Add two drops of lavender oil to your little one's nightly bath (also a great way to soothe any irritated skin) to help them wind down. Mix a few drops of lavender oil with 1 cup of warm water in a spray bottle and generously spritz their pillow, sheets, and pajamas for a calming effect.
To stay on the safe side, wait until your baby is at least 2 years old to use essential oils around them, says Dr. Axe. “Generally, children 2 years old and older can use most essential oils safely,” he adds. But if you do choose to use any, whether by diffusing them or applying topically, do so with caution and care.
Four aromatherapy oils have been determined to be both safe and effective for use with children over age 5: lavender, peppermint, orange and ginger. Of these, lavender is the one Battista suggests trying first. Many children like the smell, and it is generally effective in calming a child who is anxious.
Lavender is one of the best essential oils for respiration. Most well-known to improve the quality of your sleep, lavender also helps reduce stress and anxiety, ease depression, improve mood, and relieve headaches and pain. It's also been shown to reduce blood pressure and heart rate.
Lavender affects human EEG pattern accompanied with its anxiolytic effect. It is reported that inhalation of lavender (diluted to 10% concentration) for 3 minutes increases alpha power of EEG as decreases anxiety and brings the subject to a better mood in 40 healthy adults [67].
Anxiolytic effect of lavender was superior to placebo in 221 patients suffering from anxiety disorder. In addition, lavender improved associated symptoms such as restlessness, disturbed sleep, and somatic complaints and had a beneficial influence on general well-being and quality of life [51, 52].
Just inhaling a few deep breaths of essential oils could be all you need to start feeling better instantly-and their benefits go beyond helping you find your Zen. Lavender essential oil, in particular, has been shown to help zap stress and anxiety, improve sleep, and boost mood.
Lavender is one of the best essential oils for respiration. Most well-known to improve the quality of your sleep, lavender also helps reduce stress and anxiety, ease depression, improve mood, and relieve headaches and pain. It's also been shown to reduce blood pressure and heart rate.
In both men and women, inhalation of lavender increased the percentage of slow-wave (deep) sleep. In women, the use of lavender increased stage 2-light sleep and decreased REM sleep. The length of time to the first waking in the night in women (wake after first onset sleep latency) was also increased.