Sleepy Time Foot Spray Tutorial

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Homemade Sleepytime Foot Spray
Wellness Mama » Blog » Natural Remedies » Sleepy Time Foot Spray Tutorial

Ever since my first son arrived with his powerful lungs and energetic personality, me and sleep have not been best friends. Not by choice, of course, but our nights have gone something like this for the last 8+ years: fall asleep, wake up because some needs help going to the bathroom, fall back asleep, wake up because baby needs to nurse/have a diaper change/cry, go back to sleep, wake up because someone had a bad dream, go back to sleep, wake up because “how is it morning already.”

Now with five children, getting good sleep hasn’t gotten any easier. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade one sleep-deprived second of having our five little ones, but I did want to find ways to promote better sleep for everyone in the family. (Since long philosophical discussions with newborns about the importance of sleep for health haven’t worked to date.)

A Natural Remedy for Better Sleep…

One thing that I’ve been using for the last year or so that has made a noticeable difference in our sleep quality is a homemade natural sleep spray.

It has a variety of natural ingredients that help promote restful sleep and the fact that it has “sleepytime” in the name doesn’t hurt either (placebo works 30+ percent of the time, but if that helps me sleep, I’ll take it!)

All joking aside, I really have noticed a difference with my own sleep quality and in how long/deep my children sleep since using this.

Healthy Ingredients to Promote Better Sleep

The ingredients for this recipe evolved over time and I’ve finally found the combination that seems to work best for us. It is:

  • Magnesium Oil – I’ve written about my own magnesium deficiency before and how using magnesium on my skin (transdermally) helped a lot. Magnesium oil is often very helpful for promoting sleep but can cause tingling on the skin, especially if a person is deficient, so it wasn’t the best all-over remedy for children. The solution I found was to apply a small amount to the feet only before bed and put socks on the kids. The feet are tougher and didn’t seem to tingle like the rest of the body did, and this helped improve sleep. Also, I don’t like giving children isolated nutrients internally, so this was a way for them to absorb what they needed without getting too much. You can buy pre-made magnesium oil (easier) or make your own magnesium oil at home (cheaper). Also, since I always get asked- yes, I realize it is not actually an “oil” but it is called magnesium oil because it feels like an oil when you apply it.
  • Lavender Essential Oil –  Lavender is considered a calming herb and it helps promote restful sleep. I only use it diluted in recipes like this and even a small amount can have a potent effect on children, so I’m careful not to use much. (I buy my essential oils in bulk from here)
  • Chamomile Essential Oil – Another calming herb. Chamomile tea is often suggested before bed or during times of stress to help calm and promote sleep. In essential oil form, it is extremely potent and helpful for promoting sleep. (I buy my essential oils in bulk from here)

I’ve also found that for drier skin, using a homemade magnesium body butter recipe like this one and adding lavender and chamomile essential oils is an effective way to get the same result while moisturizing skin. This version is also less likely to sting at all.

Foot Spray Ingredients Needed

  • 4 ounces of magnesium oil (buy it here or make your own with this recipe)
  • 10 drops Lavender Essential Oil (or more if desired) I get mine here
  • 10 drops Roman Chamomile Essential oil (or more if desired) I get mine here

Foot Spray Instructions

  1. Pour all ingredients into a 4 ounce or larger glass spray bottle and shake gently to mix.
  2. A bigger spray bottle can be used if desired and the recipe can be doubled or tripled.
  3. Will yield 24-48 applications (or more) depending on how much is used each time.

Other Sleep Tips

I’ve found that optimizing sleep environment also goes a long way toward improving sleep. Here are some things that worked for us:

 

How do you sleep? Ever tried natural remedies to help you sleep more easily? Share them below!

This simple sleepytime foot spray combines the benefits of magnesium oil with the calming and relaxing properties of lavender and chamomile essential oils.

Sources

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Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

53 responses to “Sleepy Time Foot Spray Tutorial”

  1. Alexis Avatar

    Hi-you read my mind. I woke up this morning so exhausted from newborn teething/gas etc.

    Where can we buy the glass spray bottles?

  2. Connie Avatar

    i wondered why you chose Mountain Rose herbs… I am just getting into essential oils and have heard a lot of information about which is best… and pure… I respect your opinion and would like it on choosing essential oils….

    1. Carol Avatar

      My favorite go-to for ingredients is Mountain Rose Herbs. I am not affiliated with them, but they are local to me. I pick up my orders from their storefront, and I can tell you that they are the BEST people! They are knowledgable, friendly and good people! I have emailed suggestions, and questions, and they always get back to me within a day, with answers or helpful tips.
      They have great products, and list all the information you would want to know like where it comes from, how it is produced, etc. Their prices are fair and very reasonable.

  3. Becky Avatar

    Katie, do you have a source for the glass bottles you use for this and other products that you make?

  4. Daniela Avatar

    Katie, you’re simply the best! You have helped me in numerous ways. There is something I must know–how do you help your children to understand the healthy choices you make? How do you erase the gleam that the media puts on terrible food?

    Thank you for everything!

    1. Katie - Wellness Mama Avatar

      I talk to them about food an how it affects the body and though it has been a slow process, they do seem to be making good choices most of the time, even on their own. I’ve found that little ones especially like learning how specific foods affect specific parts of the body. I also explain to them that advertising is there to sell a product, not to educate them so to take everything with a grain of salt.

