OT- deoderant for kids?

[iheartdisney]

OK, please don't think I'm a total dork for this, but...
I never started using deoderant until middle school.
But my 5 year old is having some BO now that it is warming up. She showers every night, but I noticed this at around 10 this morning.
So, did anyone else sart deoderant this young? And what is a good type to use for kids? I don't see her using my secret platinum...she doesn't like sticky stuff! LOL!

 

[Tosha]

I use deoderant on my 4 year old He has a STRONG "musty" smell if not. His pedi says its hormonal and likely he will hit puberty faster than others. She was TOTALLY outdone when I took him in for this at 1 1/2. I'm NOT kidding you!

Anyway under his pedi's guidance we use dove. I dab it on my finger and rub underneath his arms, VERY little is required, I just make sure it's enough to cover his entire armpit. He was musty even as young as 8 months old. It's really crazy, weord, and embarrassing, but I love my stinky boo Well not stinky anymore thanks to deoderant.

 

[NotUrsula]

At younger than about 9 I would have a workup done to make sure that it isn't the onset of precocious puberty. Sometimes precocious puberty is brought on by an endocrine disorder, particularly a pituitary problem.

Here's a short article on precocious puberty:
http://www.magicfoundation.org/www/docs/146

 

[princessesx2]

My 7yo started last year...being stinky that is! She was smelly when she got home from school (after taking shower in the am). We started washing up before gymnastics and puting on deoderant. She did get a "rash" and we switched to dove also. It works well but she only uses it when the weather is warm and sparingly. There has been research about the growth hormones in milk and meats and since reading this and talking to ped we switched to organic and products labeled hormone free as there is a thought that all the hormones are causing young girls to mature earlier.
Good luck with your daughter.

 

[Keara'sMom]

There has been research about the growth hormones in milk and meats and since reading this and talking to ped we switched to organic and products labeled hormone free as there is a thought that all the hormones are causing young girls to mature earlier.
Good luck with your daughter.

We did the same thing and made the switch to organic/hormone free stuff several years ago. I'm thinking that the research isn't completely definitive, but it gives me some peace of mind.

That said, our dd is a bit of a late bloomer and really didn't start to "stink" until this year (she's 11 and in fifth grade). She uses Tom's Deodorant (I think it's organic), and it does not have anti-perspirant, as she doen't need that. The deodorant has a really pretty apricot smell.

Anyway, I agree with the pp who suggested having your dd checked out by her pediatrician, as five seems pretty early to me...

 

[J&J'sMOM]

My son started wearing it in the 3rd grade! Just a swipe under each arm was enough. I was worried he was too young, but the more I talked to other moms, the more I realized that most of the boys were using it too!

 

[budbeerlady]

My DD throws it on for HOT days, she is 7. After tearing up the playground, jumping on the trampoline, chasing the dog, etc in 80 degree heat we suggested that she try a little. Most of her classmates do also on those hot days. She drinks the school milk which is NOT organic, we do the organic at home.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

My daughter began wearing deoderant/anti-perspirant when she was 8. Make sure your child puts it on immediately after showering/bathing. My DD would shower in the evening, then would wake up musty in the morning. Once she began putting it on immediately after showering, we were fine.

 

[_queenie_]

I remember my mother putting deoderant on my brother when he was about a year old. The stench of his feet in the summer was just so bad. Soon enough at about three or four he needed on his underarms, too. It didn't help that he was a big kid, he was born two months early and weighed almost six pounds.

 

[Minnie M6]

DD 7 started having this problem when she was 6, and I took her to an Endocrinologist who said she was perfectly fine, and that kids are starting to have signs of puberty earlier for a number of reasons. We tried deodorant from the health food store which broke her out. Someone suggested Gold Bond Powder, and this has worked SO WELL. She puts it on in the morning and has not had any more problems! I feel good about letting her use it because it's baby powder, and it smells very mild and good. I highly recommend it!

