Kids just want to have fun and when the sun goes down for the evening, we wish our little ones a good night’s rest - but easier said than done. Our babes can put up a fight, lay restless, or simply resist a good night's sleep. Every parent has tricks up their sleeves for bedtime. Let’s explore kid friendly herbs for supporting restful nights.
Milky Oats
Avena sativa or milky oats is super nutritive and packed with macro nutrients like magnesium. Magnesium is milky oat's hidden power because our bodies easily recognize this mineral and allocates it where it’s needed most. Milky oats supports our overall vitality by providing essential proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Nourishing herbs like milky oats support their little nervous systems on a deeper level, similar to nutritious food, so for parents of picky eaters, this is two birds, one stone.
Passionflower
Let’s face it, our kids and teenagers are stressed out these days! It’s critical to address underlying causes of stress, and examining sleep patterns could be square one in tackling stressed out kids. Passiflora incarnata or passionflower is an excellent start for troubleshooting inconsistent sleeping patterns. Modern herbalists recommend our purple flower power friend for restless nights and occasional feelings of distress. Passionflower contains flavonoids, which communicate with GABA neurons. In short, passionflower can help ease a worried mind. (1)
Skullcap
Scutellaria lateriflora or American skullcap belongs to the mint family and grows abundantly, so it is a common herb used in western herbalism. The mint family is a popular choice for kids because of its gentle actions, yummy characteristics, and aromatic qualities. Skullcap is a gentle nervine that supports relaxation and normal sleep patterns through its trophorestorative effect on the nervous system.
Sleepy Nights & Fresh Mornings For Kids
When looking at sleepy time remedies for kids, it’s important to choose natural non-habit forming ingredients. Not all supplements are created equally! For example, you can find sleep supplements for children containing melatonin, however melatonin is the hormone your brain releases at night when laying down in the dark. It may be safe on rare occasions, like jet lag, though should never be taken long term. The Mayo Clinic even reports side effects to include dizziness, daytime drowsiness, and headaches. Therefore, supplementing hormones like melatonin serve as short-term fixes (with side effects) but do not effectively address abnormal sleep patterns. Gentle herbal formulas, on the other hand, can help troubled sleep patterns as they can address underlying stress or nutrient deficiency, which often lead to restless nights. Our Sleepy Nights formula can help support nervous systems and provides important neurological relaxing actions. It calms the mind so the body can follow.
Lavender
Looking to our most popular mint family member, lavender, which could be the final puzzle piece in achieving a peaceful night. The aroma of lavender flowers can cross blood brain barriers through scent in a matter of 30 seconds! Try sleeping with a lavender pillow under your pillow or diffuse a couple drops of lavender essential oils in a proper room diffuser. The power of scent can be powerful and is safe for most healthy individuals.
Routine is everything. Kids need sleep to retain what they learned during the day and regain energy for a better tomorrow. Don’t overlook basic therapeutics like diet, water intake, and exercise or meditation. Sometimes increasing most necessities in life could lead to less stress and better nights rest.
References
(1) Passiflora incarnata L. (Passionflower) extracts elicit GABA currents in hippocampal neurons in vitro, and show anxiogenic and anticonvulsant effects in vivo, varying with extraction method, Pubmed.
Lauren Ann Nichols-Sheffler attended The Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism and received her certificate in medical herbalism. She is the owner of Blue Yarrow Herbs aka Herbal Vice, an herbal product company practicing bioregional herbalism by cultivating plants and sourcing locally. Lauren loves educating and advocating for plant sustainability. She is the sourcing and Purchasing manager for WishGarden Herbs.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or sell any product.
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