  5. Ruth Kawecki Avatar
    Ruth Kawecki

    I have heard lavendar can cause hormonal problems in kids and cause puberty to start too soon.

    1. Danielle Avatar

      Lavendercan mimic estrogen in the body and that’s what can cause the issues you are mentioning. There was a case where 3 young boys were devolping breasts but once their mother stopped using a lavender remedy on them their symptoms disappeared and they developed normally.

  6. cindy hopkins Avatar
    cindy hopkins

    I am going to try your sleepy time foot spray but I just have one question. It says that you only use Lavender diluted on your children in recipes and I do intend to use the foot spray on my 2 yr old so I’m wondering in the recipe if the 10 drops of Lavender oil need to be diluted BEFORE adding them or if the pure oil is diluted enough in the mix of the recipe? Thanks so much….you are amazing for sharing so many great ideas!!!!
    Cindy

  7. Zeba Avatar

    Never heard of flakes.where can i buy this.can i use magnesium sulphate instead.am from mauritius.wuld luv to try this.luv ur page u r a wonder.

  8. Loie Avatar

    You can also diffuse oils on your nightstand! I do this every night. I use doTerra’s Cedarwood oil and the Serenity blend. Sometimes I use Vetiver oil with the Serenity blend. I sleep like a baby! (I never understood that phrase coz most babies don’t sleep!)

  9. Sara Gordon Avatar
    Sara Gordon

    I noticed you aren’t recommending doTerra essential oils. Is there a reason for this?

      1. Mackenzie Avatar

        Probably because this is who she uses for everything and if you read her disclosure at the top it states that she is an affiliate with Mountain Rose Herbs, plus with Mountain Rose Herbs, you can purchase in bulk which makes it significantly cheaper than doTERRA or Young Life, both of which are network marketing companies.

  10. Deenie Avatar

    I am very allergic to lavender what are some other essential oils that help with sleep?

    1. Malori Avatar

      I use cedarwood and vetiver (doTERRA brand) on the bottom of my husband’s feet to help him sleep. He has been diagnosed with sleep apnea (post-combat injury) and essential oils help him get a better night’s sleep. (Not claiming any cure here, though.)

  11. Deenie Avatar

    I am. Erykah allergic to lavender what are some other essential oils that help with sleep?

  12. Angela Chavez Avatar
    Angela Chavez

    What can I use in place of Lavender oil? I have a reaction to it

    Thank you in advance for your time.

  13. Laura Avatar

    Those conversations never worked on mine as newborns either… 😉 This sounds interesting – another one of your recipes I’m going to have to try!! I tried your coconut milk shampoo last night for the first time and so far I really like it!

  14. chanelle Avatar

    I usually just use straight lavender, either on the soles of the feet or in a diffuser and I’ve found that helps me out a lot. I try to take epsom salt baths for magnesium, but this is a great way to get it in and not use so much water (we’re in a drought here!).

  15. Jessica Avatar

    I have been using magnesium gel on my boys’ feet for several months now, followed by a foot salve with cinnamon, lemon, lavender and frankincense (all ideas/recipes that I got from your website and tweaked to my personal preferences…). That combined with warm milk with a few drops of chamomile tincture (store bought for now, but starting my own this weekend) and honey seems to help us all get a better night’s sleep. I also add epsom salt to their bath each night to help their bodies settle. Both boys inevitably end up on either side of me by morning, but that is my favourite part of the day! Having two boys on the autism spectrum has been challenging, but the knowledge I have been gaining from your website has been helping me to create wonderful routines and healthy choices that really seem to be helping us cope with everything in a whole new way. Thank you!

  16. Rachel Avatar

    Currently I apply your magnesium body butter to my kids’ feet and then for the youngest, I rub a roller bottle with chamomile and fractionated coconut oil on her feet and for my oldest, I rub a roller bottle with lavender, chamomile, vetiver, and fractionated coconut oil on her feet. Do you think this sleep spray would be more or equally effective?

  17. Aubrey Avatar

    I love this idea! I have never tried natural remedies for sleeping, but I am sure this will be a big help when my first child arrives in November. I make sure to eat my last meal four hours prior to sleeping (which also reduces my acid reflux due to pregnancy). I also play soothing music if I am having a hard time turning my mind on “silent”, or read something uplifting. All of these work well for me! I also stay away from all forms of caffeine throughout the day, otherwise I am doomed…

  18. Lorraine Avatar

    The tip that has made the biggest difference to me is to stop eating 4 hours before bedtime.

    About 6 months ago I started having trouble staying asleep. I would wake up 10-15 times a night and became desperate for relief. I thought it may be perimenopause or my keto diet, but nothing seemed to help. I happened to be reading through the comments on a research article and one guy said to stop eating at least 4 hours before bedtime. It has worked like a dream! I rarely wake up during the night now, even when my husband gets up to go to work at 2am.

    In thinking about why that started, I realized that when we started country dance lessons, we were frequently rushed for time because of my husband’s work schedule. So we were eating dinner at 9 or 10pm. Now we eat no later than 6pm, including dessert.

    Also, since adopting a keto lifestyle, I rarely have trouble falling asleep, usually in less than 10 minutes.

    Fixing my sleep issues has made a HUGE difference in my quality of life. There’s nothing you can do about kids and sleep, if it’s not an illness or bad dream it’s teenagers missing curfew, but they grow up before you know it. We’re greatly enjoying our empty nest and are happy to be healthy enough to do it.

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