Category Archives: Aromatherapy for Children
Homemade Lip Balms!
Little bear LOVES lip balm! He can’t get enough of it. So it was the perfect thing to share with his friends on his birthday at preschool. A friend had given me some empty lip balm tubes, mango butter, and beeswax she wasn’t using so I was all set! The little bear had a great time helping me weigh out and mix the ingredients too.
Here’s how to make them:
- 0.9g beeswax
- 1.1g mango butter
- 0.68g cocoa butter
- 1.8g jojoba oil
Combine these ingredients in a pyrex measuring jug and place them in a saucepan of water on the stove. Mix the ingredients well once fully melted, and remove from heat. At this point add 10-12 drops of essential oil of your choice. I chose to use mandarin and chamomile as they are both safe essential oils for young children, and are soothing/calming (I think most preschoolers can use some calming at least a couple of times a day 
). Other nice oils to use are peppermint, lavender, lime, tea tree, grapefruit or vanilla.
Once the essential oils have been mixed in, pour it into the lip balm containers until they look slightly too full! The lip balms will shrink as they cool. Allow the lip balms to cool completely before putting the lids on.
To label ours I just took some old craft paper of ours and cut it to fit the containers (1.9″X2.5″), glued it to the containers and then printed the children’s names on to printable labels.
Personalized Lip Balms
Essential Oil Safety
There are many great uses for certain essential oils in the last two trimesters of pregnancy and especially during labour and the postpartum period. However, some essential oils are not safe or useful when pregnant due to their powerful effect on the body during this sensitive time. Below is a list of essential oils with properties that are not desirable when pregnant, and should be avoided.
Oils Not Recommended for Pregnancy
· Basil
· Cajeput
· camphor
· Cedarwood
· Cinnamon
· citronella
· Clary sage (not recommended until full term – OK during labour)
· Clove
· Cypress (OK after 5 months)
· Fennel
· Hyssop
· Jasmine (not recommended until full term – OK during labour)
· Juniper
· Lemongrass
· Myrrh
· Niaouli
· Nutmeg
· Parsley
· Pennyroyal
· Peppermint
· Ravensara
· Rosemary
· Sweet marjoram
· Sage
· Thyme
· Tarragon
· Yarrow
None of the essential oils listed are found in Natural Creation’s pregnancy products. Clary Sage, Jasmine, and Lemongrass are found in products created for use during labour and the postpartum period. Our product labels are conveniently coded to help you determine which stage of the childbearing year the product has been created for. The essential oils chosen for each product are appropriate for the stage they are labeled. Our products are created with a low concentration of essential oils appropriate for the sensitivity of pregnant & new moms, and babies. We do not recommend the use any of our products in your first trimester and suggest consulting your healthcare provider or aromatherapist if you have any medical conditions that would contradict the use of essential oils.
Please feel free to contact Emily and Chelsea anytime if you have any questions about our products and the ingredients we use.
Info@naturalcreation.ca
Also posted in Birth and Postpartum Doula, Products, Uncategorized
Tagged baby, Breastfeeding, clary sage, essential oils and babies, essential oils and labour, essential oils and pregnancy, essential oils contraindicated in pregnancy, essential oils safe for pregnancy, not recommended for pregnancy, nursing, postpartum, pregnancy oils, safe essential oils
1 Comment
Sweet Baby Massage & Bath Oil
Our Sweet Baby Massage & Bath Oil is one of the oils, it seems, we can’t make enough of! The sweet mixture of mandarin and chamomile makes it a favourite scent among our customers (big and little).
The essential oils in this blend have properties that are known to help calm over tired and cranky babies. Incorporating massage into a “bed time” routine is a great way to calm children and prepare them for sleep. Scent is closely tied with memory. Using the same relaxing scent before bed can help children anticipate bed time and associate the smell with sleeping.
The mild analgesic and anti inflammatory properties of Roman Chamomile make the Sweet Baby Oil great for teething. When added to a bath the vapors help ease teething pain. Chamomile has been used for hundreds of years by many cultures as a solution to relieving constipation and intestinal cramping. Mandarin is also excellent for soothing the stomach when used in massage. By adding the oil to a bath or massaging gently into your little one’s feet and lightly over the abdomen, this oil can bring relief to an uncomfortable baby.
Send me an email or FB message if you would like a free sample chelsea@naturalcreation.ca
Also posted in Motherhood, Products, Uncategorized
Tagged baby oil, baby sleep, bed time routine, chamomile, colic, gassy baby, infant massage, mandarin essential oil, massage, massage oil, pain, relax, sleep, soothing babies, sweet baby, teething, teething pain
Leave a comment
Are your Products Safe?
One of the main reasons Emily and I started Natural Creation was to offer alternatives to the mainstream products marketed to women and children. Pregnancy and infancy are such sensitive times that we wanted to provide safe and effective products that don’t contain harmful chemicals such as synthetic dyes or fragrances, sodium sulfates or preservatives.
Many people are still unaware that their favourite shampoos, lotions and even their toothpaste may contain ingredients that are harmful to their bodies and their environment.
