Parents across the globe are turning to essential oils for autism to support their children. Learn how to make your Calm Kit with essential oils like Mandarin, Lavender, Frankincense, Roman Chamomile and Vetiver.
We show you how to create products tailored to your autistic child. Create room sprays, diffusers, inhalers, rollerballs, lotions and massage oils to calm and relax your child. Reduce your child's anger, frustration, anxiety, stress, and sensory overload. Use the Focus Me essential oil blend to address attention deficit and calm hyperactivity.
Create a blend for bedtime to encourage restful and refreshing sleep. We even have bedwetting solutions! Our Meltdown Rescue essential oil blend will be your savior, make a roller ball or inhaler and take it on the go. Say goodbye to supermarket meltdowns and tantrums. Whatever challenges you are facing we’ve got you. Today we’ll look at how to make a calm kit for your autistic child.
The Benefits of Essential Oils for Autistic Children
Essential oils are different from fragrance oils because they derive from natural plant matter and contain the chemical constituents of the plant. It is these constituents that make up the active properties of essential oils.
It is these active properties that provide us with so many physiological and psychological benefits. They can directly affect both our moods and emotions.
For purposes of use with autistic children, we recommend both inhaling essential oils and diluting them in a carrier oil or lotion and applying them directly to the skin. Both of these applications have the potential for therapeutic benefits for your child.
You can use various essential oils like Lavender, Bergamot and Vetiver to support the sensory needs and emotional regulation of autistic children.
Direct inhalation seems a popular choice amongst these parents; let’s explore why.
Inhalation - How Does it Work?
Imagine a fragrance wafting in the air - how does it get from there - to our nose and brain? What happens in that process?
Those miraculous scent molecules go on not one but two journeys.
Journey One
Journey Two
When molecules of the essential oils reach the Limbic System in the brain, they can exert their individual properties on the brain and, consequently, the body's systems.
Influencing Challenging and Distressing Behaviors With Essential Oils
Parents across the globe have been using essential oils to reduce and address the following challenging behaviors in children with autism or ADHD:
- Anger and frustration
- Anxiety and stress
- Attention deficit and lack of concentration
- Hyperactivity and excess energy
- Sensory overloads
- Sleep issues and sleep deprivation
- Meltdowns and tantrums
There is significant evidence through testimonials that essential oils can effectively reduce all of these behavioral and emotional challenges that parents of children on the spectrum face daily.
Using Essential Oils for Autistic Children Safely
Safety is paramount when using essential oils for children. Never apply essential oils undiluted to your child’s skin. Before topical application, they must always be diluted in a carrier oil or a lotion.
We recommend talking to your doctor or medical professional before using essential oils with your children. We also recommend that you do a 24-hour patch test.
Essential oils like Peppermint and Eucalyptus can slow a child’s breathing rate and should be avoided under age 6.
VINEVIDA has the safety sheets for every essential oil on the webpage for that particular essential oil. Always check these safety sheets for the recommended dilution rate. Generally, it is 1% for children, but essential oils like Ylang Ylang and Cinnamon Leaf have far lower dilution rates.
There is plenty more safety advice to be found in the following articles:
Essential Oil Safety and Children
3 Simple and Fun Essential Oil Recipes to Make With Your Children - This contains how to work out the safety data and dilution rates.
Best Essential Oils for Autism and ADHD – The Ultimate Guide
The Best Essential Oils for Autistic Children
Mandarin Essential Oil
Mandarin essential oil is generally beloved by kids with its fresh citrusy scent, and despite those zesty appearances, the oil itself can have quite restful effects. It is great for reducing anxiety levels, and I like it because it is a very mild and gentle essential oil. It quickly works to calm anxieties.
On a metaphysical level, it quietens tempers and cools you down, like pouring water on a flame. It reassures and strengthens feelings of safety and security.
Bergamot Essential Oil
Bergamot essential oil is a wonderful mood enhancer, full of joyfulness and optimism. It relieves pain and headaches, especially those associated with stress, anxiety and tension. It is widely used globally for the reduction of stress and anxiety.
