7yo DD with boxy odour, puberty??!

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DD (7, 8 in June) came home from school today and when I was helping take her uniform off I could smell noticeable body odour from her underarms . My DM did say last week that she thought DD had breast buds but she's a bit chubby at the moment due to a recent growth spurt so I just assumed it was distribution of weight iyswim?

I'm so worried this is precocious puberty. She is under CAHMS and just don't know how she would cope. Do I use deodorant on her now? And I'm assuming I should bring her to the GP about the odour?

Any advice would be really appreciated. I'm so worried.

My daughter is 8 and started having body odour around a year ago, she has now started puberty. I wouldn't worry too about the body odour but if she has other signs of puberty then speak to your gp as she is young

The only other sign is slight breast buds so far. She's always had a lot of hair however, on her legs and arms.

It's adrenarche, a normal precursor period before puberty, don't worry about it (take it from me who went to the gp about the same thing )

It's not unusual for some ethnicities. I don't think odour is an issue to take her to the GP for. I assume she already washes with soap and a loafah or a flannel daily and if so I would get her an aluminium free or 'salt' natural deodorant. Make sure her uniform is washed daily if you can and daily baths or showers. I found hair and facial skin increased in oiliness, dandruff and pimples started showing up too.
I got my dd seam free crop top in the shade closest to her skin as it blends better under white shirts than white underwear
www.marksandspencer.com/en-de/2pk-seamfree-crop-tops-6-16-yrs/p/P60492269.html#index=0

Together with the breast buds though doesn't it seem like early puberty? I have a 13yo DD who didn't smell until she was around 11, so this has really taken me off guard! I also worry so much about the hormonal changes affecting her alongside all of the other struggles she's having.

I'm so worried this is precocious puberty. She is under CAHMS and just don't know how she would cope

Well, 8 years old is within the normal rage for a girl to start puberty so you need to start telling her about puberty and body changes anyway.

But she isn't eight until June! I thought I had more time to discuss this sort of thing. But I will definitely be getting some books etc to look through with her.

Premature adrenarche if anything

I've read that breast buds mean precocious puberty rather than adrenarche? It just seems so young!

I think I probably will take her to the GP just to be on the safe side, I feel this is just too young for breast buds and body odour and maybe there is something they can suggest to delay it if it has really started?

In the mean time does anyone have any suggestions of the best deodorant/anti perspirant for children? Should I even be using one?

maybe there is something they can suggest to delay it if it has really started?

It's very unlikely she'll be offered puberty blockers if she is so close to 8 years old. The drugs are dangerous and can cause bone problems and impaired IQ.

My DD started puberty just before she turned 8, same signs as your daughter has. Since then she's used a normal antiperspirant roll on for sensitive skin. She's 10 now and hasn't started her periods yet but I think it will be soon.

I think you're running the risk of making this into a big issue for her, you seem very anxious.

Buy her some antiperspirant, nice crop tops, a book about puberty and some period pants.

Yes I think you're right re the anxiety. Its been a difficult week and I think I'm spiralling a bit. Of course I definitely don't want to cause her to be worried or alarmed. I've had a word with myself . I have serious health anxiety and I saw it could be caused by brain tumors so got a bit worked up.

However, the fact remains that she is quite some way off of 8 yet, six months away, and it says it is considered unusual if these things happen before 8. So not sure what my next steps will be, but I'll be getting her a nice gentle deodorant to use and keep an eye on her in the meantime for any other signs. Due to her (likely) autism I'm just hoping it's not a signal she'll start periods soon, she may struggle really badly with them.

My DD was just 8 when she had BO and breast buds. Like you I was really concerned but bizarrely it all settled and she was almost 13 when she started her periods. The bread buds seemed to go down, it was almost like she had a hormone surge at that age. I got her the natural pit rok crystal deodorant as didn't want any chemicals on her skin. I hope things settle for your DD

Just before lockdown I noticed DD2, who was 6 at the time, was generating body odour and had hair growing in her armpits. She is very tall for her age, on 99th percentile for height and weight. Was seen by consultant and told its adrenarche. DD2 now 9 and has breast buds. Likely she's start her periods at 10 or 11. Her sister didn't start puberty until she was 12. They are just all different.

We manage with a shower every other day, washes in between, deodorant and crop tops from M&S.

Honestly OP don’t make this into a big thing. I don’t see why she’ll think it’s a problem as long as you don’t make it one. It’s not that early. Periods and proper boobs are a way off. She won’t be the only one (or not for long) just buy a deodorant and move her to showering daily. Buy a book and explain it’s all normal.

I am going through this with my 7 year old now
she started getting breast buds at 6 and I took her to the doctor who wanted to do a wait and see approach
I took her back twice after that as she now has significant breast growth and now she is being investigated for Precocious Puberty and for any other reason this may have happened
my daughter is on the 50th centile she was on the 2nd but has jumped up in height
she is having blood tests and now is waiting for an mri scan due to this
I wouldn’t have gone to the doctor if this was happening 3 years down the road
I have bought her a book about our growing bodies for girls so she knows why is happening but all she sees is how different she looks compared to her friends.
Ive explained that yes she is first but all of her friends will go through this.

MY Dd also had breast buds, body odour, at age 7, no hairs yet, but growth spurt.

Unfortunately she did start periods 1 month before her 8th birthday. Luckily I trusted my guy and had requested investigation by GP so she is now under hospital care being treated for precoucious puberty.

My advice is trust your instinct as a mum

Adrenarche happens around this time. Pre-puberty. Can make them smelly and angry!

I suppose my main concern is that she starts her periods early, I know she will start them at some stage but due to her sen issues I can see it being so hard on her, and I thought we had more time before all of that became a worry

Update, I have spoken to the GP and he seems to think that she doesn't need to get seen and that its all within the early side of normal. I still that I think 7.5 years is much too early for all this but he doesn't want to see her unless anything else happens or if her breasts begin to develop 'rapidly'. So will just have to wait and see!