I came across an excellent website this afternoon www.cosmeticdatabase.com.
It is an online safety guide for cosmetics and personal care products. The Environmental Safety Group data gives you practical solutions to protect yourself and your family from the health risks we all face from everyday exposures to myriad industrial chemicals. Consumers are able to look up common household products to determine if the products ingredients are safe.
Also posted in Products
Tagged consumer awareness, cosmetic database, cosmetics, dyes, harmful chemical, infants, personal care products, pregnancy, preservatives, safe products, safety, skin deep, sulfates, sythetic chemical
Leave a comment
Recipe for a sleepy toddler.
Things were getting a little tricky with having the bear go to bed for a while there… It was stressful and would take over an hour of singing, cuddling, etc. I felt like my whole evening was taken up and I was exhausted by the end of it. When he was a baby I would give him a massage with the Sweet Baby massage and bath oil every day…somewhere in there things got busy and it stopped happening. So last night I decided to get back in to a good bed time routine. Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients:
Bath
Sweet Baby Massage and Bath Oil
A story book of choice
A comfy cozy bed
Directions:
We started with a bath at 7pm. He washed himself (yes he is very independent at 21 months) with the Sweet Baby Hair and Body wash, and played with some old shower curtain rings and tupperware mixed in with the usual bath toys – the shower curtain rings actually make a great toy – he loves to put them in the tupperware one by one and we count together. How fantastic is it hearing them learn to count? I love this stage where the vocabulary is exploding – so much fun! Anyway, I let him play in there for about 20 minutes, and then we did the usual putting away of bath toys and watching the water drain away…all part of the routine that he’s chosen to set out . After that we go to his room and put on a clean diaper, then I give him a massage with the Sweet Baby Massage and Bath Oil – he picked up quickly on what the routine was and tonight he reached for the massage oil and then laid down on his tummy on his bed so that I could rub his back. His eyes kept closing as I rubbed his back – that chamomile blend works wonders! Then he rolled on to his side and lifted his foot and pointed to it – he loves foot rubs He kept saying “nice”, “nice” – pretty much the only word he knows to express that he likes something. After rubbing his feet he co-operated soo well getting into his PJ’s (this isn’t usually the case) and we misted the bed with the Restful Room Mist. Then he snuggled up on my lap to read a story. He got up once and left the room, but I just called his name and told him it was bed time and he came back and snuggled up again. Both nights, by the time I was 1/2 way through the second round of “Franklin is Bossy” he climbed off my lap and laid himself down on his bed. He was asleep within about 10 minutes of that (8p). Easiest bed times in ages!!!! And I have the rest of my evening to relax and blog as he sleeps soundly.
Makes for a happy mama and toddler
Also posted in Birth and Postpartum Doula, Motherhood, Products
Tagged bed time for baby, infant massage, night time routine, sleep trouble, toddlers sleep
Leave a comment
Aromatherapy During Pregnancy
Aromatherapy is a powerful and wonderful tool we can use to aid in healing physical and emotional ailments at any stage of life. Pregnancy is a very sensitive time: a time when the use of natural remedies such as aromatherapy, is an excellent choice for many people.
While many essential oils are contraindicated for use in pregnancy, there are many that are safe and can help balance physical and emotional difficulties women may experience. Some examples of oils that are safe, and beneficial to use during pregnancy include bergamot, geranium, ginger, eucalyptus, grapefruit, german chamomile, helichrysum, sandalwood, mandarin, tea tree, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, neroli, frankincense, patchouli, petitgrain, and ylang ylang. These essential oils have a myriad of beneficial properties which include antiseptic, antibacterial, balancing, calming, aiding digestion, and regenerative. It is important to use essential oils in lower concentrations during pregnancy; they should be diluted to a concentration no greater than 1.5%.
Many skin care products contain essential oils, and it is important to read ingredient listings on anything you use during this sensitive time. When selecting skin care or even household cleaning products to use while pregnant and when chilren are around, there are a few things to consider: first of all ensure that any essential oils used are safe for you to use in pregnancy, and are also not contraindicated for any medical condition you may suffer from; secondly look to make sure there are no “fragrances” other than pure essential oils; thirdly avoid products containing mineral oil, parabens, SLS, and synthetic colours.
If you have any uncertainty about a particular essential oil, consult a registered aromatherapist to get a clear answer.
Aromatherapy 101 Essay
How I Use aromatherapy in my life…
Aromatherapy has bettered my life, my work, and my role as a mother. Pleasing to the senses, and beneficial to body and soul – I couldn’t imagine my life without the healing powers of essential oils.
In my day to day life, I consistently use citrus oils to lift my spirits, and energize me for the day. A favourite of mine is grapefruit. I most often diffuse essential oils into my living space, but also add a few drops to a washcloth in my shower. I use other oils to help fight infections: whenever I feel a cold coming on I bring out essential oils that have antibacterial, antiviral and immune stimulating properties such as tea tree, eucalyptus, lemon, lavender, and bergamot. If ever I am congested I steam with thyme, oregano, lavender, and tea tree for fast relief. When anxious or overly stressed I would add some juniper, sandalwood, and petitgrain to a relaxing bath. The use of essential oils has been a big part of my everyday life for years. When I became pregnant it was difficult for me to drop the use of so many oils that had become such a part of my life – this began my intense interest in the use of essential oils throughout the childbearing year.
