Deodorant? Age to start?

[Chris in VA]

Dd will be 8 in April. She's only in 2nd grade, so I was totally unprepared for this--she says she is getting stinky armpits. My first thought was that she should now bathe every night (or morning). But then, when I was out the other day, I got her a natural deodorant (and told her to use it if she wanted to, after a shower).
Isn't it a little early to be using this? It's very gentle, but I don't feel at peace with it! Kinda silly?

[Antonia]

she is getting stinky armpits.

That would be my answer. Ds started using deodorant at 10 when he started getting stinky. His best friend, now 12, doesn't use it and he is actually difficult to be around, his body odor is so bad. (I think there's a general lack of hygiene going on.) I would prefer they use it when they need it rather than put it, and others, off!

[snickelfritz]

Have you noticed a smell?

[Laurie4b]

I think that there are two issues. One is easy: if there is underarm odor, then it's appropriate to use deoderant, no matter how young. However, the other issue is "Why is there underarm odor at this age?" I agree that second grade might is somewhat early for the stinky armpits, and I believe it's actually one of the early signs of approaching puberty. I know someone whose child started this early as well and the mother switched to organic milk and meat (minus hormones, in other words) and the early armpit odor went away. IOW, try to identify and take care of the reasons for the early underarm odor rather than focusing on the issue of the deoderant, but let her wear deoderant until the underlying issue is resolved.

[Darcy in FL]

Dd will be 8 in April. She's only in 2nd grade, so I was totally unprepared for this--she says she is getting stinky armpits. My first thought was that she should now bathe every night (or morning). But then, when I was out the other day, I got her a natural deodorant (and told her to use it if she wanted to, after a shower).
Isn't it a little early to be using this? It's very gentle, but I don't feel at peace with it! Kinda silly?

I am in the same shoes as you!! I have an 8 y/o DD who also has "stinky armpits" already and she does bathe every night. I know I need to start deodorant with her soon. Can you tell me where you got a "natural deodorant" at and what brand? Thanks!

[Beth in Central TX]

Well, for this topic, I say better early than late! I do know what you mean though. My oldest son asked to use deodorant last year because he thought he was starting to smell. He doesn't use it all the time, but if it makes him feel better about himself (or at least less self-conscience), then I'm okay with it. I also think that some people are just more sensitive to smell; I know I am pregnant or not. I think my oldest is this way too.

[Robyn]

My ds started wearing Tom's of Maine deodorant in the past year. He would reek after his Taekwondo class. My niece also started to need it around age 8 or 9. We drink only organic milk and limit our meat intake. I do agree that the hormones in our food supply can lead to earlier onset of puberty. However, I think it is totally normal for kids this age to start to develop a body odor. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[Whisperlily]

All kids develop differently...

I remember being surprised when DD came home from PS (she was nearly 10 and at the end of 4th grade.) She said her PE teacher was telling the kids about sweat and hygeine, and mentioned that it was a good time for them to start wearing deodorant if they could.

I bought her some strawberry scented Teen Spirit, and she used it once... kept it in her top drawer until recently. We moved from a dry, dry, dry climate to a humid one, and now she says she feels "sweaty" and doesn't like the feeling. I'm pretty sure she's wearing it.

Personally, I never had an odor problem, and so I didn't usually wear (remember to wear) deodorant until after my 3rd pregnancy. It wasn't until then that I actually noticed a very faint underarm odor. I asked my husband once if I was one of those "unaware" people but he gave me an emphatic NO. He's got a pretty sensitive sense of smell, too. It was after some discussion I'd seen on TV about people who don't smell their own body odor and I was horrified that I might be one of them. I asked my Mom, and a couple close friends and they all laughed and said I didn't have that problem. :lol:

I also don't tend to sweat much. DH does, and I've got a couple kids who get their hair and pillows soaked while sleeping.

[Momto4kids]

Does use it. He started when he was 7 actually. He was quite stinky. He is not consistent with it but he tries. We have to remond hom a lot.

[Mekanamom]

All of my girls started getting stinky by 7-8 yo.

The best deodorant I have found was recommended on the old boards (I wish I could remember who recommended it so I could give them credit here in addition to lots and lots of rep!):

Crystal Body Deodorant Spray (http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Deodorant-4-Ounce-Bottles-Packages/dp/B000FKLDVK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1205773403&sr=8-1)

[Christy B]

I think she started wearing deodorant when she was about seven or eight years old. I remember she had to wear "camisoles" the summer she turned ten (she was NOT happy about growing up).

