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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think 8 year old told to wear deodorant everyday is wrong?

89 replies

planetalice · 23/08/2011 16:24

Just interested as my DSD came with deodorant and im not really comfortable with it as think its not needed and thought it was dangerous to use too early?

Her Dad not happy but its a bit of a mine field so just after oppinions as to if you think its too early really :)

OP posts:
DottyDot · 23/08/2011 17:16

ds1 (9) is desperate to start wearing Lynx because all his friends do at school - and true enough they all smell like perfume factories when I walk past them Grin But he doesn't need to and I think the longer they can keep scent free the better...

He's on a bit of a promise to get a can for his 10th birthday in December - but only if he starts showering twice a week to wash it off every now and then Grin

gramercy · 23/08/2011 17:20

What products are there for sale that don't honk? Lynx/Impulse smell absolutely foul and when the time comes I'd like to buy something unscented and not aerosolly.

Sofabitch · 23/08/2011 17:21

My dd and ds need it and they are 10 and 9. They are really starting to pong. Especially when they are running about a lot. Which is everyday.

mediawhore · 23/08/2011 17:22

Agree. I have started to get a whiff of my 9 year old and think she may need one soon.

She does shower most days and it is on the days she doesn't that I do smell her.

We would start with a milder one though.

She is shaving (well creaming) her legs already as she has very dark hairy legs and was getting very self conscious and down about it.

Signet2012 · 23/08/2011 17:39

She might of been a bit baffled still by the drugs, my dog was when he came home from the vets he was acting oddly for a good couple of hours and laid down on the fourth stair up (he didnt even fit on the bloody thing) for a good hour just grumbling and smiling anytime i opened my mouth. Then was fine.

Strange things!

Sofabitch · 23/08/2011 17:41

Lmao Grin that is really out of context Wink are you sure you have the right thread.

aldiwhore · 23/08/2011 17:41

My eldest who's nearly 7 has just bought his very first roll-on... its more for the anti-persperant and deoderising... he's got my sweaty gene and it very aware of it. He doesn't smell, but he does like the fact that the anti-persperant actually smells nice too. He doesn't always remember to use it and I won't 'force' him too as I don't see a problem with him, but if it makes him feel more confident, then I'm happy for him to own it.

INeedALieIn · 23/08/2011 17:41

My DD8 needs it. At early 7 she was a bit whiffy. I ignored it and hoped I was imagining it. But no, she definitely has BO without the deo.

She is a young 8 (loves fairies). I'm dreading the next steps. Recently her hair is greasy if not washed alternate days and she is starting to get a little bit spotty around her nose.

Any idea how long from this stage to periods? Please say 5 years as I'm not ready for her to grow up.

SouthernFriedTofu · 23/08/2011 17:42

Does she only come to you on weekends? Just if you are smelling her after PE you might not know she needs it. Some 8 year olds do, try and find her a natural deoderant if you are worried

INeedALieIn · 23/08/2011 17:57

Mine seems to need it most following stressful situations.

Signet2012 · 23/08/2011 18:23

PMSL Sorry OP!!!!

I had two windows open, one of them was about a drugged dog lying in the rain and then this one. I appear to have wrote on the wrong thread !!

OOPS!

Blush
WhoseGotMyEyebrows · 23/08/2011 18:50

Signet2012 That's so funny! Grin

FabbyChic · 23/08/2011 18:53

Best to be body spray not deodorant.

schoolquestion · 23/08/2011 19:02

as others have said, 8 not too young to start whiffing a she is likely to be starting the long journey that is hormonal changes... also worth ensuring she washes under her arms every day.. .DS stands in the shower and gets wet and has to be reminded to actually wash! Also, remind her to put on fresh clothes every day as if her clothes aren't dirty, she might re-wear them and stale sweat is awful (not that DS's clothes are ever clean enough anyway to wear 2 days on the trot, but on the rare occasion, he's been sent up to change)

Signet2012 · 23/08/2011 19:10

Im surprised I get through each day unscathed sometimes! haha

Re deodrant : If your concerned OP just buy her one of the more sensitive natural ones, think a lot of kids start about that age start being conscious about that kind of thing, however I dont think i knew was it was when I where that young, but times are changing.

SDTGisAnEvilGenius · 23/08/2011 19:34

Gramercy - you can get an unperfumed Mitchum roll-on antiperspirant-deodorant. I use that every day and find it very effective - and I get to choose what perfume I want to smell of - instead of being restricted to the deodorant companies' choices of perfume.

kitya · 23/08/2011 19:46

I think Mitchum would be too strong for an eight year old. I use an organic deodorant and I wouldn't go back to Sure. It's five quid though but lasts forever. I don't think eight is too young. Maybe she needs it or, maybe her friends all do and she is keeping up with them. I wouldn't be concerned. Her mum knows best as I presume she is her main carer.

SparklyCloud · 23/08/2011 19:47

8 def not too young for deodorant.
OP, do you have reason to question her mum's decisions?

WhoseGotMyEyebrows · 23/08/2011 21:51

FabbyChic Best to be body spray not deodorant

So you mean not antiperspirant? Don't agree with that. A body spray will just add a smell on top of the body odour . . . for a little while. Pretty pointless and unaffective.

TrillianAstra · 23/08/2011 22:01

I am 100% against what FabbyChic said.

One of the most important things you can teach your children (boys especially, for the sake of everyone at school :)) is that antiperspirant is for making you sweat less so you don't smell. Anything that just says "deodorant" on the can is just a smell to add to your smell. It won't really cover it up, you'll just smell of BO-and-Lynx.

afraidnotscared · 23/08/2011 22:05

I agree with that for adults but d'you not think that an 8 yo who may just be starting to faintly whiff might get away with bodyspray for a wee while?

TrillianAstra · 23/08/2011 22:06

Why would you want to "get away" with an inferior product if a better one existed?

DrCoconut · 23/08/2011 22:06

Children vary so much. DS1 is 12 and seriously in puberty. His best mate of the same age still looks and sounds like a little boy. So the correct age to start deodorant is child dependent. I wish DS1 was concerned about personal hygiene - I always have to nag him to wash and he smells of teen boy sweat if he doesn't. Do I wish he'd discover girls or not?

afraidnotscared · 23/08/2011 22:08

No reason really. I just don't think it would matter so much with a child whereas if I only used bodyspray I'd have massive sweat patches and no friends by the end of the day.

CardyMow · 23/08/2011 22:09

DD had to start using deodorant daily at age 8, she started AF at 9yo. DS1 is now 9.10yo, and the last 6 months, he has had to use deodorant evry day, as despite a daily bath, his pits were pongy after running around playing. Perfectly normal.