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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Deodorants for Children.

41 replies

jellybeanjump · 09/07/2012 10:23

Hiya,

My DD who is 5years old needs some form of deodrant and I would like suggestions of safe ones to use.

In an ideal world I would not try and use one but I need to.
After a hot day or after physical activities such as football and dance she smells, obviously the hotter and more vigorous the exercise the worse it is.

For example as soon we get home from football, we have to dash upstairs shower her off and then dash off to dancing. It is very noticable and I always say things like "just going to give you a quick rinse off because you are all hot and sweaty". Luckily her 7yr old sister (who does not have the same problem) has not realised yet but she will and I don't want to hurt her feelings or make her self conscious.

I don't want to blast her with chemicals so, can someone suggest a mild deodorant that could help.

Thanks

JBJ

OP posts:
Tobagostreet · 09/07/2012 10:26

Simple stick anti perspirant

Stops the sweating and so no smell

No perfume required at that age.

OneTwoOrThree · 09/07/2012 10:27

Can't help with deoderant recommendation but perhaps a trip to the GP would be an idea as this sounds quite unusual?

valiumredhead · 09/07/2012 10:29

Does she bath daily and wear clean clothes daily,OP? I wonder if it is the clothes rather than your dd. I agree about a chat with the GP as this sounds very young. Ds has needed deodorant since about 8-9.

Ds uses Simple as well and also a quick squirt of Lynx Hmm

MousyMouse · 09/07/2012 10:36

I would take her to the gp tbh.
it doesn't sound right that a child that small has a strong body odour.

or is it just the clothes that smell? a maintainance wash of the mashine would help with that.

soozeedol · 09/07/2012 10:37

5yrs is very young for this king of issue but she could be heading into early puberty too young...my friends DD was just 7yrs and was having similar problems...Go to GP...they can screen for all this. My friends DD has been on tablets to stiffle puberty and stop the onset

LittleTyga · 09/07/2012 10:46

My 6 year old has needed deodorant for the past few months - and yes she does wash daily and wear clean clothes - I started puberty at 8 so was expecting the same for my dd's. I use Tissarand - no parabans or aluminium.

I didn't want to take my dd to the doctor as I didn't want to make an issue out of it and make her think there was something wrong with her - there are far more serious things out there! I did a bit of research and hormonal changes at this age are not uncommon.

Original poster
jellybeanjump · 09/07/2012 10:47

Yes she always has clean fresh clothes school uniform / non uniform. We shower her at least every 2 nights but obviously wash her daily and of course as soon she smells. (and of course fresh clothes then).

What you are saying does make sense re. trip to the Drs and it should be easier with school holidays.

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 09/07/2012 10:49

Little has a point about not making a big deal about it - perhaps you could speak to the GP over the phone first?

soozeedol · 09/07/2012 11:10

I imagine a trip to GP (possibly a prior phone call to discuss the issue you are having) will be a fair way forward.
I'm not so sure a child would be terribly upset or traumatized by a trip to GP to discuss possible easy to treat issue....test, treat and move on...children don't get into a tangle over this sort of thing...no big deal needed

Rather go to GP than the possible issue she may face from her peers if they become aware of wiffyness in school and tease or avoid her....that would be awful for her
GP...and no harm done....:)

Original poster
jellybeanjump · 09/07/2012 11:51

I'll be 100% totally honest, I don't relish the prospect of going to the GP as I always worry about coming across as a neurotic parent. Like LittleTyga, I don't want her to feel like there is something wrong with her and I know that once I do go then big sister will realise and then after that she might feel v. self conscious.

When I was growing up I remember my Dad always being dead against anti perspirants because they stop our bodies doing something they are meant to do and that it is the smell that was the problem so to go for deodrant instead.

A long time ago I used to use Lush solid deodrants that you patted under clean armpits and smelt gorgeous but they don't make them like that any more and just seem to have powder, which we don't use because that would be the same as using talc (again from my Dad) which is not good for you either.

