Lavender Essential Oil for Kids
There is a nearly endless list of benefits and applications for lavender essential oil and we are likely finding new ways that it is useful in our lives all the time. Once we discover the multitude of uses of a versatile essential oil like lavender, we want to share the experience with the whole family. This may cause some concerns when it comes to the younger members of our households, but don't worry! When proper precautions are taken, kids can benefit from aromatherapy and topical application of many essential oils, including lavender, just as much as adults. Calming and soothing lavender has long been known to be both safe and effective for children which is why it is featured in many commercially made products we may already use with our little ones. It can be found in a variety of calming lotions and baths products as well as many products made to help children drift off to sleep. As a parent, it can be tough to navigate through all of the products designed for children and try to find things with ingredients you know and trust. Lavender essential oil can help many common issues that parents may see their children face all while being a safe and natural recipe that we can feel good about using with them.
Many of us have likely experienced a child during a meltdown and it can be especially difficult to soothe them during these times. The calming and stress relieving properties of lavender essential oil can be a savior for little ones who might be experiencing a moment of emotional distress. Lavender helps to relax the body and pacify the mind, helping to ease feelings of anxiety or nervousness and bring about feelings of tranquility.
This can also help kids to settle down after a rambunctious activity or when they may have some excess energy. The only thing that might be more difficult than calming an energetic child is getting them to sleep. Lavender essential oil is also widely known for its ability to promote the total relaxation that leads to a restful night’s sleep. Its calming properties help create a serene environment that is optimal for making sure kids are falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer. Kids are always exploring the world and getting into everything which can leave their skin worse for wear. Lavender essential oil can soothe skin irritation as well as help to heal scrapes and cuts. It also helps to ease itchiness and inflammation from bug bites or sunburns so our kids can keep exploring and having fun.
While lavender essential oil is safe to use with kids, there are a few safety precautions that should be taken when exposing children to essential oils. Be sure to always supervise children when using essential oils. Even if your older child may be familiar with essential oils and proper application, supervising and aiding our children with their essential oils is the best way to ensure their safety. Because lavender and other essential oils are so concentrated, properly diluting them for topical application is also key. Children’s skin is a lot more sensitive than ours and proper dilution can ensure they don't have adverse reactions to the potent and powerful essential oils. Dilute lavender essential oil with your favorite carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil, almond oil, or jojoba oil before using topically. Just be sure to keep essential oils away from sensitive areas like the eyes, the skin around the eyes, the inner ear, the inner nose, and any injured or damaged skin.
Child's Age Range |
Recommended Dilution % |
6 months - 2 years | 0.25% |
2 years - 6 years | 0.5% |
6 years - 12 years | 0.5 - 1% |
12 years and up | 1% |
Our children’s skin is much more sensitive than ours and they haven't been exposed to as many natural chemical components as adults may have. This is why it is always best to do a patch test before using lavender or any new essential oil topically. Just apply a small amount of diluted lavender oil to a patch of skin on the child’s foot, an area of the body where our skin is a little thicker. Wait 12 hours while closely monitoring the area for any signs of itchiness, blistering, swelling, or redness. If these occur, stop use and wash the area immediately with warm water and soap, contacting your pediatrician for further instructions if irritation continues or worsens after washing.
Here are some fun recipes using Lavender essential oil you can try with your kids:
Calm Kiddos Diffuser Blend
When our children are bouncing off the walls with energy and joy, it can be tough to transition them to more peaceful activities. Diffusing a blend of lavender and other calming essential oils is a great way to create a tranquil and relaxing environment that is perfect for settling kids down for the evening. When diffusing, diffuse intermittently. 10 minutes on and 20 minutes off is our recommendation. Place the diffuser across the room, out of reach from your child, and not directly next to them. Check out our kid diffusers for some fun designs that your kids will love!
Ingredients
- 4 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 2 drops Patchouli Essential Oil
- 2 drops Clary Sage Essential Oil
Instructions
Add water to your diffuser up to the fill line. Add drops of the essential oil blend. This diffuser blend recipe is formulated for a 200ml ultrasonic diffuser. Adjust amount according to size and directions of your diffuser.
Click here to check out our blog on diffusing Lavender essential oil properly and safely.
Nighty Night Linen Spray
Getting little ones settled and ready to sleep at night can be a difficult task when they seem to have boundless energy and curiosity. A lavender linen spray is a great way to set a relaxing and comfortable tone at bedtime. It can also become a fun bedtime ritual that will have kids eager to get ready for bed at night.
Ingredients (0.5% dilution rate)
- 4oz Amber Glass Bottle with Spray Top
- 2oz of High Percentage Alcohol
- 2 oz Witch Hazel Extract
- 6 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 6 drops Chamomile Essential Oil
Instructions
Add 2oz of high percentage alcohol to the bottle. Add the essential oils and fill the remainder of the bottle with witch hazel, leaving a little space at the top. Shake well before each use. Spray on kids' linens before bed to help them wind down for a restful night of sleep.
Lavender Burst Bath Bomb
A short soak in the lavender-infused water is a great way to allow kids to enjoy both the topical and aromatherapy benefits of lavender essential oil. While the aroma drifting through the warm air helps to calm their mind, the oil in the water will help to soothe and nourish dry or irritated skin.
