Hydrosols; the forgotten tool great for kids of all ages
Ever thought about using an essential oil on your baby or toddler and got worried it might be too much? Maybe you weren’t sure which dilution was safest, or even which oil was safest. You might be interested in a hydrosol instead!
What are hydrosols? They are the left over plant water matter from distilling essential oils, and they are so much gentler than essential oils as well. They still have many of the same benefits and are safe to use even with newborns. Essential oils shouldn’t be used on kids younger than 3 months (even better to wait 6 months) and a hydrosol is a perfectly safe option to use in place of an essential oil.
So what can we use a hydrosol for? And what hydrosols are on the market? You can find a few hydrosols in health food stores like Whole Foods but if you want a better selection online is the way to go. Always buy directly from the manufacturer and not from a third party source like Amazon. Some of my favorite hydrosols come from Aura Cacia and Plant Therapy, both of these places have a great selection of hydrosols that are gentle and ready to use.
Some of my favorite hydrosols are:
Lavender: I use this for diaper rash, as a bed time spray and also a bumps and bruises spray. It can help to alleviate pain, soothe a rash and calm down a child. Spritz onto pillows, sheets and even pajamas to help ease into bedtime. Spray right onto the diaper area to provide soothing relief for diaper rashes and spray onto/around bumps/bruises and scrapes to help aid healing and provide relief. It smells wonderful and is perfectly gentle for little ones.
Tea Tree: I use this mainly for diaper rashes and fungal issues, but it can also be a deodorizer. Spray into shoes to help curb the little kid feet stink. Use as a deodorant in teens/adults. Use for diaper rash/fungal infections.
Chamomile (Roman): a nice calming/soothing hydrosol this one is also great to have for skin conditions. Soothe eczema and cradle cap with this one. Add some hydrosol to your babies bottle to help aid with gas and digestion (please seek an aromatherapist for help with this one and littles and do not ever give a child straight hydrosol). Use at bedtime with lavender to help ease into sleep and calm down. Alternatively German Chamomile hydrosol is great for sunburn and teething. Check those names on the bottle to make sure you have the right hydrosol.
Geranium: Great for anxiety this is a great one to have on hand for those hesitant little ones. Even for adults. Spritz around and breathe in to help provide a nice calm for those anxious moments. This is a stimulating one however so not great for bedtimes.
Rose: Rose is great for the skin, though not so important for little ones. It just smells great however and I like to use as a natural perfume that doesn’t disturb my little ones. And they get a kick out of getting a little spritz as well since they love the scent and it’s gentle for them.
Wether its gas, colic, tantrums or skin conditions a hydrosol can most likely do the trick. I highly encourage parents to look into getting some of these before turning towards and essential oil. While oils are great tools, its much better to look into a gentler route before jumping to the big guns. And hydrosols are much safer for little babies and newborns. As always, happy oiling! Or in this case happy hydrosoling!
