Deodorant on 5 year old DD

[ahfuckit]

More of a WWYD really... A few times recently in the hot weather I have noticed that my 5yo DD's armpits smell of BO. As a result we have upped the washing regime as she used to have a bath every other day. I have always been firmly in the 'kids just get grubby not smelly and don't need as much bathing until puberty camp', but this morning she had a shower and an hour later I bent to give her a cuddle and could smell her.
I am going to take her to the docs to make sure there is no underlying medical reason for the pong but I am really sad that this may be an issue for her from such a young age.
If you were in my shoes would you just stick to bathing or would you use a product so you could be sure she wouldn't get smelly? I am worried about kids at school noticing and being cruel. Has anyone else had to deal with this?

No experience but I wouldn't use deodorant on such young skin. I would stick to bathing.

www.boots.com/en/Keep-It-Kind-Fresh-Kidz-Deodorant-Roll-on-50ml_1305069/?cm_mmc=pla--google--PLAs-_-PLAs+-+All+Products

Boots do this one for kids. I haven't used it yet but am thinking about it for ds2 who is 8.

Thai deodorant stone.

Thanks isit. I saw that when I was having a Google but it says aged 8 and above. I wonder what changes between 5 and 8...

Is it her or is it her clothes? Try the old white vinegar in the wash trick.

Definitely her! (unfortunately)

If she needs it, she needs it.

The age 8 and up thing is probably a general warning; an 8-year-old is less likely to put it on her mouth than a 5-year-old, etc.

What about this one:
www.amazon.com/Keep-It-Kind-Fresh-Deodorant/dp/B00GXORHF8/ref=pd_sim_bt_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0PQ0EX3FR0FQ5Q93WTHT

I use fresh kidz on my 8 yo dd. she showers daily but still gets a whiff!

To clarify-Not with the deodorant tho- it has definitely done the trick!

I noticed the same the other day on my 7 year old DS2. It hadn't actually occurred to me to take him to the doctor, should I?

I was surprised as my 11 year old DS1 doesn't suffer at all. My biggest problem though will be trying to persuade him to use deodorant - he didn't care at all when I ever so kindly tried to explain that other people might not like the smell and might mention it to him!

I'd not hesitate in getting her some effective deodorant. What about the body shop? Or a 'simple' one? They may be better for sensitive skin.

I'd use a natural deodorant rock or something similar. I would also visit the Dr

Thanks for the suggestions. Feel irrationally sad that we have to be dealing with this already.

is she washing properly (with soap) under the pits?
if yes maybe you should take her to the gp.

Harriebabe - I couldn't find much information about 'premature BO' but what I did find suggested ruling out a medical cause... I think it is more normal at 7 than at 5 though?

I agree with having a word with the GP. There was a thread about this the other day. But in the meantime I think I'd use the deodorant because it was be nice for your DD if other children comment on it.

Is she drying herself properly?

The bacteria which cause the smell do love the dark and damp.

that should be won't. sorry.

I am pretty sure she is washing and drying herself properly as although I encourage her to do it herself I do oversee it and try to check. Does anyone have a link to the other thread about this please? was it on AIBU?

No worries Vivinnemary - I got that

I'll try and find it. But my computer is slow.

Thank you Viviennemary

There is one in 'chat' and one in 'parenting' both in the last few days. Apologise for not doing links but computer is playing up and taking ages to load longer threads.

The only time I ever heard of this was a little girl who had a medical condition causing premature puberty and, in her case, there were other symptoms.

I thought that telling you that might sound quite scary, so I just googled and there were lots of causes of body odour in children, some complex, others not (one article asked if a child drank a lot of cow's milk, which might be a cause ... that sounded easily rectified).

All the articles I just read, however, did say to first take the child to a doctor and one article helpfully reminded parents not to wash their child before going to the doctor, so that the doctor could 'smell' the problem for themselves.

Good luck!

I think you have the right idea getting it checked out just in case. Tom's of Maine do lovely, natural deodorants that would be absolutely fine on young skin.