Ingredients (1% dilution rate)
- Witch Hazel in a Misting Spray Bottle
- Hard Plastic or Metal Molds
- 1 cup Citric Acid
- 2 cups Baking Soda
- 1 ounce Sweet Almond Oil
- 10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
Instructions
- Combine all the citric acid, baking soda, sweet almond oil, and essential oils in a bowl and mix well using gloved hands.
- Spritz a small amount of witch hazel onto the top of the powder mixture and stir it in. Repeat this process until the mixture packs together easily with a similar texture to wet sand.
- Scoop the mixture into each mold one at a time and pack them down tightly. Allow them to dry for at least 24 hours.
- Store them in an airtight container.
Lavender Magic Soothing Lotion
A simple and nourishing skin lotion is a great way to let our kids enjoy all of the topical benefits of lavender essential oil. It can help moisturize and heal the skin while also helping little bodies to calm and relax.
Ingredients (0.5% dilution rate)
- 1/2 cup Shea Butter
- 1/4 cup Unrefined Coconut Oil
- 1/4 cup Sweet Almond Oil
- 24 drops Lavender Essential Oil
Instructions
- Heat shea butter and coconut oil on a double boiler until the oils have completely melted together.
- Remove from heat, and add in sweet almond oil and lavender essential oils. Stir to combine
- Allow to sit and cool until the mixture is almost solid.
*You can speed this up by placing the mixture in the freezer, just keep an eye on it.*
- Use an electric mixer to whip the mixture for about 10 minutes or until light and fluffy lotion texture is achieved.
- Pour the mixture back into airtight containers for storage.
Soothing Lavender Sunburn Relief Spray
Fun in the sun can sometimes be followed by days of sore sunburned skin for our children. A cooling and soothing sunburn spray can be just the trick for providing some much-needed relief. Lavender and geranium essential oils come together to ease sunburn pain and decrease redness and inflammation.
Ingredients (1% dilution rate)
- 4 ounce Amber Glass Bottle with spray top
- ½ cup Witch Hazel Extract
- 2 tablespoons Aloe Vera Oil
- 15 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 10 drops Geranium Essential Oil
Instructions
Add all ingredients to a 4oz amber glass bottle and shake well until combined. Store in the fridge for an added cooling effect, shake before each use, separation is normal. To use, spray liberally on sunburned skin.
Flower Power! Hand Sanitizer
Germs are everywhere and it can be difficult to help our children stay protected from them when they seem to get into everything. Lavender and other antibacterial essential oils are a great way to help ward off the icky stuff while being gentle on little one's skin. An essential oil hand sanitizer is a great tool in our parent arsenal to help keep our kids safe and healthy.
Ingredients (1% dilution rate)
- 4 ounce Amber Glass Bottle with Pump Top
- 1 ounce Aloe Vera Gel
- 2 ounces Witch Hazel
- 1 teaspoon Vitamin E Oil
- 10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 4 drops Geranium Essential Oil
- 4 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil
Instructions
Add all ingredients to the amber glass bottle and shake well to combine. Use a dime-size amount and rub it into your hands to sanitize.
Lavender Jelly Soap
Jelly soap is a simple and fun project that creates something kids use every day and is great for days when we’re stuck indoors. These cute and jiggly flower soap will have our children excited to wash their hands and enjoy the antibacterial and deodorizing properties of lavender essential oil.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Unscented Liquid Castile Soap
- 1 ½ cups Water
- 2 packets Unflavored Gelatin
- 10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 1-2 drops Red Food Coloring
- 1-2 drops Blue Food Coloring
Supplies
- Medium Heat Safe Bowl
- Pot or Kettle
- Spoon
- Individual Flower Shaped Molds
Instructions
- Bring 1 ½ cup water to a boil and pour it into a bowl.
- Add 2 packets of unflavored gelatin and stir until completely dissolved.
- Add 1 cup castile soap and stir to incorporate.
- Add 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil and 1 to 2 drops each of red and blue food coloring to achieve a pretty purple hue. Stir to combine.
- Pour into molds and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
- Remove from molds and enjoy!
Bite Soother Roll-On
A beautiful day spent outdoors can be ruined when a pesky insect stings or bites our children. A handy lavender roll-on remedy will help to soothe the redness, pain, and itchy feeling that these bites can cause so those little ones can get back to the fun.
Ingredients (1% dilution rate)
- 10 ml Amber Roll-On Bottle
- ⅓ ounce of Fractionated Coconut Oil
- 2 drops Lavender Essential Oil
Instructions
Add all the ingredients to the roll-on bottle and shake well to combine. Roll on to insect bites and stings to combat pain and irritation and reduce inflammation and redness.
Ouchie-Be-Gone Spray
Adventurous kiddos are always on the go and into everything, leading to some bumps and scrapes along the way. Addressing those little injuries quickly is essential to keeping our kids happy, healthy, and on the move. This soothing lavender spray can help stop bleeding, reduce pain and inflammation and get your little one healing faster.
Ingredients (1% dilution rate)
- 4 ounce Amber Glass Bottle with spray top
- 3 ounces Witch Hazel
- 1 ounce Aloe Vera Oil
- 14 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 10 drop Frankincense Essential Oil
Instructions
Add all the ingredients to the bottle and shake well to combine. Spray on minor cuts and scrapes to ease pain and facilitate quick healing.