CBD Oil Products For Kids: A Parent’s Guide

It would be nothing short of a miracle if you made it this far in life without having heard of CBD. While we know that adults across America, and the globe, have been using CBD for years, the subject of CBD for kids is becoming more and more popular. Cannabidiol, or simply CBD, is a popular, natural, plant-based chemical that has gained a lot of attention in the health in wellness world over the last few years. While there seems to be tons of information about CBD use in the adult demographic, what about kids? Is CBD oil for kids any different? Is CBD oil safe for kids?

We will look at why nature’s wonder compound has found its way into the homes of many parents.

Disclaimer: It is important to note that cannabidiol has not been approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as of the writing of this article. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Should you feel like your child would benefit from CBD use, it is extremally important to discuss this with your pediatrician, or other family health care provider. They will be able to give you more tailored medical information more than an online article ever could.

But First, What Is CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol, oil is one of many cannabis-derived compounds found in both of the most well-known cannabis plants, marijuana, and hemp plants. It is the second most prevalent compound in the plant. Hemp-derived CBD products are most common globally as they are naturally THC-free.

Related: What Does CBD Stand For?

CBD oils offer a wealth of health benefits for users; from chronic pain and anxiety to gut health benefits, CBD seems to help us cope with quite a bit! Using CBD gummies for pain tops the testimonial chart, but there are far more uses for CBD.

Discover: CBD Gummies for Anxiety

CBD derived from the hemp plant is naturally THC-free and has NO psychoactive effects, making it perfect for kids since it won’t get them high. While marijuana plants are also used to produce CBD, hemp-derived CBD products are federally legal, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill.

How Does CBD Work?

Full article: How Does CBD Work?

CBD works in harmony with the body’s natural endocannabinoid system. Just like we have a central nervous system, we have an endocannabinoid system that helps regulate pain management, memory, and appetite, as well as other immune responses and responses to inflammation.

Cannabidiol works by impacting the CB1 and CB2 receptors. These have a direct effect on overall health and general well-being. What CBD does for your body depends on a few different factors, like how much CBD you consume, how you consume it, and what your conditions are. That said, for most people CBD will help with pain, anxiety, and inflammatory issues – among other benefits for your body.

CBD Oil For Kids – Could It Help My Child?

CBD oil is a non-intoxicating, non-addictive plant chemical derived primarily from industrial hemp. It is often recommended for treating medical conditions like insomnia, pain, anxiety, depression, and more.

While many adults report massive success with different forms of CBD products, children should exercise a bit more caution when using CBD due to their young age, and lack of studies on the long term use of CBD in children.

According to the University of Michigan Health Department, “The FDA has only approved one purified form of the drug substance CBD for children to treat rare seizures that don’t respond to medication. Studies have also looked at CBD use in children with hyperactivity, anxiety, sleep problems and depression but research remains limited.”

Let’s go over some of these health benefits that studies on CBD for kids have looked into.

Can Kids Take CBD?

Yes, children are, after all, humans. CBD use in children has become more and more popular as many parents turn to natural alternatives and ways to bolster their children’s health.

While the world of medical marijuana thrives, there is room for CBD oil too! While there is a growing body of evidence that medical cannabis is beneficial for many different illnesses and conditions.

Studies such as the Real Life Experience of Medical Cannabis Treatment in Autism are among the most noted studies; the study noted that 48.7% showed a significant improvement, and 31.1% reported moderate improvement.

That is astounding results in just one study. At the same time, other clinical trials and studies are being performed that shed additional light on the benefits of the compounds derived from the cannabis plant.

What are the Potential Benefits of CBD for Children?

CBD is perhaps one of the most impressive compounds used by the health and wellness industry and the beauty industry. The benefits of CBD felt by adults across the globe can be used to help children find relief too.

Now that we understand how it works and why it offers many different benefits, we can dive straight into the benefits for a child.

While there are many unproven medical claims within the wellness industry, there are documented benefits of using CBD, and continuous studies on the compound further support its benefits.

The Benefits Of CBD Oil:

• Pain relief -Perhaps one of the best-known uses for CBD in adults and young adults is its excellent pain-relieving properties. CBD oil is used topically and orally to produce significant pain relief for muscular aches and treat rheumatoid arthritis pain.
• Anti-inflammatory properties – This rich hemp extract is packed full of anti-inflammatory properties. The CBD helps reduce inflammatory responses and quickly targets swollen and tender areas.
• Anxiety disorders – Living with anxiety can be crippling if not correctly managed. CBD boosts your serotonin receptors and helps calm you down. CBD oil has been a long-standing favorite for many sufferers of anxiety disorders.
• Sleep -The same relaxing effects that help soothe panic attacks are also excellent for helping you relax into a good night’s sleep. When getting the right amount of rest, your day is more likely to run smoother, as good quality sleep is key to staying revitalized and healthy.

