Deodorant for an 8 year old???

12315 Views 22 Replies 19 Participants Last post by GiraffeLovin'Mama, Jun 10, 2005

GiraffeLovin'Mama

Discussion Starter · Jun 7, 2005

I've noticed in the past couple of weeks that my 8 year old dd is smelly...

:
I actually sniffed under her arms yesterday :LOL and, yep, she is getting B.O.

So, what should I use for her?? Does this mean she'll hit puberty and such at an early age??

My 9 yo ds is showing no signs of needing it.

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1 - 20 of 23 Posts

Potty Diva

· #2 · Jun 7, 2005

There is an 8 yr old in my school age class and she definitely needs deodorant. I don't know if I should say something or not, but it is difficult to be near her...I'm not being cruel and would never say "gee you stink" but it does make me nauseous. So yes, I can see deodorant for an eight year old. Especially in north carolina summers.

sistermama

· #3 · Jun 7, 2005

Have you noticed any other signs of advancing puberty? (Thicker blond pubic and underarm hair, breast buds, etc.) If you have you might want to have her screened by a pediatric endocrinologist. I know that some girls do start puberty around eight, but precocious puberty can sometimes have other underlying factors. My son has precocious puberty (at two, ehgads). Then again, she could just be a really active and sweaty girl!

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GiraffeLovin'Mama

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 7, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by sistermama
Have you noticed any other signs of advancing puberty? (Thicker blond pubic and underarm hair, breast buds, etc.) If you have you might want to have her screened by a pediatric endocrinologist. I know that some girls do start puberty around eight, but precocious puberty can sometimes have other underlying factors. My son has precocious puberty (at two, ehgads). Then again, she could just be a really active and sweaty girl!

I think she's just really active and sweaty. She is quite athletic and is on the go constantly, since its been warm out. It still just seems early to me. I guess she'll look at me like I Have three heads tomorrow, when I start checking to see if she's getting underarm hair, etc.

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PoppyMama

· #5 · Jun 7, 2005

My 8 year old dd is totally rank without deodorant. It is no secret though and we laugh about it together. I toss her the deodorant in the morning cause she won't remember.

Jane

· #6 · Jun 7, 2005

I would suggest gently reviewing effective showering with her as well. Sometimes kids don't know that the washcloth serves a purpose other than holding soap - it's for scrubbing!
Faces, armpits, and feet need a little more abrasion to get clean because of the natural oils and the way dirt and grime sticks to oil.

If she's into pioneer times, you might relate to to washing things in the stream. They didn't just swish things around, they beat their clothes with rocks or used a washboard. The abrasion is important.

Her very own loofah, scrubby, or shower brush might help with these tasks.

AngelBee

· #7 · Jun 7, 2005

What would be a natural deordorant option?

chasmyn

· #8 · Jun 7, 2005

Chlorophyll can be taken as an internal deodorant and it really DOES work. No side effects and can be taken 3x a day if necessary, but I just take 2 in the morning and it takes the odor down enough that natural deodorants really work (they don't otherwise). It's also good for the blood.

And as far as natural deodorants, there are bunches of different kinds at any natural food store. JASON makes a good one, and there are so many others.

em&namama

· #9 · Jun 7, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Potty Diva
There is an 8 yr old in my school age class and she definitely needs deodorant. I don't know if I should say something or not, but it is difficult to be near her...I'm not being cruel and would never say "gee you stink" but it does make me nauseous. So yes, I can see deodorant for an eight year old. Especially in north carolina summers.

That reminds me of something that happened when I was about 9 I think. I got called down by the school nurse and she gave me this bag of goodies and it had stuff like shampoo, lotions and yes deodorent. I don't remember but I think I was just excited because my mother never bought me fun stuff like that. I mean we had shampoo but it was like Pert or something else ugly and stinky. It was years later that I realized they were trying to send the message to my mom that I needed deodorent. She understood even though I was clueless. I know that I took a shower everyday though and I was clean so she probably does need something. FTR I got my period when I was 12 and 2 months, don't know if that's early or not.