Throughout my pregnancy I worked with my doula to create blends safe to use, and appropriate for various side effects of being pregnant. I battled varicose veins with bergamot and geranium, I eased my many headaches with helichrysum, lavender and grapefruit, and I prevented stretchmarks with rich base oils blended with sandalwood, petitgrain, frankincense, and ylang ylang. During my very long labour I had basil and jasmine oils massaged into my body to help regulate my contractions, and ease pain. For the postpartum period I took relaxing baths with epsom salts combined with geranium essential oil to aid in perineal healing, I relieved mastitis by massaging a base oil with geranium and frankincense to relieve the blocked ducts. I diffused jasmine, rose and neroli into my home to fight the baby blues, and I added lavender and roman chamomile to my son’s night time routine to aid his sleep – and mine! I can’t imagine how I would have survived those exhausting and overwhelming days without the use of essential oils to aid my body through this natural process. I felt that using essential oils throughout the childbearing year helped me such a lot, that my doula and I decided to start our own business making these benefits accessible to other women. We started our business when my son was 3 months old – I made the decision that I wanted to stay home with him, and work from home in a field I was passionate about until I can attend school to become a midwife. I currently work as a doula, and make natural products for moms and babies. In my doula work I use the same oils for my clients’ labours (providing there are no contraindications for health issues they may have) and provide them with the blends to aid them through the joyful and overwhelming postpartum period. My business partner and I are very careful to use only 1% concentrations in all our blending as pregnant women, and babies are very sensitive to essential oils. I am so happy to see other people benefiting as I am from the powerful advantages provided to us from nature, through the use of essential oils.
At 13 months, my son is teething quite badly. I use roman chamomile in his bath to help ease the pain before he goes to sleep. He loves his sweet scented baths! He is a healthy boy, but over the holiday season he had a stomach flu – it was awful to see him suffer through that, and quite a mess! I used a tea tree and lemon mist to spot clean his toys and our carpet. It was amazing how they not only cleaned the area, but deodorized them too! I also could use it feeling confident that it was the safest thing I could use to clean and disinfect our surroundings while he was sick – no harsh chemicals around my little guy.
I encourage friends and family to enjoy the benefits of natural alternatives to synthetically fragranced skin care, harsh cleansing agents, and even some medications. If used appropriately and carefully, essential oils can provide many people with countless benefits. I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to educate myself further on the benefits and safety precautions associated with various essential oils through West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy 101 course. I look forward to learning even more in 201, and as I continue my learning and experience working with aromatherapy in my personal and professional life.
Tagged aromatherapy, babies, mothering
Leave a comment
Good Morning
I am so excited to write my first blog!
This morning is great – everything about it feels good. The sky is blue as if it could be July rather than January, my 11 month old is down for a peaceful nap, I have ideas for new products filling my head faster than I can write them, I just enjoyed a shower with grapefruit oil to boost my energy, and I am full of excitement for what 2008 will bring!
I am so happy that my little bear (nickname for my son) is sleeping so well these days – it’s amazing what a difference it makes to both our lives. He is teething quite badly, but still he is sleeping well! A combination of homeopathy, aromatherapy, and consistency on my part seem to have done the trick. I am not sure of the homeopathic remedy our Dr. gave us, but he is a genius! It seems to have helped my little bear in his days and nights – just seems to have put him back to normal after a disruptive trip across country for a month, 2 weeks of flu, and seemingly endless teething. As for the aromatherapy – I mist his cot with lavender and chamomile (Restful Room) every time I put him down for a nap or bedtime – the oils are relaxing, and now I think the smell just triggers his brain to recognize it is sleep time! At night he has a bath, and a massage (Sweet Baby Oil) – yes every night – isn’t he a lucky boy? If only we all got a massage every night, I think we would all be resting well and rising happy! As for my being consistent – I stick to this routine whenever possible, and try not to think of the dishes that need to be done etc., I think he must sense if I am busy in my mind -but if I can relax, it seems he can too. A good practice for me to remain present in the moment.
I think all mothers can relate to this though – remaining present in every moment is even more challenging once you have a child, yet even more important! I find that I am shocked quite often by my son’s age and development. I’ll suddenly remember that less than a year ago he was still inside my belly! And now here he is – drumming on my computer, pulling things out of cupboards, shaking his head at me, copying people’s noises (like coughing), and grinning from ear to ear even if he HEARS the camera turn on! It’s cliche I know: how the time flies.
So I am off to do some stretching before my bear rises, and I will focus on this: remain present: in all my doings, and running around, remain present because I don’t want to miss one little part of this precious gift I have been given called motherhood.
Tagged aromatherapy, babies, mothering, sleep
Leave a comment