Kids and Body Odor
Berkeley Parents Network >
Advice >
Advice about Health >
Kids and Body Odor
Sept 2006
I have a 7-year-old daughter that has started to emit natural
odors that I have not addressed until now, In the past I just
had her shower and that solved the problem. Now, I'm
considering having her put on deodorant everyday but, I don't
know what to choose, there are so many choices out there. I
would also like to know if I should be buying an anti-
perspirant because of her age. I have put in a call to her
doctor for some guidelines but have not heard back yet.
Stephanie
I have a FUN idea, since there are questionable ingredients in
anti-perspirants. Why not make a homemade deodorant that is
natural and works? Use also as perfume and room freshener, and
ta-da, your daughter has her very own deodorant and personalized
perfume.
I like to make intricate blends, but you can keep it very simple
too. Here's the recipe:
1 4-ounce spray bottle
3 parts Vodka
1 part Distilled Water
Essential Oils of Choice
It's non-toxic. The alcohol kills body odor-causing bacteria.
Vodka is recommended because odorless. 5-10 drops each of
preferred EOs. Shake. The longer it stands, the more the water
dissipates the oils evenly. Or just shake before spraying.
Mint cancels odors and Lavender is antiviral/antibacterial. Leave
your email if you want various nice-smelling concoctions - I can
share scent-combination ideas
Smells nice!
May 2006
My 6 year old sometimes has body odor under her arms after
vigorous activity. I'm probably the only one who can smell it-
because I get up so close to her but it seems so young to me!
She is definately not near puberty in any other observable way.
I read the posts from 2003 and she only drinks organic milk and
always has so it cannot be that. Any ideas or suggestions?
anonymous
My daughter began with body odor and underarm hair at 7 years old. Went
to the pediatrician. She said it was nothing to worry about -- some kids
just get this earlier. Usually public hair is first but not always. So I
had to have the talk with her about deoderant and I shave her armpits
maybe every three weeks. She dances competitively and I think she needs
to be clean shaven. Also I don't want other kids talking. It was awkward
for me but I'm not worried about it anymore Mom of three girls
When my daughter was 6 or 7 she smelled like an onion! I was very
concerned that she was beginning puberty at a very young age, but not
so. Have her pediatrician rule out any gland issues, but in my
daughter's case her sweat glands just started a little early. She began
using deodorants early on, but that was the extent of it.
laurie
You should definitely check with your doctor. One thing that came to my
mind --my sister had an under active thyroid as a child and body odor
was one of the symptoms.
good luck
I don't have any advice -- I actually was thinking about posting about
this as well. My 7 year old son gets really stinky when he's active and
hot. Certainly no signs of puberty, but it does seem young for body
odor. I'm seriously thinking about getting him some deoderant.
My daughter also has this problem - beginning when she was about 7. I
took her to the pedicatrician who confirmed that no, she was not
starting puberty early, and just said it's one of those things. She's
been using deodorant ever since - and actually recently (she's now 10)
her smell seems to not be so obvious, so guess it's just some anomaly
that we ended up living with parent of a smelly daughter.
I'm so glad that you wrote this....I too, have a 6 year old girl with
body odor. I have been concerned because sometimes it's stronger than
other times and bathing doesn't seem to make any difference. My
daughter too, also drinks only organic milk but she does eat meat...
She likes all different kinds and I have wondered if maybe that is what
is contributing to the body odor. Then I started wondering if it is a
similar thing to baby acne, where every pore/sweat gland needs to open
up, thus the acne. I can't help but think that it must have some sort
of hormonal component
A Wondering Mom
Dec 2003
Just want to hear from all of you if anti-perspirant
is in order for my 9 year old. I don't remember having
body odor at that age, but then again my memory may
be foggy. Do I use deodorant at this age or just
grin and bear it.
thanks
anonymous
Our p.e. coach started talking to us kids about deodorant around
4th or 5th grade...
surely not stinky!
6-year-old has underarm odor
I am wondering if anyone has come across such a phenomenon. I was always told that young children have no odor under the arms, for their sweat glands are not fully developed. Yet, I find that my 6 year old daughter does indeed perspire under her arms and clearly has an odor that results. It is not particularly offensive (I would never dream of using anything on her underarms) and it isn't really noticible unless one puts one's face
up close. It is just bizarre to discover and I wonder if anyone else has found this to be true of their pre-pre-pubescent youngster.
My daughter also began to have underarm odor at an early age (maybe 7 or 8). The pediatrician said it was at the young end, but not beyond normal, with children sometimes starting puberty at 9. This was reassuring, but soon after that conversation I realized that this had coincided with the change in hormone use in cows. I switched my family to milk that did not include the hormone (BST?). Within a couple of weeks, the underarm odor went away. AFter a month or so, I began going back to the milk that was not guaranteed hormone free, because it saved extra trips to the store. Within two weeks, her underarm odor was back. Despite the fact that studies say this stuff is harmless, I am now a confirmed buyer of dairy products from cows who were not fed hormones. My daughter began showing other signs of puberty at a more normal age, 11, and only started
menstruating at 12.
Some
weeks ago someone talked about unusual body odor in
young kids and attributed it in her child to the
hormones in milk. Because of her suggestion I switched
to organic milk. My nine year old son's body odor
disappeared. I was amazed, delighted (he doen't love
baths and washing up) and very thankful.
Dawn
When my oldest son was in the 3rd grade I noticed that he was getting stinky,
especially his feet. He was nowhere near puberty so I couldn't figure out why he
should be sweating and starting to have BO. He actually wasn't perspiring
under his arms, but he smelled like a grown-up. I was concerned enough to
mention it to his teacher. She laughed and said she has to open all the windows
in her classroom sometimes because the stink gets so strong from all the kids. I
guess 3rd grade is just when it starts. From then on, there was a period of 3 or 4
years where I cared a lot more about their personal hygiene than they did, so I
had to be on them all the time about bathing and changing clothes. But things
improved suddenly somewhere in middle school. When puberty really kicked in,
they started showering and grooming and primping and monopolizing the
bathroom.
I have two kids, ages 7 & 5. They both have had the same exact body odor smell under their arms...I have now switched them to organic milk and so far, the smell has vanished!! It's been about 5 days and it seems to be gone already! Thanks so much for the suggestion.
Lysa (Oct 2004)
this page was last updated: Nov 2, 2010
The opinions and statements expressed on this website
are those of parents who subscribe to the
Berkeley Parents Network.
Please see
Disclaimer & Usage for
information about using content on this website.
Copyright © 1996-2013 Berkeley Parents Network