Few things are worse for parents than a congested baby. Young kids don't quite have the hang of blowing their noses yet, and there aren't many decongestants that are approved for use by babies and toddlers. So, what's a parent to do? Mom Brianna Whedbee might have the answer. She posted the results after she gave her little boy a "decongestant herbal bath" with essential oils and let's just say they're very … snotty.
Brianna Whedbee wrote on Facebook that she combined essential oils with a few handfuls of herbs and stuck her sick kiddo in the tub.
Soon, she said, all of his mucus started draining out. Does it make for a gross photo? Yes.
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But those results don't lie. Stay focused on the bigger picture, people!
Whedbee claims the magic remedy is the result of using a few drops each of peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil.
She added the drops to a warm bath and kept the door closed to trap in the steam. She also tossed in "less than a handful each" of peppermint leaves, mullen flowers, elder flowers, and chamomile. Then she popped her son in and Snotpocalypse 2018 began.
It should be noted that not all doctors recommend the use of essential oils for babies and toddlers.
Poison Control notes that high concentrations of essential oils can cause skin irritation, aspirating an essential oil can cause pneumonia, and kids can have unknown allergies to essential oils because many of them have not been tested by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
That said, when the oils are heavily diluted, such as by putting a few drops in a bath, it's pretty unlikely a child will suffer any ill effects. And inhaling the aroma of essential oils has been shown to have calming effects in at least one study, even if it's unproven that the oils will act as a decongestant.
With more than 14,000 shares shortly after the hack was originally posted in 2018, it's safe to say Whedbee inspired at least a few believers.
Having a sick baby totally sucks! Although essential oils aren't proven to make a difference, as long as they're being used properly and the bottles are kept out of little hands, it can't hurt to talk to your doctor to see if trying this easy hack can yield a Snotpocalypse of your very own.