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Alkenny

· #10 · Jun 7, 2005

My DD doesn't have a "stink" problem (she's almost 12), but my DS has been this way for a couple of years now. Yuck!

Anyways, I wanted to relate that there's links between early puberty (including body odor) and dairy too. I don't know if you guys do dairy, or if reducing it could help the B.O., but it'd be worth researching.

doesdebbie

· #11 · Jun 7, 2005

Hi! My 7 year old has been smelly for a year now. She is bone thin with enough underarm hair to make me uncomfortable with her wearing tank tops and such. For a recent dance recital, I shaved it off. She's been wearing deodorant since right after her 6th bday. I don't see any other signs of puberty and she is also very active. We use Tom's of Maine Crystal Deo. HTH, and don't worry momma.

sunnysideup

· #12 · Jun 7, 2005

My oldest started to have BO at age 8 and she just got her period a week ago, at age 12 1/2. I think BO is the first sign of coming puberty, but it is a slow process.

boomingranny

· #13 · Jun 7, 2005

we use talc-free powder that we buy at our food coop. My dd is a tall strong 7 year old and has needed powder for about a year or so. She also started breasts in January. Even though some signs of puberty arrive earlier in some girls, I read that this doesn't neccessarily mean they will get their periods earlier. For some its a slow process that starts early, others its a fast process that begins later but averages out to around the same time when they menstruate.

GiraffeLovin'Mama

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jun 7, 2005

We walked to the drug store and bought some Tom's of Maine Calendula and I'm excited because it was buy one get one free

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janellesmommy

· #15 · Jun 7, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelBee
What would be a natural deordorant option?

Here's what I do to keep my stink at bay. In the shower I rub an instant hand sanitizer (like Purell) into my arm pits, and let it sit there while I wash my hair. Then I rinse it off before getting out of the shower.

For deodorant I use a crystal stick. www.thecrystal.com I don't think it is too hard to find. I bought one recently at RiteAid, a mainstream drugstore. I don't recommend the spray version. It didn't seem to work as well.

I highly recommend a crystal stick for a young kid because she won't be teased for using deodorant, because it leaves no residue, and it has no odor, so it would be impossible for anyone to know that she was using it.

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Shenjall

· #16 · Jun 7, 2005

2 of my boys started getting "stinky pits" at around age 4. Nothing wrong with them - just lots of little crevices in their arm pits. I tried everything and nothing worked until I started using tea tree body soap (from the body shop) and J/A/S/O/N tea tree deodorant.

I've read that its the bacteria that makes the smell so the anti-bac in the tea tree keeps it away.

~Megan~

· #17 · Jun 8, 2005

Girls do develop earlier than boys. I think I started wearing it in 3rd grade. I think my period started when I was 12, so you have a few years (probably)

Aura_Kitten

· #18 · Jun 8, 2005

i started getting BO (and dark leg hair, and pubic hair) around that age also, and my parents refused to let me use deodorant or shave until i was 13.

so i ended up stealing my mom's deodorant and my older sister's razors and using them anyway.

i think kids nowadays are very aware of their personal appearance / grooming (as well as *other* kids being aware of it), so i don't think it would be out of line to gently let her know 1) that she's smelly, and also 2) that there may be other *changes* she should watch for.

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2

Crunchier

· #19 · Jun 8, 2005

I think I started using deo at age 9, but I got my period when I was 10. My mom was about the same age, and I've heard that early puberty and early menopause are common among our ethnic group. I think my mom was 42ish when she hit menopause.

I use baking soda with a few drops of scented oil mixed in. it keeps the stinkiness at bay.

applejuice

· #20 · Jun 8, 2005

I needed deodorant at age nine, and that was a loooong time ago.

:

I am now a third grade teacher and in the warm weather, ohh!, P.U.

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