If it's any comfort, this dd is thirteen now, and while she is definitely "maturing", she still hasn't started her period. So, early body odor and "development" did not go hand in hand with early onset of menstruation, in our case.

In any event, I am definitely in the "wear deodorant when you need it" camp. :ack2:

[Jenny in Atl]

I think my dd started around 10? Gosh, my memory is already going. :tongue_smilie: She uses that natural crystal and it works great.

[Robin Hood]

I had the same question 2 years ago and I came to this board to ask the same question.....because dd was only 7. Our experience is that it comes and goes. Sometimes she needs it and then she forgets and no one notices. When she stinks, I'll have her take a shower at some point that day and use it for the next month or until she forgets and no one notices or notices. Make sense?

[Kimber]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! My dd has the same history as yours. I just hope that she doesn't start before 12. I don't think I could take it.

[Needleroozer]

I have noticed that the healthier we eat, the less body odor my two kids have. Neither of them is particularly stinky, though. We all use cornstarch baby powder- I have never found a deodorant that didn't make me break out, even the crystal one. The kids have my skin sensitivities, so have never used deodorant. The powder works well for us, as do daily showers.
Now if this thread was about stinky FEET.............

[MJN]

almond milk helps cut down on the smell. I'm going to be detoxifying all my children after they get over this round #6 of sickness. There is a liquid cholorophyll at Vitamin Shoppe that will cleanse the insides, helping with the smell.

HTH!

[Plaid Dad]

I haven't read the other responses, but my feeling about this is the same as with leg shaving or other grooming and hygiene issues: children are all over the map and parents need to handle the decision on an individual basis. The numerical age doesn't matter; the child's needs and feelings do. I wouldn't hesitate to give a child a natural deodorant at eight if he or she needed it.

[Paula in PA]

Once the weather got cooler, she didn't seem to need it anymore and stopped using it. I suspect she'll need it again when it warms up. I had found a plain deodorant by Adias which worked well and didn't irritate her skin.

[prairiegirl]

I have an 8 yr. old who has started using deodorant. I was totally unprepared for this. I did an informal survey of my friends and there were a few whose children started deodorant at this age as well. So I was able to calm down a bit.


Julia
mom of 3 (8,7,5)

[ThelmaLou]

My 12 year old son still doesn't wear it regularly. Neither do any of his 4 younger brothers. Amazingly, my husband and I don't really have armpit odor to speak of. My husband wears anti-perspirant, and when it occurs to me, I'll take a swipe of anti-perspirant/deodorant. But I don't sweat that much, and I don't seem to have armpit odor. Don't get me wrong. If we didn't shower for several days, we'd smell dirty. But we just don't have the unmistakable armpit odor. It looks like our oldest son has inherited that. I gave him a stick of deodorant, but he's admittedly lax in using it. I keep waiting for the day when I notice "that smell," but it hasn't happened yet.

Like Needleroozer said, though, stinky feet are another issue! My, oh my, are they another issue.

[Amy loves Bud]

My DS started using it at age 8. He's 9 1/2 now. No signs of early puberty at this point.

He washes with good deodorant soap, then uses Tom's of Maine deodorant. It does the trick. If they smell, they need it. But I agree with the others who have said it is worthwhile to look at the diet to see if there are an overabundance of hormones playing a role.

[Dawn]

My oldest started wearing it daily this year (she's 9).

She uses Tom's of Maine when my 2 year old isn't using it as an ice cream cone.

[Daisy]

Actually, I made a big deal out of it for my DD's 8th birthday. She received her first deoderant and felt like a big girl.

[Little Debbie]

My DD was 7 when I noticed she wasn't smelling "girly fresh!" I made sure she was washing well and in all the little nooks-and-crannies. I figured it was better to have her start wearing deodorant than to have another child tell her she smells...you know how kids can say things so nicely.:glare:
Deb

[CalicoKat]

dd started using it at 5, when we couldn't stand the smell any longer!

[Chris in VA]

Tea Tree oil (lotion) is the magic cure for stinky feet--that, and wearing socks!
Thanks, Needle.

[jellybean]

i think about age 10.

[nmoira]

Prior to trying deodorant, you might wish to have her use alcohol on a cotton ball after her bath or shower and first thing in the morning (assuming that washing properly isn't the issue).