It is no secret that we are always looking for calming recipes and tools around here. When you have a child that is full of energy and has trouble calming himself down, you will try almost anything people throw out there. One calming suggestion that always comes up in our sensory group is epsom salts. Epsom Salts are known as the universal calming bath salts for kids, which is why we want to share some of our favorite calming recipes.
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As I mentioned before, we have tried all sorts of calming strategies and tools with our family. For the last two years, we have run a sensory support group for parents and educators to have a place to learn more about sensory processing and how to help their children with every day life. One of the common threads in the group, is the use of Epsom Salts for calming strategies.
I am excited to share this awesome recipe (with more on the way) from my good friend, Melissa, at Fireflies and Mudpies.
Calming Bath Salts for Kids with Essential Oils
What you need for Calming Bath Salts for Kids:
● 2 cups “plain” Epsom Salts
● 4 TBSP fractionated coconut oil
● 4 drops Lavender essential oil
● 4 drops Orange essential oil
Benefits of Calming Bath Salts for Kids
One thing I constantly am told my parents everywhere is just how soothing and calming an Epsom Salt bath really is. “He can be running the house completely crazy, and then we do a short bath with epsom salts and it’s like he is a whole new kid,” says one parent. Many parents even report that after repeated use of Epsom Salt baths their children are able to return to a normal sleep pattern.
But why do they work?
Not only are epsom salts just calming and soothing to the skin, they also help children regulate their senses through the use of magnesium.
Epsom Salts contain high amounts of magnesium which assist in detoxifying the body and revitalizing the bodies natural minerals. You can read a lot more on the benefits of epsom baths here (they do a much better job than I do explaining it).
How to Make Calming Bath Salts for Kids
Making calming bath salts for kids can be really easy. There aren’t any difficult recipes or processes to go through. Instead, just a simple mixture and you are ready to go. Our first calming bath salts recipe we are sharing uses lavender (the go to essential oil for families and children) and orange (which is fantastic for clearing the mind before bedtime).
1. Combine all of the ingredients in a medium sized glass bowl. Mix well.
Spoon the bath salts into a clean jar.
Add 1⁄2 cup of bath salts/bath for children over age 2 and under 60 lbs. Children should bath for at least 20 minutes. Refrain from using soap or shampoo on Epsom Salt bath nights.
Do you have a favorite essential oil recipe you just love? I can’t wait to hear more about it! If you are new to essential oils, I think you will love our beginner’s guide to essential oils for sensory needs. In addition, you can learn more about how to get started with a starter kit and our freebies by clicking here.
More Adventures in Essential Oils
Thanks as always Dayna! Wish I had read this yesterday, my daughter wanted to take a bath last night instead of a shower 🙂 How often do you suggest kids take an epsom salt bath??
I can’t wait to hear if she likes it!
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is it safe for a one year old to have an Epson salt bath with lavender and orange essential oils?
When it comes to babies and kids I love to check Gentle Babies book for recommendations.
I have been making bathsalt and bath-oil for my daughter since she was one month old, likewise for lotion. Her favourite mix (at age 1 she already knows what she likes) is somewhat of a bouquet: lavender, bergamot, roman chamomile and very little rosemary. I use epsom salt, baking soda, coarse sea salt and organic coconut oil as base for the salts. I use very little of the rosemary oil as it is a rather strong oil. I also add two bags of rooibos tea (great antioxidant). I put a small handful in her bathwater and then she happily splashes around. Then I dress her and sleep is never far off.
For her lotion I buy a bottle of unfragranced baby lotion amd then just mix the essential oils into it, the oils accompanied with the “massage” when I put her lotion on quickly calms her, she gets very excited when my wife says “Is it time for daddy to give you a bath?!”. I do not use the bathsalts each evening, the other evenings I use the bath-oil (rather sparingly as it can make the bath slippery). She smells wonderful after her bath and her skin is soft, we are as yet to discover any form of for example eczema. Also, the two that she actually had nappy rash, the bath-salts and bath-oil really soothed the rash, the roman-chamomile helps a great deal.