On a metaphysical level, it uplifts and removes daily life's challenges. It also brings calmness to a nervous stomach and would be good to use when children feel nervous.
Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Ylang Ylang essential oil has a wonderful sedative, almost hypnotic effect, and it is also widely used for its antidepressant properties. It contains Linalool, which is a naturally occurring terpene alcohol. Studies on Linalool indicate it may be effective in reducing anxiety via inhalation.
On a metaphysical level, Ylang Ylang brings you back to the center of yourself and reminds you that all is well in the world. Cosseting and comforting like a big fluffy blanket.
Lavender Essential Oil
The Lavender essential oil has been used worldwide for its calming and relaxing properties, and studies and research have repeatedly found how effective it is for this purpose. You need to be cautious about how much you use; less is more with Lavender. Use too much; you could end up stimulating your child instead.
On a metaphysical level, Lavender clears levels of lingering, challenging emotions. It is like an emotional disinfectant for the soul. Deeply soothing, calming and relaxing on all levels and any plant that appears on the purple ray helps you to connect to your inner wisdom and emotions, which helps with better decision making.
Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense essential oil is profoundly soothing, and I always think it is quite sacred, especially for children with autism. Aromatherapists will utilize Frankincense to reduce stress and anxiety, and recent research supports that use.
On a metaphysical level, Frankincense brings quiet and happiness in solitude and reflection. Balancing emotions, mood and equilibrium is a powerful tool in your Calm Kit.
Roman Chamomile Essential Oil
Roman Chamomile essential oil is another used worldwide to instill calm and relaxation. Widely researched and supported by the scientific community. Deeply soothing and relaxing, it can also reduce some of our anxiety and is used widely to alleviate generalized anxiety disorders.
On a metaphysical level, Roman Chamomile acts like a soothing mother or grandmother who kisses your ails better. Comforting, reassuring and like being wrapped in a hug from someone you dearly love. This oil can comfort upset children and those experiencing a meltdown.
Vetiver Essential Oil
Vetiver essential oil is deeply sedative and a wonderful inclusion in your Calm Kit. It works by soothing the nervous system and can have a residual effect on soothing feelings of anger, anxiety, exhaustion, irritability, and stress.
On a metaphysical level, it is good for grounding and connecting yourself back to reality. It is a good essential oil choice for using with meditation for your child.
Creating a Calm Kit With Essential Oils for Your Autistic Child
When creating a Calm Kit, we must focus on the feelings and behaviors we want to address with our child and consider what feelings we wish to instill.
These are some of the most popular emotions, feelings and behaviors that parents turn to essential oils to reduce:
- Anger and frustration
- Anxiety and stress
- Attention deficit and lack of concentration
- Hyperactivity and excess energy
- Sensory overloads
- Sleep issues and sleep deprivation
- Meltdowns and tantrums
Therefore, we will show you how to make a Calm Kit with essential oils for your autistic child to cope with these particular challenges.
We will create Calm Kit essential oil blends for the following:
- Calm My Mind and Feelings
- Soothe My Stress and Sensations
- Focus Me
- Help Me Sleep
- Meltdown Rescue
Calm Kit With Essential Oil Blends for Your Autistic Child
Using just seven essential oils, you can create a highly effective Calm Kit for your autistic child. Utilizing the varying properties of the individual essential oils to instill Calm, soothe and bring reassurance, happiness, joy and balance.
