By now, you may be familiar with the hype surrounding CBD. Many people are using it to find relief for symptoms such as pain or anxiety.
Perhaps you aren’t as familiar with CBD use as it relates to children. Can the compound help your child the same way as it helps adults?
The answer is yes! However, you should have all the information necessary before giving your child any CBD product. You not only want the best products available for your children, but you also want to be sure that there is research backing the claims of these products. That’s why we’ve researched for you to uncover the best brands of CBD oil for children.
Top CBD Brands for Kids
Following our reviews of the three top brands of CBD for kids, we’re going to go over everything you should look for regarding products like these.
1. Royal CBD – Best CBD Oil Overall
Royal CBD incorporates a full range of phytocannabinoids. The formula allows the user to experience the entourage effect, which results from multiple compounds acting synergistically. A lot of people believe that CBD and THC aren’t sufficient on their own. Royal CBD incorporates the whole plant to create a stronger effect for the user.
Parents have found that Royal CBD products help their children control their irritation, sleep better, and focus on their school assignments.
You don’t have to worry about your kids disliking the taste of Royal CBD products. Some other brands’ products can leave a botanical aftertaste. The flavor can be off-putting to children. Royal CBD products use MCT oil that hides the natural hemp flavor.
Highlights:
- The 500mg bottle is easy to distribute to kids
- The brand has CBD gummies available
- Comes in 4 flavors (natural, berry, mint & vanilla)
- Uses all-natural ingredients
- Lab-tested for purity and potency
- Uses the whole part of the plant
- Contains MCT oil
Verdict
Royal CBD creates potent CBD for kids. Their products have positively affected children’s school and personal lives. The brand is honest about its extraction process and where it sources its hemp. If you’re looking for a trusted and effective product, consider investigating what specific products Royal CBD has to offer.
Are you looking for a product that can improve your child’s sleep and school performance?
2. Gold Bee CBD Oil — Best Organic CBD Oil
Gold Bee is a small company that produces high-quality full- and broad-spectrum CBD. Its product range and potency options are fairly limited. However, what the company lacks in quantity makes up for in quality.
What sets Gold Bee apart from other CBD companies is the extraction method it uses. Gold Bee uses a slow-diffusion extraction technique that results in a CBD extract with a vibrant cannabinoid profile.
Gold Bee offers premium CBD oil, capsules, gummies, and topicals that effectively treat menopausal symptoms.
We especially like the 40 milligram CBD softgel capsules. They provide a high-potency dose of CBD that can be consumed in a hassle-free and tasteless way.
Highlights:
- Premium CBD Products
- Limited range & potency options
- Full- & broad-spectrum CBD on offer
- Made using a slow-diffusion extraction method
- 100% vegan CBD (except the honey sticks)
- Excellent cannabinoid & terpene content in their extracts
- Third-party lab tested
Verdict
Currently, Gold Bee carrying a unique flavor in the market, Kiwi and Honey infused CBD Oil. GB is the way to go if your child does not like the hempy taste of other brands. Unfortunately, they don’t carry lower potency; their lowest is 1200mg. But don’t worry, all of their CBD oil bottles came with a 1ml dropper, so you can easily dose the right amount for your kids. We recommend starting with a quarter dropper, around 10mg of CBD.
2. HempBombs
HempBombs is well-known for making pure CBD products. These CBD isolates are available as gummies, capsules, vape oils, and tinctures.
The brand lab-tests its items for purity, so you can rest assured that your child will be consuming a quality product.
One thing we love about these CBD isolates from HempBombs is their adaptability. If you have a picky child on your hands, HempBombs’ products are perfect for them. These CBD oils have no flavor or odor, so that you can sneak them into your child’s breakfast or afternoon snack.
HempBombs’ products are also allergy-friendly. If your child is allergic to certain plant compounds, HempBombs may be the only way to go. Because HempBombs only uses CBD isolates, you won’t expose them to other parts of a marijuana plant.
The products come from organic hemp grown in healthy, pesticide-free soil. HempBombs’ CBD oil ensures nothing short of a high-quality product for your child.
Highlights:
- Extracted with carbon dioxide
- Sourced from 100% certified organic hemp
- You can add it to drinks and foods
- Lower price than full-spectrum CBD oil
- Lab-tested for quality and purity
- Won’t be as overpowering as other cannabinoid products
Verdict
If you’re on the fence about giving your child CBD oil, this is a great introductory product. It’s free of THC and won’t produce the sometimes overwhelming entourage effect. Plus, you can add it to your child’s food or drink for easy consumption.
Ready for a CBD oil that is guaranteed THC-free and easy for your child to consume?
3. CBDistillery
CBDistillery is a well-established brand in the industry. It delivers safe and high-quality products to both children and adults. The company’s experience has allowed them to create the perfect product for younger minds and bodies.
