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If you have kids, then you are really going to like this “recipe” for a calming Epsom salt bath. It is super easy, completely natural, makes your bathroom smell nice, and also gives your kids some extra nutrition. That’s right – nutrition right in their bath water!

A Nutritious Bath?

Epsom salts are 100% magnesium.  Just like how our skin can absorb vitamin D, the skin can also absorb magnesium. In fact, the body is much better at absorbing magnesium through the skin than through food!

As Emily Benfit talks about in her book The Sleep Solution, we only absorbs about 50% of the magnesium that we eat.   You could drastically increase your kids’ intake of magnesium-rich foods, or you could give them magnesium another way – like in their bath!

Why Magnesium for Calming Kids Down and Getting them to Sleep?

Magnesium doesn’t get a lot of attention, but it is one of my favorite minerals for its calming properties. I talked about it in my post about why I choose magnesium for sleep instead of melatonin.   As Benfit says in her book:

 “Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant. It accomplishes this by moving calcium out of the muscles, and back into the bloodstream where it can be mobilized elsewhere.”

Since magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant, it is also great for relieving back pain, headaches, and tension in general. Other benefits of Epsom salts include:

• Flushing toxins from cells
• Improving nerve function
• Improving circulation
• Reducing blood pressure
• Aiding in the formation of joint, brain, and mucin tissues

(Source)

Which Epsom Salt Should You Use?

I like this brand of Epsom salt, mostly because it is super cheap but also because it is 100% natural and doesn’t have any chemical fragrances added to it like many other brands. I use all-natural lavender essential oil for fragrance and for its calming abilities. Combined with the magnesium of Epsom salt, the duo are super calming.   I use this brand of lavender essential oil because it is 100% pure and organic.  You could use any essential oil you want (just make sure it’s 100% pure), but the lavender is especially calming.

Remember, it isn’t just magnesium which is absorbed by our skin! Our skin – which is our largest organ – also absorbs pollutants. I recommend using a filter on your bath faucets to pull out the chlorine, and all that other jazz. Even better, install a whole-house filter.

Calming Epsom Salt Bath Recipe for Kids (and adults)

• 1 cup Epsom salts
• A few drops of essential oil

Yes, that’s it! Just add them to the bath and swish around a bit to mix it into the water. It really does help wind the kids down, and mom too 🙂

Want another Way to Get Calming Magnesium?

Remember that magnesium is very well absorbed through the skin.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t always have time to take a bath (nor give 3 kids a bath either).  Another great solution is to use magnesium oil.

You just rub the magnesium oil onto your skin. Not only does it help relieve those sore muscles, calm you down, and provide all of the other benefits that a magnesium bath would, but it also makes your skin feel awesome.

I like this brand of magnesium oil because it is pure and all-natural.  You can buy it here.

By the way, if you are having trouble relaxing and getting to sleep, you’ll want to work on that asap.  I recently tried out this 14-Day Go To Bed Challenge and loved it.  It’s got me sleeping like a baby! 🙂