Using CBD to Treat Medical Conditions in Children

Using CBD for children has many other benefits for several conditions children face daily. These medical conditions include:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• ADHD
• Severe epilepsy
• PTSD

Let’s take a deeper look into how CBD can improve symptoms and offer relief for these conditions.

CBD Oil for Kids with ADHD

ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common neurodevelopmental disorder commonly present in children. ADHD symptoms manifest differently for each child that is diagnosed with it. The condition can impact concentration levels cause forgetfulness, irritability, and disorganization.

Many parents who have turned to medication will know that it is not always easy. Medications often come with a range of side effects such as nervousness, dizziness, restlessness, and insomnia. CBD’s history in treating similar symptoms means it can offer relief in this instance, too, while offering feelings of calm and focus,

While the compound will not cure your child of ADHD, it may make life a lot more comfortable while managing the side effects of medication and the condition.

CBD for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism (ASD) encompasses various conditions and diseases, with each case ranging in severity and complexity. There is no cure for ASD, and the severity can vary from manageable to severe. Some of the symptoms present in patients with ASD are:

• Communication problems
• Repetitive behaviors
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Sleeplessness or insomnia
• Depression
• Concentration issues
• Mood disorders
• Mental Health issues
• Aches and pains from repetitive behaviors and actions – “Stimming.”

While there are many therapies that parents opt to enroll their children in, sometimes they opt to use additional support for their children’s symptoms. CBD is one of those other dietary supplements that many parents of autistic children opt for.

In a study, of the disorder that looked at how CBD enriched medical cannabis treatment impacted children with ASD, it was noted that “In our research, we have shown that a CBD enriched treatment of ASD patients can potentially lead to an improvement of behavioral symptoms. “

The Benefits of CBD for Autism

As we have seen with ADHD, there are several benefits to using CBD to help manage symptoms such as sleeplessness, concentration issues, anxiety, stress, and pain management caused by repetitive behaviors.

Topical solutions enriched with CBD oils offer relief from aches and pains and stiff muscles that can present from “stemming” in severe forms of ASD.

Severe Epilepsy and CBD for Children

A growing body of evidence suggests that CBD oil and other products are great for epilepsy. There is a medical-grade CBD product that is often prescribed for epileptic treatment. The food and drug administration-approved drug is known as Epidiolex.

The CBD interacts with GPR55 and TRPV1 receptors; the compound then reduces neuron excitability giving it its antiseizure properties. Regardless of the benefits, it is always essential to work with your doctor before giving your child CBD for epilepsy.

Better Sleep

Sleep is essential for the body, mind, and soul. It’s integral to recovery from illness, injury, and other challenges. A good night’s sleep helps children get better grades in school, learn new skills, improve their confidence, and have more fun with friends. CBD oil and sleep seem to go hand in hand.

Unfortunately, many kids don’t get enough sleep at night. These products may help your kids get a good night’s sleep once again. We cover CBD gummies for sleep later on in this article. You can read more about this product line there.

CBD Oil for Teenage Anxiety

CBD oil is becoming increasingly popular for treating anxiety and stress. Many people are now turning to CBD oil to help manage their anxiety symptoms, especially those suffering from chronic stress.

Anxiety can be a serious disorder affecting one in five adults and is more common than many realize. Anxiety symptoms include nervousness, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, and depression. These symptoms can be so severe that they interfere with your daily life and make it difficult to function at work or school.

CBD oil for anxiety management in your children might be worth discussing with your doctor.

CBD and Addiction Recovery in Teens

Considering CBD oil use for your children might be what can help turn the tide, especially in the case of drug abuse. Did you know some addiction treatment facilities use CBD to help curb the withdrawals from addiction?

If your child is struggling with addiction, you must talk to them about their substance use. If they’re not ready to hear the truth, you may need professional help. You can start by asking them how they’re feeling and what they’re thinking. Then ask them if they’ve noticed any changes in their behavior recently.

This can include:

• Missing school or work often
• Arguing with other people over small things
• Not cleaning up after themselves or their friends
• Dramatic mood swings
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Isolating themselves from friends and family

IS CBD Safe for Kids?