| Essential Oil Blends for Your Autistic Child's Calm Kit | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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Notes before we begin: If one particular essential oil does not suit your child, feel free to swap it out for something with similar properties, but always remember to re-check the safety data. All blends are designed either for direct application in a diffuser, inhalation or for dilution in 100ml /3.38 fl oz of carrier oil, lotion, or room spray base. Safety dilution rates are 1% which is safe for most children over 6 months of age, but always do a 24 hour patch test before you apply it fully. Note Bergamot essential oil is not suitable for use topically onfor children under 2 years of age because of risk of skin sensitization. 1% dilution rate in 100ml / 3.38 fl oz of product is equal to 20 drops of essential oil. |
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Essential Oil Blend Name |
Essential Oils Needed Each essential oil blend contains up to 20 drops of just three essential oils. |
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| Calm My Mind and Feelings |
5 drops Vetiver Essential Oil (Vetiveria zizanoides) |
5 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil (Cananga odorata) |
10 drops Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia) |
| Soothe My Stress and Sensations |
3 drops Bergamot Essential Oil (Citrus bergamia) |
10 drops Mandarin Essential Oil (Citrus reticulata) |
7 drops Frankincense Essential Oil (Boswellia serrata) |
| Focus Me |
3 drops Bergamot Essential Oil (Citrus bergamia) |
7 drops Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Anthemis nobilis L.) |
10 drops Mandarin Essential Oil (Citrus reticulata) |
| Help Me Sleep |
10 drops Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia) |
5 drops Frankincense Essential Oil (Boswellia serrata) |
5 drops Vetiver Essential Oil (Vetiveria zizanoides) |
| Meltdown Rescue |
10 drops Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Anthemis nobilis L.) |
7 drops Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia) |
3 drops Mandarin Essential Oil (Citrus reticulata) |
| Safety: | |||
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Do not use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy Ylang Ylang specific - not in first 37 weeks of pregnancy - use less than 0.8% dilution rate Bergamot specific - phototoxic - use less than 0.4% dilution rate - Not for under 2 years of age. Keep all products away from eyes. If the product does get in the eyes, rinse immediately with warm water and if irritation persists, take the bottle, clearly labeled with all ingredients and seek medical advice. |
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| How to Use: | |||
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Essential Oil Diffuser - follow your manufacturer guidelines. Roller ball - dilute essential oil blend in 100ml / 3.38 fl oz of Jojoba oil and divide between rollerball dispensers. Use as for inhalation or to roll onto the skin and rub in. Room Spray - dilute essential oil blend in 40 ml / 1.35 fl oz Witch Hazel, 40 ml / 1.35 fl oz Rose Water, 20 ml / 0.67 fl oz Vodka or Denatured Alcohol and mix together in a spray bottle. Spray in the room around the child, not directly upon them. Tutorial here Massage oil or lotion - dilute essential oil blend into 100ml / 3.38 fl oz of Jojoba oil or unscented lotion. Apply to skin and massage gently. |
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You can see, using very few well-chosen essential oils, you can create a Calm Kit for your autistic child that will calm, soothe, relax and reassure your child. Restoring balance and happiness and reducing stress and anxiety.
But how do I use it? Read on to find more.
You might also read this post about essential oils for autism that discusses how to integrate oils into your everyday routine.
How to Use a Calm Kit with Essential Oils for Your Autistic Child
Diffusers and Room Spray
Some autistic children do not like to be touched; this is where essential oil diffusers and room sprays come into their own.
You can use the essential oil diffuser to scent their bedroom over some time, say before bedtime, to aid sleep or in the morning to start the day Calm and rested. Find plenty of ideas and extra information here on How to Use Essential Oils In a Diffuser.
Room sprays are great for giving a quick spritz when you notice your child's behavior is about to escalate, helping to nip it in the bud. Fantastic for use at night, before bedtime, in the morning before school and on car journeys.
Care needs to be taken to not spray directly at your face or your eyes; if that happens, wash with warm water; if irritation persists, seek medical advice by taking the clearly labeled container with you.
Inhalation
You can buy empty essential oil inhalers and dispense your essential oil blend tailor-made for your autistic child. It allows you to make a range of inhalers to suit your child’s challenges and behaviors.
They are perfect to pop in their pocket for days out, going shopping and social days.
You can also create a similar effect using aroma pendants instead - find out more in this article - How to Make an Essential Oil Necklace.
