Children just want to have fun and when the sun sets in the evening, we wish our little ones a good night’s sleep – but easier said than done. Our babies may fight, lie restlessly, or simply resist a good night’s sleep. Every parent has bedtime tricks. Let’s explore kid-friendly herbs that support restful nights.
Milky oats
Avena sativa or milky oats are super nutritious and packed with macronutrients like magnesium. Magnesium is the hidden power of milky oats, as our bodies easily recognize this mineral and allocate it where it is needed most. Milky oats support our overall vitality by providing essential proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Nourishing herbs like milky oats support their little nervous systems on a deeper level, much like nutritious food, so for parents of picky eaters, this is two birds with one stone.
Passionflower
Let’s face it: our kids and teens are stressed these days! Addressing the underlying causes of stress is critical, and examining sleep patterns can be key in addressing stressed children. Passiflora incarnata or passionflower is an excellent start for solving inconsistent sleep patterns. Modern herbalists recommend our purple flower power friend for restless nights and the occasional sense of anxiety. Passionflower contains flavonoids, which communicate with GABA neurons. In short, passion flower can ease a worried mind. (1)
Skull cap
Scutellaria lateriflora or American skullcap belongs to the mint family and grows abundantly, so it is a common herb used in Western herbal medicine. The mint family is a popular choice among children because of its gentle action, tasty properties and aromatic properties. Skullcap is a gentle nervine that supports relaxation and normal sleep patterns through its trophorerestorative action on the nervous system.
Sleepy nights and fresh mornings for children
When looking at sleep aids for children, it’s important to choose natural, non-addictive ingredients. Not all supplements are created equal! For example, there are sleep supplements for children that contain melatonin, but melatonin is the hormone that your brain releases at night when it lies down in the dark. It may be safe in rare cases, such as jet lag, but it should never be used long term. The Mayo Clinic even reports side effects such as dizziness, daytime drowsiness and headaches. Therefore, supplementing hormones such as melatonin serve as a short-term solution (with side effects), but do not effectively address abnormal sleep patterns. Gentle herbal formulas, on the other hand, can help with restless sleep patterns because they can address underlying stress or nutrient deficiencies that often lead to restless nights. Our Sleepy Nights formula can help support the nervous system and provide important neurological relaxing actions. It calms the mind so the body can follow suit.
Lavender
Looking at our most popular mint relative, lavender, which could be the final piece of the puzzle in achieving a peaceful night. The scent of lavender flowers can cross the blood-brain barrier via scent within 30 seconds! Try sleeping with a lavender pillow under your pillow or diffuse a few drops of lavender essential oil in a good room diffuser. The power of scent can be powerful and is safe for most healthy individuals.
Routine is everything. Children need sleep to retain what they have learned during the day and to regain energy for a better future. Don’t forget basic therapies such as diet, water intake and exercise or meditation. Sometimes increasing most of life’s necessities can lead to less stress and better sleep.
References
(1) Extracts of Passiflora incarnata L. (Passionflower) induce GABA currents in hippocampal neurons in vitro and exhibit anxiogenic and anticonvulsant effects in vivo, varying with the extraction method, PubMed.
Lauren Ann Nichols-Sheffler attended the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism and received her certification in Medical Herbalism. She owns it Blue yarrow herbs also known as Herbal Vice, an herbal product company that practices bioregional herbal medicine by growing plants and sourcing locally. Lauren loves educating and advocating for plant sustainability. She is the purchasing and sourcing 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 to sell any product.
Read further