Their CBD oil is available for purchase in 5 different potencies. These oils range from 250mg to 5000mg of THC-free or full-spectrum extract. With this brand, kids should take the 250mg dosage. Parents can snag these bottles for $20 or less, so they make an excellent CBD oil to buy while on a budget.
One benefit of this brand is its wide range of products. You can get THC-free oil that still contains other cannabinoids. In this sense, CBDistillery differs from HempBombs, which only offers pure CBD products. CBDistillery is a great compromise when it comes to finding the right potency.
Highlights:
- Derived from pesticide-free, non-GMO hemp
- It comes in 5 different potencies
- Best priced brand on this list
- It can be purchased as pure CBD oil or full-spectrum CBD
- Lab-tested for quality and purity
Verdict
CBDDistillery is a trusted brand that creates its products with the safety and well-being of younger folks in mind. While not ideal for picky children, it is a fantastic middle-ground between pure and full-spectrum CBD oils.
Are you looking for a trusted brand that prioritizes safety?
Selecting the Best CBD for Kids – Buyer’s Guide
Now, you’ve got a list of the best brands of CBD oil for children. But is this a treatment you need to administer to your children? What trials exist to prove that it is safe for children? We’ll answer these questions and recommend ways to make a smart and sound decision when buying CBD for your children.
Is CBD Safe for Kids?
Let’s start by defining what CBD is. CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is a naturally occurring cannabinoid in hemp. When consumed, it has many positive effects on the body, including but not limited to:
- Natural pain relief
- Prevention of withdrawal symptoms from substance abuse
- Reduced inflammation
- Reduction in seizures
- Relieves symptoms of anxiety disorders
- Curbs acne
Unlike other cannabis substances, CBD products do not have significant concentrations of THC.
Companies sell these products in a variety of forms. Some of the most popular include:
- Topical creams
- Edibles
- Tinctures / oils
- Vaping liquids
- Beverages
For children, oils and gummies are the most appropriate and safest forms of consumption. Read on to learn more about the best oils for children and what to look for in these products.
History of Children Benefiting from CBD
Children benefiting from CBD is not a new phenomenon. Indeed, CBD became widely popular in part because of its efficacy in helping children who have epilepsy.
One study conducted by Dr. Mechoulam in the 1980s helped set a precedent for further research. He administered 300 mg of CBD to eight subjects over four months. All of the participants either saw a complete stoppage or a significant decrease in their seizures.
The surrounding stigma and issues with legalization have made it difficult for more people to benefit from the substance. Because CBD is more readily available today, people with epilepsy continue to benefit from it. Those with more mild conditions also use it to find relief from their symptoms.
How CBD Oil Helps Kids
Some of the most prominent ways CBD oil can help kids include:
CBD Oil for Kids with Anxiety
Based mostly on animal studies, researchers have found that CBD causes chemical reactions in the brain that monitor responses to anxiety and fear. These findings have raised the question: Can CBD be used to treat anxiety disorders?
The Skaggs School of Pharmacy in Montana found that CBD allows the body to distribute better its supply of serotonin, which reduces feelings of anxiety and stabilizes a person’s mood.
CBD also stimulates the hippocampus and regenerates neurons, both essential to the brain’s ability to perform its everyday functions.
CBD Oil for Kids with ADHD
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience issues with remaining focused and exhibiting self-control.
Studies that cover the effects of CBD on ADHD are limited. Most of them analyze the entire cannabis plant rather than the specific CBD compound.
According to a 2014 study published in Current Neuropharmacology, CBD oil in low doses can make users more alert throughout the day. More research is still to be done, but CBD does hold potential benefits for children with ADHD and other attention issues and disorders.
CBD Oil for Kids with Autism
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, around 1 in 40 children are affected by autism. This disorder is highly prevalent yet doesn’t have any known causes.
Children with autism have difficulty interacting with others and often display abnormal patterns of behavior. These traits of autism can negatively affect children’s everyday lives. There are intervention treatments like speech and occupational therapy for individuals with autism.
The use of CBD for kids is becoming an increasingly popular treatment method for children with autism. Even though it is still controversial, CBD oil has proven to be effective in some cases.
In a 2019 study led by Dr. Adi Aran, researchers treated 60 children with autism for seven months. At the end of the study, the researchers found that:
- Half of the children displayed an improvement in their communication skills
- Two-fifths of the children experienced a decrease in their anxiety levels
- 80% of parents reported a reduction in children’s problematic behaviors
While these results are hopeful, larger-scale studies would be beneficial to proving CBD as an effective treatment for autism.
How to Find the Best CBD Oil for Your Children
So, you concede there are benefits of CBD oil for your children. You want them to experience its positive effects and help relieve them of negative symptoms.
But how do you go about finding the right oil? There are a lot of companies out there trying to push their products on unsuspecting consumers. Many of these brands live up to their claims, but some aren’t effective, while others can even be harmful.