I ordered a Thai Deodorant Stone last night and thought that that might help because they have some good reviews and seem to be quite gentle on skin. Rather than lots of strong chemicals from an Aerosol Spray.
Won't know if it works until it arrives.

Thank you for all your suggestions and advice. Lots to think about and talk to DH tonight.

JBJ

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 09/07/2012 11:55

Unfortunately I haven't found a natural one that works for me - they all smell lovely but are crap. The most recent disappointment was one from Body Shop - which was a beautiful fresh rose smell but dear Lord, it was shite!

Krumbum · 09/07/2012 11:58

Use a natural deoderant or just a scented body spray. Anti perspirent would worry me on a child that young.

Mrbojangles1 · 09/07/2012 12:24

Sorry but a child who is 5 should nit have string BO this only usually kicks in just before puberty anywere from 8 onwards please take child to see doctors

wineandroses · 09/07/2012 12:29

My DD has needed deodorant since the age of 7. We use the Greenpeople deodorant for teenagers - called OY! It's organic and before I ordered it (on-line) I spoke to them about whether it is suitable for young children. They said it was safe, none of the usual chemicals. DD has found it works very well, she applies it once a day and even with PE etc, no problems now. She also sensitive skin, but this deodorant has been absolutely fine. I'd recommend it.

Socknickingpixie · 09/07/2012 12:30

It may be a good idea to phone consult with gp out of her hearing,
if you started puberty so early you do need to give her the body changes talk it's unfair not to obviously you Taylor it to her own understanding.

I don't know if there anygood but the totally chemical free crystal ones may be worth a try or perhaps she may be able to use baby wipes to clean underarms after sports ect instead of an actual deodrant

OldGreyWiffleTest · 09/07/2012 12:31

The Thai Stone is the way to go. I use one and so does my son, and they are brilliant. Stops smells completely!

bubagump · 09/07/2012 12:32

My nearly 8 year old dd occasionally uses Dr.organic bioactive skincare deodorant, I've used it myself and it does work. It's aluminium free, SLS free, paraben free, alcohol free and natural. I got it from Holland and barrett.

piratecat · 09/07/2012 12:36

dd has used Bionsen since she was about 7/8. She had really started to pong. She started puberty at 8, and her periods at 9.9, so it could be that your dd is developing.

There is early puberty, and precocious puberty. The latter being more like 2, 3,4,5 and perhaps 6. It could just be a little stage in development that will come to nothing. Dd's pits calmed down after a couple of months. Yet puberty was knocking.

valiumredhead · 09/07/2012 12:41

I tried Bionsen and fond it useless - has anyone any experience of that compare to The Thai Stone?

4forkssake · 09/07/2012 12:46

Bicarbonate of soda is really good to use as a deodorant & obviously much better to use than a chemical deodorant. You just dab a small amount under the pits & it really helps. I used to use it all the time but started getting sore pits (putting it on after shaving pits) but obviously your dd won't be shaving so should be ok. Definitely worth a try. Would still take to docs to see what they say though.

adifferentcountry · 09/07/2012 12:47

We use the neal's yard natural deoderant. But DD is 9.

fortifiedwithtea · 09/07/2012 12:47

Thank goodness for this thread. I thought my DD2 was the only one with this problem. She absolutely stinks and we tell her. It's the only way to get her into the bathroom, she has SEN.

She's been smelly since 7. I spray her with any deodourant I happen to be using. Never occurred to me to worry what went in it.

Original poster
jellybeanjump · 09/07/2012 13:19

She does not have any signs of puberty.
Mind you her big sister has been a hormonal stroppy 13yr old teenager since she turned 3. ;-)

The wet wipe thing didn't really work - shower is the best thing.

OP posts:
ariadne1 · 09/07/2012 13:51

I work in a gymnastics club with lots of under 8s in lycra and it is not that unusual

tyler80 · 09/07/2012 13:53

Wouldn't you rather a wasted trip to the GP than find out you've ignored signs of a problem?

It might be something and it might be nothing but imo it's unusual enough at that age to be checked out.

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