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This kid friendly vapor rub will help your child breathe easier without the harmful ingredients that other vapor rubs contain.
Years ago, I shared my original vapor rub recipe with everyone and I didn’t mention that it was only for ages 10 and over… because I didn’t know that some essential oils are not safe for kids under 10 years!
I now realize that essential oils need to be used safely, and that post has since been updated. I now only recommend that recipe for ages 10 years and over.
However, that left me in need of a kid friendly vapor rub.
One that parents could use on their little ones without any potentially harmful ingredients.
Yes, harmful ingredients like petrolatum and turpentine but even potentially harmful essential oils.
Essential oils are powerful things and just because they are natural doesn’t mean that you can use them however you like!
My original blend used eucalyptus and rosemary essential oil but eucalyptus shouldn’t be used on kids under 10 years and rosemary shouldn’t be use on kids under 6.
This kid friendly vapor rub opts for pine essential oil. Pine essential oil is a much gentler (but still very effective) respiratory essential oil.
Pine (or you can replace with Fir if you like) is a great decongestant and is antibacterial and antiviral as well!
Lavender essential oil is added in for a few reasons. It’s a very very gentle essential oil but don’t let that trick you into thinking it can’t do much! Lavender is antiseptic and antibacterial.
Lavender can also gently open up air ways. I probably do not need to mention that lavender is a great “sleepy time” essential oil and if you are a parent with a sick kid, you know all too well that you want something to help them sleep!
Kid Friendly Vapor Rub
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 Tbs beeswax
8 drops pine essential oil
4 drops lavender essential oil
Directions:
In a double boiler (or your make shift version of a double boiler), melt coconut oil and beeswax.
Remove from heat and stir in essential oils.
Pour into a clean jar and allow to cool before placing a lid on.
To Use:
Rub on chest, back, and even feet. Rubbing on the feet and then covering with socks is said to be one of the safest and most effective areas to use vapor rub.
I love it! I think that it is especially important to have toxin free products around the little ones!
The older generation always rubbed the vapor rub on the soles of the feet-it was said to draw out the cold.
Robert Tisserand recently (the last year) issued out a new safety recommendation concerning Eucalyptus and Peppermint for children…I definitely think it would be worth you checking it out. While pine and lavender are definitely gentler and still have some great benefits, it is always good to know updated safety guidelines so you can share it with your readers…especially when 1,8 cineole has such a great effect on the respiratory system.
Yes, I’m actually aware of Tisserand’s clarification about those EO’s. He still states to not use Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Rosemary around kids noses/breathing/diffused. Many people apply vapor rub right under the nose (and even just on the chest is pretty strong), so I continue to stand by my statement of those oils not being used for kids.
What can be used instead of beeswax? Or is beeswax nesessary?
The beeswax is not strictly necessary. It does help keep the vapor rub on the body a bit longer but I sometimes leave the beeswax out completely (no subbing) and just rub the infused oil on instead. It doesn’t stick to the body as long but it’s also much faster to make.
Okay, what brand of oils do you use? I don’t have pine or fir and I’m trying to find an alternative to those.
I like Aura Cacia. They are linked in my post. 🙂
Hi,
For how long cream can be stored? And is it safe for children under one?
Thanks
It should last at least a year. It is a kid friendly mixture So it should be fine for babies 6months and above… younger than that, essential oils are generally not recommended.
Can you add the newer social media share icons too? Like MeWe and Parlor and Gab and such ?
I added a “more” option but it’s not up to me to determine if those social media’s make the share button cut.