When did your child develop body odor?

[MomInCalifornia]

My daughter will be 7 in a few months and has recently started having strong body odor after soccer games, playing at the park, running around etc. It's pretty strong and quite noticeable (and smelly).

She'll be 7 in January and is 51 inches tall and 59 pounds. Very althletic, strong and active.

I don't remember when I started wearing deoderant, but I got my period when I was 10 and in 5th grade.

How old were your kids when they started having body odor and did they use a natural deoderant or another alternative?

[abi&ben'smom]

My niece at 7, and my ds at 9 1/2. And my dd (7 1/2) doesn't yet; but she won't let me smell her armpits! I bought ds some regular deoderant (unscented) but I don't think he ever uses without me reminding him.

[mamazee]

6

[Drummer's Wife]

My DD is 8 and I bought her natural deodorant to use if she chooses. I wouldn't say she stinks, but she is at a point where she needs to shower regularly and will sweat while being extra active.

[Jenelle]

Yep, we first noticed it at 7. We were like, "Woah! Already?!" But... yep. We bought ds some unscented anti-perspirant that he uses after the shower (usually every other day) and we haven't noticed it since.

[sunnmama]

Originally Posted by abi&ben'smom

but she won't let me smell her armpits!

Why would you need to do that? If you need to get that close to smell an odor, then it isn't a problem, imo.

My dd is 8 (9 in feb), and no odor yet.

[abi&ben'smom]

Yes, I guess you are right.

[amcal]

My 6 and 7 yo are smelly after hard, outdoor play but, isn't everyone?

To me body odor is only when there is odor with normal activity. I wouldn't start my child on deodorants just because of smell from sweaty play. Unless she actually had body odor, in the absence of sweating from exertion, I wouldn't worry about it.

[RiverSky]

DD was 7. (I was also very surprised to me B.O. at such a young age)
DS was 9.

Natural deodorants (Tom's, Liquid Crystal Rock) work very well for them.

[meemee]

6. no deodorant. but just make sure regular showers. and soap under armpits.

hardly any smell though. have to get really close to know she has some.

so dont use any deo.

[pomplemoose]

DD was about 6 or 7 (which scares me about the whole puberty thing) but she uses unscented deodorant which seems to help. I just hope that she still has a few years, i hate to think of her having a period before middle school.

[meemee]

well i think there is the prepuberty thing which we are not educated about at all. i dont think puberty starts with the typical signs at 9 or 10 - usually breast buds in girls.

but it starts in my estimation around 7 average with mostly mood swings. at almost 7 along with BO i watched my dd go thru what i call 'hormonal behaviour'. she did not know how to stop but boy or boy did she go thru huge mood swings.

to me this slow approach to puberty makes sense as the body gets ready. does that mean she is going to start her periods next month. no it only means she is growing up

her body is slowly undergoing changes. i think obviously because puberty signs are so noticable most people dont mention the prepuberty signs that happen years before puberty and its been going on for years in man.