Magnesium Kids
New from Dr. Doug's · Magnesium KIDS
The two-minute bedtime step your kids will start asking for
Magnesium Kids: a two-minute balm step for the end of the day. Ages 3 and up.
A non-greasy balm with eight ingredients you can read out loud, a few quiet minutes, and your hands. It's the part of bedtime kids actually look forward to.
8:47 PM
Pajamas on. Teeth brushed. And then the negotiations begin.
One more show. One more snack. The blanket is wrong, and somebody suddenly remembers a permission slip. Sound familiar?
If you're a parent, some of these probably ring true:
- Bedtime slides a little later every week, and nobody decided that.
- "One more thing" has become a nightly tradition.
- You end the evening more worn out than the kid you're putting to bed.
- You've wondered, quietly, whether everyone else has this figured out.
You're not alone. Almost every family we talk to has a version of this. What helps most isn't stricter rules or a better bribe. It's a routine kids can see coming.
Kids don't resist bedtime. They resist surprise bedtime.
When the evening ends suddenly, and a little differently every night, kids push back.
Give them the same steps, in the same order, at the same time, and bedtime turns into a countdown instead of a debate.
The routines that stick have one step kids actually look forward to.
Bath and teeth are rarely that step. A few quiet minutes with you usually is.
More parents are also reading labels closely and looking for a melatonin-free way to wind down. That's why we made Magnesium Kids.
Made by a neurologist, for families
Dr. Doug Strobel, MD is a board-certified neurologist. He served as a Marine and a Naval Aviator before medical school, and today he's an adventure athlete. He made his Magnesium Balm to hold as much magnesium chloride as possible without the sting or grit of other topical magnesiums, and to massage in completely with no greasy residue.
Parents kept asking us for something clean they could use with their kids at night. So we made one.
Magnesium Kids. Eight clean ingredients, now packaged for kids.
Pediatricians have tried it with their own families and recommend it in their kids' nighttime routine.
Why a balm?
1. Nothing to swallow.
No chewables, no measuring, no "is it one or two tonight?" A balm goes on the outside, and that's where it stays.
2. No sting.
Magnesium sprays can tingle or itch, and kids remember that. Dr. Doug made this formula to go on without it.
3. Two quiet minutes together.
A little on the calves and feet, massaged in slowly, with the phones down and the day done. Kids who fight every other step of bedtime will sit still for this one, because it feels good and it's their time with you.
A twist-up for travel, or a jar for the nightstand.
How it compares:
| Format | Why families pick it | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Balm (Magnesium Kids) | No sting, no drips. Stays where you massage it, so it becomes a ritual instead of a spray-and-run. Comes as a twist-up for travel or a jar for the nightstand. | Glides on like a massage oil and absorbs as you work it in. Start with a little; it goes a long way. |
| Magnesium oil spray | Fast coverage. | Can tingle or itch on kids' skin. Drips. |
| Lotion | Lighter feel. | Soaks off fast, so there's less of a "moment." |
| Gummies and pills | Defined serving. | Swallowed, often sweetened, and the aisle where melatonin lives. Your pediatrician is the right person to ask. |
What's inside
Every ingredient, in label order:
No melatonin, no dyes and no synthetic fragrance. Dermatologist approved and made in the USA.
The Magnesium Kids 2.5 oz twist-up. The real stick.
How to start tonight
Pick its spot. Same place in the evening, every night: after the bath, pajamas on, screens off, right before the book.
Massage it in slowly. Start with just a small amount and apply calves to toes and/or across the back and shoulders, massaged in slowly and completely. If it doesn't fully absorb, use a little less next time.
Keep it up for two weeks. Same time, same order, every night. By week two, it's their step.
Want the whole routine on your fridge?
Get our free printable School-Night Wind-Down Chart: five check-off steps, a weekly tracker, and a reward line your kids fill in themselves.
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What to expect, night by night
Night one
A few quiet minutes together, with the faint, calming aroma of lavender.
Week one
The step starts to feel like theirs. Watch for the first time they ask "can we do the balm?" before you do.
Week two
The routine mostly runs itself, and you get part of your evening back.
Grown-ups usually want a turn too. Our original Magnesium Balm is the one adults keep on their own nightstands, and it's a big part of why our balms are rated 4.9 stars by more than 2,600 customers.
One for them, one for you: the Family Wind-Down Duo.
Picture tonight
8:47 PM. Pajamas on, lights low. A small foot in your lap, a few slow minutes, and a kid who reminded you it was balm time. Then one book, lights out, and the rest of the evening is yours.
Get Magnesium Kids
The Twist-Up · 2.5 oz stick
About a month of nightly use. No mess, and it packs for sleepovers and trips.
Two months to decide. Try the Magnesium Kids twist-up for 60 days. If it hasn't earned its spot in your routine, tell us and we'll make it right.
Other sizes: the 8 oz jar for the bedside, months of nightly use, $56 · the Family Wind-Down Duo, one stick for them and one for you, $76 (saves $8).
Orders over $75 ship free.
Questions parents ask before bedtime
How does it fit into bedtime?
Magnesium is the mineral many grown-ups reach for when they want to unwind at the end of the day. Magnesium Kids brings that into your child's evening as a calm, hands-on step at the same time every night, and the consistent routine is what does the heavy lifting.
What about kids under 3?
Ask your pediatrician first. We set our age line where pediatric sleep specialists set theirs.
Why is there peppermint in a kids' balm?
A light amount, for scent alongside the lavender. It's part of why our age line sits where it does, and Dr. Doug signed off on the formula for that age range.
Where do we put it?
Dr. Doug suggests calves to toes, and for some kids the neck and shoulders, where a lot of tension is held. Go with whatever your child finds most soothing. The key is making it part of the routine.
What does it feel and smell like?
It goes on like a massage oil, because the base is organic olive and coconut oil. Keep massaging and it absorbs completely, with no greasy residue on the sheets. If it hasn't, use a little less next time. It smells lightly of lavender and peppermint.
How long does it last?
The 2.5 oz twist-up lasts about a month of nightly use, and the 8 oz jar lasts months. Most people use too much at first. A little goes a long way.
Can grown-ups use it?
Of course, and plenty of parents end up sharing. If you'd like your own, the Family Wind-Down Duo pairs Magnesium Kids with our Magnesium Balm and saves you $8.
What about sensitive skin?
Magnesium Kids is dermatologist approved and made from a short list of simple ingredients. As with anything new, try a small spot on the inner forearm first, keep it away from eyes, mouth, and broken skin, and check with your pediatrician if your child's skin needs extra care.
Tonight, 8:47 PM
Start the routine your kids will look forward to. A few quiet minutes, eight clean ingredients, and your hands.
Get Magnesium KidsP.S. Not sure where to start? Grab the free School-Night Wind-Down Chart, stick it on the fridge, and let your kids color in a star for every step.
As featured in
Board-Certified Neurologist · Made in the USA
Magnesium Kids is a topical balm for massage and skin nourishment. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.