Ever wish you had a magic trick to calm your little pumpkins instantly?
All mothers do.
Babies as young as 3 months struggle with sleep distress, anxiety and colic issues. It often leads to frequent meltdowns, either during bedtime or multiple times through the day. Lack of sleep and tiredness tends to get the better of you as you struggle to calm your babies with little or no success at all. As parents, you would have tried many go-to solutions to create a soothing environment that relaxes your baby. In addition to these tried methods, essential oils have stood the test of time. Despite several health trends that come and go over decades, natural oils have been used reliably and extensively for centuries to manage anxiety and stress in babies and adults alike.
Research suggests that essential oils have a calming effect on people’s moods. Lavender, Chamomile, Rosemary, Distilled lemon, Vetiver and many such oils are found effective in soothing anxious senses. They are heavily potent and beneficial in relaxing muscles, encouraging better sleep and relieving symptoms of colic in babies. It is also used to treat stress and hyperactivity in kids. In a study, 6 – 14-year-old children who were previously diagnosed as having ADHD and were not under medication were treated by one of three essential oils – Vetiver, Lavender and Cedarwood.
However, not all essential oils are safe to use. Infants have sensitive skin and professional advice must be sought before applying therapeutic oils on them. Since natural oils are potent, they must not be directly applied but mixed with a carrier oil, moderately diluted and then use for application on baby skin. Because essential oils are widely available and also used in different products, it is important to check the labels on these products to doubly assure on the usage of pure, natural and unadulterated plant extracts in essential oils.
Here are some natural oils that help to treat anxiety in babies:
Chamomile Oil (Matricaria chamomilla or Chamaemelum nobile)
Gentle essential oils, Chamomile is beneficial for babies with troubled sleep pattern. It has natural soothing effects and conventionally used to treat sleep disorders. Chamomile has also been shown to help anxiety in fussy babies by lifting up their joyful spirit.
Vetiver
Also called Khus Oil, Vetiver oil is extracted from Vetiver plant and belongs to the same family as Citronella and Lemongrass. Studies suggest that its earthy fragrance improve brain function and alertness. It also helps in breathing patterns while sleeping.
Lavender
Lavender has many soothing and sedative effects. A lavender oil massage helps to relax cranky babies and helps them to sleep better. It has also been shown to be effective in alleviating colic symptoms in little children.
Rosemary
This aromatic herb has potential health benefits in traditional medicine. It improves brain function, stimulates hair growth, repels certain bugs and increase blood circulation.
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians recommend that essential oils should not be used for infants under three months. Dilution is important before applying on babies and young children. Certain instances may result in irritation or sensitivity in babies. Hence, a patch test is recommended before moving forward with applying the essential oil. And most importantly, consult your doctor before choosing any oils for your babies.
