Parenting is a rewarding journey, but it’s no secret that it comes with its fair share of challenges. And for parents caring for children with disabilities, navigating through these challenges can sometimes feel like riding a rollercoaster of emotions. The worries about their children’s anxiety, sleep, focus, and school performance often become overwhelming. However, amidst the ups and downs, thousands of parents have discovered a powerful solution in essential oils.

Essential oils are much more than just pleasant fragrances. Pure essential oils like doTERRA contain natural compounds that can significantly influence mood and emotions, offering a source of comfort and support for families. Take lavender, for instance, with its soothing properties, or the uplifting effects of citrus oils like lemon and orange. These oils, when incorporated into daily routines, can create a nurturing environment that promotes emotional wellbeing for both parents and their children.

Here are three simple yet powerful ways parents can integrate essential oils into their daily lives to promote emotional regulation and prevent burnout:

Calming Bedtime Rituals

Bedtime can be a challenging time for children with complicated nervous systems. Creating a calming bedtime ritual using essential oils can work wonders for both you and your child. Begin by diffusing something like lavender essential oil in their bedroom about thirty minutes before bedtime. Lavender has soothing properties that promote relaxation and can help ease anxious feelings.

You can also roll diluted lavender oil onto the bottoms of their feet and along their spine for an added calming effect. A beautiful co-regulation strategy is to take deep, slow breaths while you do this which will encourage your child to gently relax. This practice not only promotes better sleep but also nurtures a greater sense of security and connection between you and your child.

Mindful Morning Habits

Incorporating essential oils into your morning routine can help everyone in the house start the day feeling positive. Consider diffusing uplifting and focus promoting oils like lemon, peppermint, or orange in the kitchen as soon as you get up. The invigorating aroma will awaken the senses and create a cheerful atmosphere to start the day. Accompany this with a morning playlist to support everyone’s energy. 

Emotional Support Roller Blends

For those intense moments when emotions run high, having a go-to roller blend can be a game-changer. Blends for calm, focus and confidence are great to keep handy in your bag or at home. Whenever either you or your child feels a bit ‘wobbly’, simply roll your chosen blend onto the wrists, back of the neck, or bottoms of the feet. Breathe and allow the oils to do their magic. Specially developed blends, like those in the doTERRA Kids Collection, encourage children to seek out the oils they most need in a given moment.