Benefits of peppermint oil for kids include pain relief in teething, treating colic, decongestant properties, and breath freshener. It also helps reduce cavity in your baby’s teeth, provides relief from sunburn, and calms skin inflammations. Peppermint oil is a natural bug repellent and can help your kids battle rashes and annoying itches. You can also easily use peppermint oil as a natural treatment to bring down your kid’s fever.

The benefits of peppermint oil for your kids are many. It’s refreshing smell has a great energizing effect on the senses. It helps improve your child’s mental focus and boosts energy. Peppermint oil has been used since the ancient times for the numerous benefits. It has been known to be used by the Egyptians, Chinese, and Japanese as a medicine.

It is suitable for both topical and oral uses. It’s antimicrobial properties makes its one of the most versatile essential oils for your kids. There are few bodily or mind issues in your baby that peppermint oil cannot help.

What is peppermint oil?

Peppermint is the hybrid of water mint (mentha quatica) and spearmint. It gives a cooling and calming sensation to your kid’s body. It can be aplied topically and taken orally. Let’s look at 11 amazing benefits of peppermint oil for your kids.

11 Amazing Benefits of Peppermint Oil for Kids

Sinus Care

When inhaled, diffused peppermint oil can help immediately unclog your baby’s sinuses. It can also help if your kid has a scratchy throat. Peppermint oil is known to act as an expectorant. It helps provide relief to your baby from colds, cough, bronchitis, asthma, and sinusitis.

Natural Energizer

For children with low energy peppermint oil can be used effectively as a natural energizer. It is definitely a good alternative to the sugary energy drinks for your kids. It will perk up your kids when going for long drives, school or any other time he or she needs it.

Fights Dandruff

If your kid is suffering from dandruff adding a few drops of peppermint oil to his or her shampoo can work wonders. Adding to 2 -3 drops of the oil to your kid’s shampoo and conditioner should do the trick! The antiseptic quality of peppermint oil helps remove dandruff and lice from your baby’s head. It is also beneficial in energizing your baby’s mind in the morning and wake him up for school!

Allergy Relief

Does your kid suffer from allergy? Then diffusing peppermint oil along with clove oil and eucalyptus oil can help reduce the allergy symptoms in him or her. Peppermint oil is also highly effective in clearing your kid’s nasal passageways by relaxing the muscles. It also helps clear out the pollen and muck during allergy season. It can be a great alternative to pharmaceutical drugs in treating your kid’s allergies.

Improves Focus

If your child has trouble focusing on school work try spritzing some peppermint oil in his or her clothes before they sit down to study. You can also improve concentration of your child by placing one drop of peppermint oil on his or her tongue or under the nose. Peppermint oil is also effective in improving your child’s alertness and focus.

Soothing Itches

Whether your baby is battling a rash or a about of irritating itching – applying a little bit of peppermint oil mixed with lavender oil can help. This blend helps cool the skin and soothes the itch giving relief to your kid.

Reduces Fever

Because of the cooling effect of this oil, it is an excellent natural treatment to bring down a fever in children. You can help bring down your baby’s temperature by rubbing a blend of peppermint oil and coconut oil. Rub this mixture on your child’s neck and the bottom of the  feet. This is a great and effective natural stabilizer for fevers in your kids in stead of using drugs like aspirin.

Headache Cure

A study conducted by the University of Kiel, Germany (Neurological Clinic) found that a combination of essential oils, including peppermint oil had “significant analgesic effect with a reduction in sensitivity to headaches.” This is due to the oil’s ability to improve circulation, relax tense muscles, and heal the gut. These qualities make peppermint oil an excellent natural treatment for headaches in children. If your child suffers from migrane this oil can be used effectively for providing relief in place of drugs.

Hair Health

Peppermint oil can be used to help improve and nourish your little one’s hair. It has been used in a wide variety of hair care products aimed at promoting healthy hair in children and adults alike. Peppermint oil has the ability to naturally thicken and nourish your baby’s hair. You can simply add a few drops of peppermint oil to your kid’s regular shampoo and see the magic.

Freshens Breath and Reduces Cavities

Peppermint oil has the capability to naturally freshen your kid’s breath. According to research, peppermint oil can perform better than chlorhexidine present in mouthwash in preventing cavities in your kid’s teeth. You can simply add a drop of peppermint oil under your child’s tongue after brushing followed by a glass of water. This helps freshen your kid’s bas breath also!

Colic and Teething Benefits

Peppermint oil can be used as a safe and natural alternative to relieving infantile colic and teething. It does not have the harmful side effects of prescribed medication. You can easily make a natural remedy for curing teething pain in your baby by mixing peppermint oil with coconut oil. Mix it in the ration 1:1. Rub this mixture on your baby’s gums for instant and natural relief.

Caution for Using Peppermint Oil for Babies

In-spite of its amazing benefits you do need to use peppermint oil with caution in babies. Avoid use of peppermint oil in any form if your child is below 30 months of age. Direct application of peppermint oil to the nasal area or chest to infants should be avoided. This may pose risk of apnea, laryngeal and bronchial spasms. It may also lead to acute respiratory distress with cyanosis and breathing problems.

Do not apply undiluted peppermint essential oils to the feet, particularly on infants and children under the age of 12. Inhalation of larges doses of menthol may lead to dizziness, confusion, muscle weakness, nausea and double vision. Be careful of the amount of peppermint oil your child is exposed to to avoid complications.

Before using peppermint oil or any other essential oil for your baby, consult your doctor. He or she will be best able to advice you whether or not it is suitable for your child specifically.