If you’re not sure what to look for, fear not! Before purchasing any CBD for kids, make sure you research these three critical pieces of information:
The Source of the Hemp
Like with many things, it’s essential to go back to the source.
CBD oil comes from hemp. You’ll want to know what kind of conditions the hemp grew in before giving it to your child.
The growing condition is especially critical because hemp is effective at bioaccumulation. The process refers to when an organism absorbs substances from its environment.
The quality of a CBD product is directly related to the kind of conditions in which hemp came from developed. Marijuana plants that grow in polluted soils will absorb harmful substances, leading to a poor-quality product.
You’ll want to look for products grown in clean, healthy soil. The plants will absorb the nutrients they need to grow and produce high-quality oil.
Extraction Methods Used by the Manufacturer
How a manufacturer extracts CBD from the plant is also telling of its quality.
Some companies, unfortunately, use harmful methods to keep production costs down. They’ll extract CBD using toxic substances, such as butane or propane. Products that come from this extraction method will almost always contain hazardous residue. In short, it’s best to steer clear of these products no matter who is using them.
Instead, you should consider products that use either carbon dioxide or ethanol extraction methods. These are safe alternatives that result in good quality CBD free of harmful residue.
Choosing Between Full-Spectrum vs. Isolate CBD Oil
You’ll have to decide on full-spectrum or isolate products. Here is a brief overview of each:
Full-Spectrum
You’ll find a full array of hemp’s phytonutrients in full-spectrum products, including cannabinoids, essential oils, and trace amounts of THC.
Full-spectrum is the ideal option as the presence of all the compounds offers higher therapeutic value.
Isolate
Because isolates consist of pure cannabidiol, they are odorless and flavorless. They offer higher doses of CBD but aren’t as useful for improving symptoms such as pain.
If you don’t want your child to consume even trace amounts of THC, isolates might be the right option. They are also a good choice if your child is allergic to other parts of marijuana plants.
Third-Party Test Results
Manufacturers should be willing to share third-party tests with their consumers. If you have trouble finding unbiased studies with positive results, be wary of the product. You want to make sure that you are giving your child effective, safe products.
FAQs
There is a lot of misinformation surrounding CBD for kids. By answering your most pressing questions upfront, we hope to relieve your worries and help you make the right decision for your child.
What Are the Benefits of Using CBD?
Why would one consider giving their child CBD oil in the first place? Well, there are many benefits. As noted earlier, the oil can help manage conditions such as anxiety or autism.
Some general effects CBD oil can have on children include:
- Improved memory
- Better focus
- Improved immune functions
- Increased alertness during the day
- Better sleep quality
CBD Oil for Adults vs. Children: What’s the Difference?
You might be surprised to learn that companies don’t make different products for children and adults.
While they are the same substance, the doses are different. Children do not need as many milligrams as an adult because they weigh less. Lower potencies and amounts will produce the same effect as higher potencies and amounts would in adults.
What Are the Potential Negative Side Effects?
Giving your child too much CBD certainly isn’t lethal. It might produce intoxicating effects only if you choose a brand with excessive amounts of THC (more than 0.3%).
Administering too high a dose, however, can produce some symptoms. Your child may experience mild side effects, such as:
- Upset stomach
- Lightheadedness
- Dry mouth
How to Administer CBD Oil to Children
So, you’ve decided that CBD oil is the right choice for your child, and you have settled on the best product. But what’s the best way to give it to them?
Sublingually
Most adults consume CBD oil sublingually, meaning they place a few drops under their tongue. They can swallow it after holding it there for about a minute to let the bloodstream absorb it.
You, too, can choose to administer CBD oil sublingually to your child. It is usually the most effective method of getting the body to absorb the substance.
The sublingual method won’t be the best for all children. They might spit it out because of the distinct taste. They may also not have the attention span to hold the oil under their tongue for a minute.
Alternatives to the Sublingual Method
Is your child running every time they see the dropper and oil bottle? Try buying a product designed for mixing into foods and beverages. Gummies are also great in that most children already love them anyways!
If you select the sublingual method, choose an oil that is tasteless or comes in different flavors. The flavor will make it less likely that your child will spit it out or refuse to hold it under their tongue.
Recommended CBD Dosage for Kids
To avoid potentially adverse side effects, follow dosage recommendations. Pediatric experts suggest giving a child 0.5 mg per pound every day. You should divide this amount to administer three doses throughout the day.
You can make slight adjustments to these dosage estimates if:
- They are experiencing adverse side effects (lower the dosage)
- They are not experiencing the desired results (increase the dosage)
Factors such as the following can also affect appropriate dosage amounts:
- An individual’s body chemistry
- Their rate of metabolism
- The desired outcomes of the CBD oil
Final Thoughts
Before you buy CBD for kids from these leading brands, make sure you do your research. Being informed will help keep them safe while allowing them to benefit from the substance’s non-psychoactive effects!