The only two essential oils you may ever need for your kids are lavender and mandarin. As I have mentioned, my massage therapist mom introduced me to essential oils when my first son was born nearly 12 years ago. The first oil she gave me was lavender, and the second was mandarin.

Babies don’t need any essential oils, really, and you need to be careful, even with these relatively mild ones, but, well diluted in a mild carrier oil, these oils can soothe you and your little one, which can make all the difference sometimes.

There are many ways to use essential oils for children, but here are my favorites:

1. When they are babies, especially, learning infant massage, and gently massaging your baby using just a bit of either lavender or mandarin in a carrier oil…I mean maybe 2 drops in a bottle of maybe one cup oil. All you need to do is be with your baby in these moments. Don’t worry about learning proper techniques as much as just simply being there, together.

2. As they get older, a little of the oil in a vaporizer works as a “monster spray” for getting rid of scary feelings. I can’t remember where I first learned of this idea, but have read a bout it often. A great idea to empower your kids when they have fears of monsters, or the dark, or any “normal” childhood fear. This works only if your kids have bought into it, of course. But if they like the idea, give them a clean spray bottle with water and a couple drops of either lavender or mandarin oil in it. They can spray away monsters, dragons, whatever they want.(whether it is the placebo effect or the actual oils doesn’t matter now, does it?)

3. In a nighttime bath. 2 – 3 drops in a warm bath can really help to get them ready for bed. And it doesn’t hurt for mom or dad, either.