Rollerballs
Simple and easy to use, either as a direct inhalation method (always make sure it is diluted in a carrier oil, as in the recipe above, in case it gets on your child’s skin).
Sweet Almond is a good carrier oil choice here as it has a long shelf life and will last well in a rollerball.
Alternatively, you can use it to dispense the tailor-made essential oil blend on your child’s pulse point, at the wrists, temples, and I like a dab at the bottom of the neck so the fragrance of the essential oils can waft up and be inhaled.
Pop them in your child’s pocket or backpack at school or out and about. Great for older kids that are out socializing, it can help calm them in situations they suddenly find challenging or unsettled.
It is always wise to do a 24hr patch test on the inner elbow to check for any adverse or allergic reactions before applying it anywhere else on the body.
Lotions and Massage Oils
These are such beautiful ways to bond with your autistic child. Parents are finding it effective to focus on the feet first to get their children used to being touched and massaged.
I recommend Jojoba carrier oil as it is the one that most closely resembles our sebum. It lasts well in terms of shelf life and has a wonderful skin feel.
Always ensure your essential oils are diluted and that you are working with the 1% dilution rate for children. Bearing in mind that some oils like Ylang Ylang have lower dilution rates.
Again, It is always wise to do a 24hr patch test on the inner elbow to check for any adverse or allergic reactions before applying it anywhere else on the body.
Storage of Your Calm Kit with Essential Oils
Try and keep any of the products you create in a dark place with a cool, ambient temperature away from vast temperature fluctuations.
If you have rollerballs in school backpacks and coat pockets, that’s fine, but you may need to replenish a bit more often than the guidelines below.
Room Sprays will generally last 6-12 months
Inhalers - have differing guidelines; follow that of your manufacturer.
Rollerballs tend to touch the skin more often and introduce bacteria faster than other delivery methods. I would replace mine every 1-2 months. You can wash and sterilize the roller ball to use again unless the carrier oils go rancid, then discard it and start afresh.
Lotions - expect to last up to 3 months - depending on the base used.
Massage Oils last 3-6 months; if the carrier goes rancid, you will smell it immediately, discard it and make a new batch in a new bottle.
Essential Oil Blend - expect 6-12 months, but for blends with citrus oils, like Bergamot and Mandarin, check the individual safety sheets for recommendations, as they can oxidize. Often this can be extended by adding an antioxidant like Vitamin E.
Use common sense; while these essential oils are safe for children, this is only in small amounts. Children should always be supervised during use. Please don’t leave them lying around for younger children to get a hold of. Treat them like you would other medicines and store them safely and out of reach.
The Final Word
With just seven essential oils, Mandarin, Bergamot, Ylang Ylnag, Lavender, Frankincense, Roman Chamomile and Vetiver, you can create a whole range of products and essential blends tailor-made for your autistic child.
Parents worldwide with children on the spectrum use essential oils to reduce and calm distressing and challenging behaviors.
If you want to reduce your child's anger and frustration, anxiety and stress and sensory overloads, the Calm My Mind and Feelings and Soothe My Stress and Sensations essential oil blends may help you.
Use the Focus Me essential oil blend to address attention deficit, lack of concentration, and calm hyperactivity and excess energy.
The Help Me Sleep essential oil blend can be a boon for bedtimes. If bedwetting is also an issue, consider the use of German Chamomile. I found an interesting research study that claims German Chamomile could reduce incidences of bedwetting. This can be distressing for parents and children alike and could provide a natural remedy solution.
Meltdown Rescue is the savior of the day when you are at your wits end with another meltdown. Let it come to your rescue, and remember what I said about some essential oils having a cumulative effect; the more you use it, the quicker it will likely work.
Remember that these essential oil blends are just as good for you, too; use them to reduce your anxieties and stress, calm you before bedtime and relax at the end of another hard day.
Follow the safety guidelines and dilution rates, and you are good to go. I hope this article has given you the confidence to learn how to make a Calm Kit with essential oils for your autistic child.
