As a parent, we will likely experience a child with elevated body temp. Many people will jump for over the counter meds when their child starts to feel warm because we don’t know what to do for our children. Elevated body temp is a symptom rather than an illness. In babies, it could be because a tooth is coming through. Or could be a result of unwanted pathogens.
Children’s temperatures can raise from doing continuous exercise or other strenuous activity, so when taking the temperature for the first time, bear that in mind. Check the temperature every half an hour. Let the child lay down somewhere you can see them and check up on them regularly. Cover them up, but only with a light blanket or sheet. If a child shivers, it’s the body using another tool at its disposal to lose heat.
Sponge Method
Prepare a bowl of lukewarm – not cold – water, to which you’ve added a total of 2 drops essential oil (choose from Lavender, Tea Tree Oil, Lemon, Eucalyptus Radiate, Roman Chamomile, Spearmint). 1 drop of Lavender and 1 drop of Eucalyptus Radiate is a good option. Use the water to sponge your child down.
Vinegar Method
Prepare a bowl of lukewarm water, 2 tablespoons vinegar, 3 drops of Lavender. Put a piece of cloth in the bowl, squeeze out the liquid completely and place it on your child’s forehead, don’t let any liquid drip into the eyes. When it heats up, remove it and repeat the procedure.
Compress and Massage
The following method may help your child sleep. Add the following essential oils to a bowl of cool (not cold) water.
1 drop of roman chamomile
1 drop of Lavender
1 drop of Lemon
1 drop of Coriander
Dip a compress in the water and squeeze out. Place over your child’s back for about 5 minutes. Make sure the water is not cold, but pleasantly cool to your child. Then dry the skin and massage the back with this oil mixture:
1 tsp fractionated coconut oil
1 drop lemon
1 drop Lavender
When to get help
Get medical help if the temperature reaches 103 degrees, or has been high for longer than 10 hours, if there are other symptoms present, or the child has a convulsion, or if your child is under 3 years of age.
Other Tips
Always use therapeutic grade essential oils on your children. Many essential oils can contain chemicals and fillers that could be toxic to your children or cause a reaction. Don’t always trust the label of the bottle, some of the essential oils will say 100% pure, but many of these oils have been tested and have come up with synthetic oils or they contain mostly filler oils and not the pure oil from the plant. Read this article to learn more.
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