As a parent, you might be faced with many questions daily. “Is CBD safe for my child?” might be one of those questions. CBD is a natural compound; it has zero THC and is used by millions of adults daily. CBD is very safe.

It seems safe for children as long as you speak to their doctor or primary healthcare provider and ensure that it won’t interfere with any other medications they might be taking. I use the word seems, because there are no long term studies on the effects of CBD use in children, so we cannot say for sure if it is 100% safe – or not.

We can only go off of the few studies that do exist, and off of what parents give for feedback.

As children metabolize drugs slightly differently, it is essential to understand that they might need less CBD than an adult would, and in some cases, they might need a little more. It is vital to discuss this with your medical team beforehand.

Choosing the Right CBD Products for Children

It can be a tough choice to make when delving into the world of CBD. Many different companies and brands have a CBD product that they claim is the best. As a parent making that choice requires a little bit of research.

As the Food and Drug Administration has not regulated CBD products, it is vital to do as much research as possible.

Look for products with clear labeling, honest reviews, and most importantly, third-party lab-tested products. You shouldn’t have to scour the internet for an ingredient list.

If the company doesn’t disclose the ingredients or offer and guarantee (in the form of lab certification), reach out and ask them about their operating procedures and whether they have the relevant documentation.

At New Phase Blends, you will note each of our products is labeled; you can access the third-party lab results for every product by simply scanning the QR code on the label.

You won’t find unproven medical claims on our products because we believe in transparency.

Best CBD Products for Kids

There are a few factors to consider when choosing the best CBD oil for your child. Let’s take a look at some guidelines for choosing CBD.

• Taste – The flavor of CBD is naturally earthy and can be overpowering for some children. Tinctures that are flavored or gummies might be the best option instead of plain or unflavored varieties. Capsules or softgels might be the better option for children sensitive to textures or ingredients.
• Discretion – CBD oil is not always discrete. Options such as capsules, CBD balms, or CBD gummies are much easier to take and don’t need to be explained as they look like ordinary supplements or delicious gummy candy.

• Ease of use in children – Swallowing an oil or a capsule might be hard for a small child if they are not used to it, which is why many parents opt for a gummy.
• Dosage -If you need a premeasured dosage, look into the gummy or capsule varieties, as they come with exact dosages. However, a sublingual CBD oil would be best for days where you might need to tailor and change a dosage.

There are many other factors; however, these are the most common factors many parents face.

How Much CBD Do Kids Need?

Before we look at the right kinds of CBD products for children, we need to consider how much CBD children need.

Related: How Many Drops of CBD Oil Should I Take?

The Right Dosage

CBD dosage is slightly different for children vs. adults; other considerations need to be made. It is generally best to start with less when taking CBD oil.

Also, pay attention to the CBD potency. This is generally in a mg per mL, mg per pill, or mg per gummy amount. You can calculate CBD dosage amounts by looking for this information on the label of your product of choice.

Working your way up to a higher dosage is ideal as it allows you only to use as much as your child needs.

CBD oil dosages often work better in small amounts too! CBD consumption of high doses are not always the best option as they can have adverse effects if the dosage is too high.

CBD Gummies for Kids

Kids can eat CBD gummies, but only under adult supervision. Perhaps the obvious choice for parents would be CBD gummies. CBD gummies for kids are easy to consume and have a perfectly measured dosage. As many children might not enjoy the taste or the texture of a sublingual CBD oil, they are almost guaranteed to enjoy eating delicious CBD-infused gummies.

Our CBD gummies for kids come in a 45mg CBD concentration. Start with half of a gummy, and see how your child responds.

CBD gummies are made with gelatin or pectin and contain a measured, precise amount of CBD in each gummy. When choosing the right CBD gummies for a child, parents need to know how to read ingredient lists and choose the right brand based on the ingredients.

Natural flavoring and ingredients are essential, especially for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as chemical ingredients in foods could trigger hyperactivity.

The Benefits:

• Flavored
• Easy to digest
• Discrete
• Premeasured dose
• Perfect for travel

These CBD gummies for kids aren’t loaded with sugar, either, which is what a lot of companies will do in an attempt to make things taste better for kids. Sure, the sugar makes the gummies taste great, but it’s just not necessary. We utilize essential oils for flavoring, which are much healthier, and can accomplish the job.

There are no psychoactive effects with anything we sell either, and this is because of the minimal THC content. No products we sell will ever have over 0.3% THC, which is no where near enough to cause an intoxicating effect.

Related: How Many CBD Gummies Should I Eat?

