We know quite a bit about CBD. We know that it is a practical pain reliever and inflammation reducer, and we know that can help mitigate stress levels and reduce anxiety, too. Researchers are hard at work uncovering applications of CBD, which has been found to be effective in managing a number of severe health conditions. Adults around the world are turning to CBD products available online or in stores to treat a number of discomforts and concerns. Some of these adults have begun to wonder: Can I give CBD to my kids?
What the Research Says
Though CBD was first discovered way back in 1940, cannabis prohibition and other factors have prevented research on the compound until relatively recently. As a result, CBD use has spread without much understanding of what the drug does within the adult human body, let alone a child’s body.
Research suggests that CBD works by influencing one of the body’s systems to produce more of its own natural healing compounds, which help reduce inflammation and pain as well as provide other beneficial effects. Side effects of CBD seem uncommon and minor, such as nausea, headache or dry mouth. All this seems to indicate that CBD should be safe for use by children; some researchers have indicated that low daily doses, up to about 20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, should not cause adverse effects.
More importantly, research has shown that CBD can be life-saving when given to children with specific health conditions. Childhood forms of epilepsy, like Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, warranted the first FDA-approved CBD-based pharmaceutical, called Epidiolex, and parents of children suffering from such conditions are strongly encouraged to talk to their children’s healthcare providers about implementing a CBD treatment plan.
Autism has also been the subject of CBD study. Those on the autism spectrum given a CBD solution saw reductions in various negative symptoms, such as seizures and rage attacks — along with some side effects, like sleeplessness, low appetite and gastric reflux. Symptoms continued to improve over a six-month period, but more research is warranted to better understand how and why CBD might benefit those on the spectrum.
What Other Parents Have Said
Because research regarding CBD’s effects on children is difficult to come by, most parents make CBD-related judgements based on anecdotal evidence from other families. Plenty of parents have dabbled in giving CBD to their young ones, most for reasons like pain, sleep troubles, anxiety or hyperactivity, but some for overall, general health benefits from the compound.
For the most part, parents who have given CBD to their kids have reported positive outcomes. Many parents of children suffering from ADHD or PTSD have claimed that CBD provides a marked reduction in negative symptoms. At worst, it seems, parents report no effect from the drug.
What You Should Do
Before you start dosing your child with CBD, it is a good idea to become more educated about the compound and its effects. You might want to start taking CBD yourself, so you can acquaint yourself with methods of use and proper dosing before you start introducing the compound to your child.
As is true with any substance or behavior that could affect your child’s wellbeing, it is a good idea to talk to your child’s pediatrician about the potential advantages and disadvantages of introducing CBD. Especially if your child has a unique health concern or relies on other medications to manage their health, their healthcare provider will be able to provide more insight into whether CBD will help or harm their health now and into the future.
Finally, you should try to include your children in their own health decision-making. If they are old enough to understand, you should take the time to explain to them the option of taking CBD. You should give them information about where CBD comes from and what it could possibly do for their health. If they are hesitant or disinterested in using CBD, you should probably opt not to introduce CBD into their treatment plan.
CBD is a natural compound, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is a good idea for everyone to take it. Because not much is known about CBD, parents should be careful when introducing the compound to their children, which might mean holding off on providing CBD as a treatment until the child is old enough to decide about CBD for themselves.
Read more about such products in this article. I don’t think this is the best solution for a child, although if your doctor recommends it why not?