grapefruit. We even apply the oils to the palms of our hands and cup them to our noses for an easy “scent tent.” (Just be sure to avoid sun exposure after applying citrus oils topically!)
5. Correct-X®. We always have this product on hand during our outdoor adventures; it’s great to have something natural and effective, yet gentle and non-irritating, for sensitive young skin.