How about young children? Taking cod liver oil off the spoon chased with a swig of water is my favored method as demonstrated in the linked video. But what to do if a toddler spits it out? Not a whole lot except clean up the mess on the floor!
Once they spit it out after the first try, toddlers will typically refuse to open their mouths again for a second go. What is to be done at this point? Prying the mouth open and shoving a spoon or eyedropper in there is not a wise approach!
Stop the Gag Reflex Temporarily with Acupressure
If your child doesn’t like to take cod liver oil due to gagging, using a simple acupressure technique can stop the gag reflex for about 30 seconds. See the linked article for a description of how to use it with a video demonstration.
Skin Readily Absorbs Cod Liver Oil
If you’d like to bypass taking cod liver oil by mouth, the nutrients in cod liver oil are readily absorbed by the skin too.
In fact, until just a few decades ago, over the counter diaper rash creams used to contain cod liver oil!
Drug companies are increasingly taking advantage of the ability of skin to absorb chemicals of all kinds with the smokers patch being one of the most well known. There are now skin patches for birth control and even a patch for motion sickness when you take a cruise or fly in a plane.
Skin will not only readily absorb drugs but it also absorbs nutrients. When sunbathing with no sunscreen, the vitamin D forms in the tiny pools of oil on the skin to be easily and quickly absorbed. When you take epsom salt baths, the magnesium and sulfur are readily taken into the blood.
There is evidence that oil itself is also absorbed by the skin. Midwives frequently suggest rubbing castor oil on the belly of an overdue patient or using a castor oil pack in order to stimulate contractions.
Using this information to get cod liver oil into your child with no swallowing needed is just the ticket!
Where to Apply the Cod Liver Oil?
Since high vitamin cod liver oil can stain clothing and burn the eyes, it is important to put apply it to an area that is not easily accessed by little fingers and hands.
The best place for application then is your child’s bare bottom. Slathering a bit of cod liver oil on the bottom at diaper change time works really well.
You can slather the 1/4 -1/2 tsp daily dose on at one time if you like. There’s no need to put it on at every diaper change.
If your child is out of diapers already, you can slather the cod liver oil on the belly area instead and wrap some gauze around the torso to keep it from contacting clothing. This approach also works for older children with disabilities who may not be able to respond to the reasoning approach.
Don’t worry about a fishy smell either. Any odor is surprisingly gone within just a few minutes of application to the skin!
Which Cod Liver Oil Product to Use?
Should you apply the high vitamin cod liver oil with the synergistic butter oil too? That is a good idea as they work together to increase the potency and effectiveness of each other according to the research of Dr. Weston A. Price.
Please refer to my shopping guide for vetted brands of high vitamin cod liver oil and butter oil.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Sarah Pope has been a Health and Nutrition Educator since 2002. Her work is dedicated to helping families effectively incorporate the principles of ancestral diets within the modern household. She is a sought after lecturer around the world for conferences, summits, and podcasts.
Her work has been covered by major media including USA Today, ABC, NBC, and many others.
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can I mix my cod liver oil with my ST. Ives(oat meal and Shea butter)…
Is it safe to apply body lotion mixed with cod liver oil?
Most body lotions are loaded with chemicals and other toxins that would interfere with the cod liver oil absorption. Just take a look at the ingredients list! So, no. I would not do this.
Is it safe for a breastfeeding mom to rub it on her skin as well as rub it on baby’s skin?
Yes … best for breastfeeding Mom to take it orally though!
Can you use cod liver oil on the skin as a mediam for massage and will this help people with joint problems.
At this time, there does not appear to be any research to suggest that this would be helpful.
How many bottles of pure cod liver oil can my baby take before I stop. He don’t have weight, 1year 4month he can’t stand on his own without the help of the furniture in the room. How can u Help me.