Lotusmamma - which essential oils do you recommend in those situations? I'd hate to try the wrong one in case there was a bad reaction.
It is good to be cautious as the oils can be very strong and you can overdose on them. A good rule of thumb with children is to use half the recommended adult dose and with babies a quarter.

The essential oils that are good for reducing fever are Lavender, Peppermint and Eucalyptus. They all work equally well but if it is evening I use Lavender because it is calming and the other two are stimulating. Youreally do only need 2-4 drops in a small bowl of water. Don't be tempted to use more - you'll only be wasting it and if it's too strong you can irritate the skin. If you want to use the oils in a shallow bath you still only need 2-4 drops but it is best to add a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil or a couple of cups of milk (full cream so you have the fat content) as these will ensure that the oils are disbursed so they don't irritate the skin.

The first few times I tried these remedies I had the Panadol on hand as back up. I told myself I would give the oils a few minutes to work and I could always use the Panadol if they didn't but the oils have always worked so now I don't even have Panadol in the house anymore. My kids have felt how much better the oils make them feel so now they ask for their "magic cloth" when they are feeling ill. BTW I am a qualified Aromatherapist although it's been six years since I've worked professionally - these days I just treat mostly my own family.