 

[timzagain]

My eldest daughter,now 16, started wearing deodorant/anti-perspirant at 4 years old - very noticeable B.O. I thought something was seriously wrong with the child, until the pediatrician advised me that it was to be expected given our family's history of early onset of puberty! (My period started at nine, as did my sister's)

I tried cornstarch, and baby powder and a friend of mine used lemon juice on her DD, but none of those options was a long-lasting solution in our tropical climate. With the pediatrician's blessing, she started using deodorant/ anti-perspirant.

Youngest DD started wearing deodorant at nine.

 

[sueh]

Both of my girls ( 8 & 6) wear deodorant. My 6 year old mostly because she sees me putting it on and wants to be like me.
My dd1 just turned 8 and she is now starting to "smell" and to top it off we are going into the hot season here so she puts it on in the morning.

 

[sardanem]

I wish a lot more parents were aware that their children really need deodorant at an early age. My son has been using it for years(he is 13), but I remember walking into his classroom a few years ago on the last day of school. We don't get out until the very end of June, so it is HOT. The smell of hot, sweaty and smelly bodies was so bad, my eyes actually teared and I had to leave the room. I know they have the nurse come in on a regular basis to discuss hygiene, but obviously some either don't care or don't realize it is about them. My heart goes out to you teachers who deal with this.

Lisa

 

[victorandbellasmom]

Glad to know that it's not only my kids who are smelly. Ds is 10 and he started this past school year when he was 9yo. He's pretty active (sports after school) that by the end of the day, he has a musky smell. Dd is 7yo and we haven't noticed a smell yet, but am prepared when she starts.

Ds had a few(3) neighborhood friends in his room last week playing video games. He closes his door so pesky little sister won't bother him. When I opened his door to talk to him, boy did his room reek with yucky odor. His friends range in age of 8-13 and i couldn't believe how smelly they were. I had to quickly open his window and leave his door open. Yuck.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

This thread makes me feel so much better. My DD10 has been wearing deodorant for about a year and last Dec. (at WDW) I noticed my DD7 needed it. I thought something was wrong. I also had to laugh at a past post. I went into my DD's 2nd grade class yesterday and the smell from the kids was quite noticable before I even walked in. My DS4 (who lives to pass gas..it's his favorite pasttime) said he wasn't going in there, too stinky. That poor teacher.

 

[MiniGirl]

My dd is 8 and started wearing it this year. It is much nicer cuddling with her now.

 

[momof1princess]

my DD (11 in september and entering 5th grade) has been wearing deodorant since 1st grade-she came home from school one day, needed my help getting her school clothes off to change into play clothes and WOW! when she raised her arms, geeeeeeeez, it almost knocked me out! she wears um...i think it's teen spirit solid and sometimes i still have to remind her to wear it, lol.

 

[meliss8599]

You all are making me feel so much better! My daughter will be 9 in August and I made her start using deodorant about 6 months ago on really hot days or events. My husband said I was crazy for starting her so young and that she didn't need it but she DID!

Growing up, I only noticed kids needing to use it in about fifth or sixth grade so I was a little concerned about starting this early, too but after reading your posts, I'm not thinking I'm so off base anymore.

I'll have to show my husband this thread so he sees it's much more common now. That hormones in foods really seems like a highly likely cause--SCARY.

 

[RyJMom]

I have 2 boys now 10 and 7. They have both always had a little wet dog smell after playing outside really hard on hot days. About 1 year ago I noticed my then 9 yr old had a true BO smell under his arms 1 day. He was on cloud 9 - He was so excited to need Deo. He told me he's now waiting to get some hair under his arms. Boys are so funny!!!

 

[katybugsmom]

My DD9 had to start using deo. when she was just 7!!!! We have tried different kinds and she doesn't seem to be allergic to any. She likes Speed Stick Teen. They have cool names and smells! I still have to remind her to put it on everyday or she would never put it on. She says she forgets!!!! I feel like she's a teenager already!!!!!