Trouble Sleeping? Try CBD Gummies for Sleep.

These are broad spectrum CBD gummies with a bit of added melatonin (3 mg of melatonin per gummy). These patent pending CBD gummies for sleep are a major hit. The small dose of melatonin along with the broad spectrum CBD results in a true, deep sleep. There is hardly any sugar used to make these gummies, too, so you don’t have to worry about giving your child a massive spike of sugar when they take these natural gummies.

Best CBD Oil for Kids

One of the most well-known forms of CBD products is oil-based tinctures. These tinctures are made with CBD oil suspended in a carrier oil; typically, coconut or MCT oil is used. The CBD dosage is placed in the mouth, preferably under the tongue, for maximum absorption.

Many CBD tinctures are flavored to avoid most of the natural, earthy flavor of the oil that can be overpowering for some. This method of CBD oil use can produce results fast and effectively, making it a popular choice to manage anxiety. Effects are felt within 10 – 20 minutes. Many testimonials report this is the best CBD oil they’ve ever tried – even compared to other brands. People make the switch to Pure CBD oil by New Phase Blends, because our quality is second to none.

The Benefits:

• Fast and effective treatment
• Tailored dosage
• Flavored
• Easy to take

Best CBD Pills for Kids

There are several benefits to opting for soft gel CBD capsules. These are relatively harder to get small and young children to consume. As capsules or softgels need to be swallowed, they might be a better option for older or adolescent children.

The capsules are discrete and easy to take for most children. Once ingested, and depending on what has been eaten beforehand, the capsules take between 15 – 45 minutes to kick in.

The Benefits

• No added ingredients
• Correct dosage every time
• No taste or smell
• No texture
• Discrete

Common Questions About CBD Use in Children

Let’s go over a couple common questions about CBD products for kids.

Is CBD Oil Safe for Children or Teens?

There is no evidence that proves that actual, legitimate CBD oil is unsafe for kids. The main problem comes from potential medication interactions that taking the cannabidiol (CBD) may cause. CBD is metabolized in the liver, and may cause other medications to metabolize in a different manner.

If you are interested in pursuing CBD use for your kids, speak with your doctor first.

What Happens If a Child Eats CBD Gummies?

It depends. To be safe, ALWAYS call a doctor, or even 911, if you are unsure about what your child ate. While CBD alone may not be unsafe for your child, you cannot know for sure what else was in that gummy. Some CBD products come with a bit of THC in them which should be avoided by kids. Poor quality CBD items may contain other, unlisted ingredients that can cause negative interactions.

Summary – Giving CBD to Kids

Children stand to benefit from CBD oil. Whether they have anxiety, chronic pain, or live with a more severe condition daily, CBD oil offers a world of health benefits.

As with any other medications or supplements you introduce into your child’s life, discuss this with your doctor before hand. They can help you come up with dosing recommendations, and go over other personal questions you may have.

After all, your doctor knows your healthcare better than any online blog ever will!

Confused on what CBD product to buy? Check out our CBD starter kit. This kit comes with several different forms of CBD products. You can see which type you like best. Maybe you like them all, maybe you prefer a balm, or a CBD tincture. With this kit, there is no guessing. You get it all.

References:

Zou, S. and Kumar, U. (2018). Cannabinoid Receptors and the Endocannabinoid System: Signaling and Function in the Central Nervous System. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, [online] 19(3), p.833. Available at: https://www.sativaisticated.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Cannabinoid-Receptors-and-the-Endocannabinoid-System-Signaling-and-Function-in-the-Central-Nervous-System-Medical-Cannabis-Medical-Marijuana-Research-for-the-Central-Nervous-System-CNS.pdf.

Bar-Lev Schleider, L., Mechoulam, R., Saban, N., Meiri, G. and Novack, V. (2019). Real life Experience of Medical Cannabis Treatment in Autism: Analysis of Safety and Efficacy. Scientific reports, [online] 9(1), p.200. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30655581/.

Gray, R.A. and Whalley, B.J. (2020). The proposed mechanisms of action of CBD in epilepsy. [online] Wiley Online Library. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1684/epd.2020.1135 [Accessed 9 Feb. 2022].

McCann, D., Barrett, A., Cooper, A., Crumpler, D., Dalen, L., Grimshaw, K., Kitchin, E., Lok, K., Porteous, L., Prince, E., Sonuga-Barke, E., Warner, J.O. and Stevenson, J. (2007). Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet, [online] 370(9598), pp.1560–1567. Available at: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(07)61306-3/fulltext.

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