b.o. in 8 year old?

[monkeysmommy]

Just today I noticed when dd, age 8 took off her shirt, her armpits no longer smell like kid sweat, or as my dh says "a dirty nickel". They now smell like adult armpits, in other words, like onions. At first I thought it was me! Isn't it a little early for her to be smelling like that? Also in the last few weeks I've noticed she can't go as long as she used to without washing her hair. It looks greasy after a few days, whereas we used to only wash it once a week, unless she got something in it. Anyone have any experience with this?

[nextcommercial]

It's totally normal. You can try Dial soap, and that should help for a while, but in a few years you'll have to break down and buy some deodorant.

You might need to try different shampoos too, but, that's also pretty normal.

[Mirzam]

Originally Posted by nextcommercial

It's totally normal. You can try Dial soap, and that should help for a while, but in a few years you'll have to break down and buy some deodorant.

You might need to try different shampoos too, but, that's also pretty normal.

I keep reading posts that state body odor in 8 year olds is "normal". I really have a hard time accepting this. I have three children all are older than 8 and none of them ever had body odor at such a young age. My youngest two are almost 13 and 10.5 respectively and neither of them yet have armpit odor. OP, I would consider systemic candida or adrenal issues as a possibility for the cause. Adrenal issues would probably more likely given her greasy hair.

[neetling]

My 7 year old randomly gets BO a few times a year. It goes away. I ask her to wash particularly well for a few days.

[cparkly]

My DSD began having some b.o. and general "greasiness" around that age. Hormones seemed to be a factor. I also found that she was drinking soda pop at school.

I recommend:

• eliminating any soda
• reducing any refined sugars
• add more green (chlorophyll is a nice quick source)
• ensuring that she bathes regularly and washes her pits with tea tree oil on a washcloth
• wipe pits with witch hazel and "powder" with baking soda

Hope that this helps. Beware that some mood swings may be on their way.

[missythemom3]

I don't know what the "norm" is for this either but my dd just turned eight and once in a while she will have some B.O. going on and I will have her dust on some baby powder or put a little deodorant on and that's that.

[meemee]

this kinda thread comes up pretty often here.

i remember a mama talking about how her 4th grade school teacher advices kids to wear deodorant.

dd got it at 6. yup hormonal.

one of the things we dont talk about or rarely talk about or are quite unaware of is this huge change that happens to our children between the ages of 5 and 7 i would say. many kids show it differently. i discovered this thru my IRL friends and friend's kids. i have not found any 'article' on the web or a book on this subject.

prepuberty. mood swings. extreme behaviour. typically beginning teenage behaviour. its like their worst behaviour just way over the top. frustrated children, yelling, hitting, etc, etc. the adults who do remember this phase say it is worse than teenage years. i call it hte angst time. thankfully it is just a few weeks or months. it is truly their lowest point ever. its like divorcing when pregnant. you want all the emotional support but that's exactly whats being taken away from you.

with my dd the closest description i would have is pmsing. and the moment it was over - she was a whole different person. way mature. different.

and along with that came body odor. in our girls scout some of hte mom's were also surprised with BO with their kids.

dd has v. adult stinky BO if you get close to her. it is not like passing an adult who reeks of it. even if she doesnt take a shower for a week it is not overwhelming.

but we make sure she doesnt wear the same clothes and that she just washes herself well when she takes a shower - which is maybe twice or thrice a week.