kid style detox bath :: how to + recipe

Spring is 35 days away…but, who’s counting? Me! {Waving hands in the air…jumping up and down…no shame…} I have a countdown to the first day of spring on my phone, friends. I’ll admit, I’m slightly obsessed with the upcoming change in seasons.

Winter this year has been a hard one on our family when it comes to sickness, so naturally, I am pretty excited that spring is on the horizon. In the mean time, we are enduring yet another week of nasty illness in our house. Most years, we don’t even catch the stomach flu when it goes around. This year, we seem to be making up for lost time. Monday morning, both my husband and eight year old woke up with their second stomach flu of the season. Yuck. Thankfully, it passed quickly, and wasn’t nearly as severe as the first time it came around. However, despite my fanatic cleaning early this week, within a day of getting the stomach flu, my son came down with a nasty cough and cold. The kid just can’t seem to win lately. Fast forward a couple days, and child #2 now has the cough/cold combo going on.

Our defenses have been infiltrated, and this mom has had enough. We are officially at war with this crazy bug…and pleading for spring to hurry up a bit…

Enter the detox bath, kiddo style. I have been a fan of detox baths for quite some time, but it wasn’t until this winter that I realized the benefits they can have in helping children get over illness, as well. And, in addition to helping the body purge crud, they feel pretty spectacular, especially when you’re not feeling well to begin with. All three of my kids have gotten these fabulous baths this week. They love them! Give it a try for your kiddos the next time they’re feeling under the weather, it just might help!

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, just a mom sharing what has helped her little ones get through times of illness. Please exercise your best judgement for your child, and consult your family doctor before giving your child a detox bath, if you have any safety concerns.

Tips for best detox results…

• Fill bathtub with water as warm as your child can tolerate, the warmer, the better. The heat promotes pores to open and toxins to leave the body. Be very cautious with the temperature, and always check to make sure it isn’t too hot for sensitive little ones! Do not give a hot bath if your child has a fever accompanying their illness.
• Do not use soap during a detox bath.
• Plan to not wash your child’s hair during a detox bath, as the oils can make their hair greasy. You want to avoid traditional soaps/shampoos during a detox bath, anyway.
• Aim for a 20 minute soak to get the full benefits of the bath.
• Detox baths are great prior to bedtime or a nap, as the magnesium in the epsom salt can promote sleepiness.
• After bath is over and drained, be sure to flush your tub with hot water so oils completely rinse down your pipes.

The recipe…

I use this for my kids who are ages 4, 6 and 8. You can increase for older children, or decrease for younger ones.

• 1/2 cup epsom salt
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 4 drops peppermint oil
• 4 drops eucalyptus
• 1 Tbsp. coconut oil