To want to take my DD for a check-up for this

[Ploughingthrough]

DH thinks I'm over-reacting which is why I'm asking for some opinions here! DD is nearly 7.5, and has fairly recently developed a very adult body odour (much like mine, after exercise). We live in a hot country but my DS sweats a lot and it doesn't smell like hers. She's very tall, 91st centile and is not overweight. She has, however, always been on this line. She's a very grown up looking girl - people always comment, for example she's started losing her baby teeth at 4.5 and now has 8 adult teeth that she's had for ages. I have some underlying concerns that she is careering towards puberty and the emotional and physical impact this could have on her if it starts earlier than it should. I do know 8 onwards is normal although I still think it sounds pretty young! DH thinks there's no need to follow it up, and doesn't want to medicalise something that is normal for her age. So, does anyone if the Body Odour IS normal for her age? would you go to a GP ? I just don't want to ignore a symptom that could be something that has an impact later. She is otherwise a healthy and happy girl and we've not mentioned a thing to her, other than to remind her to give her armpits a good scrub in the shower!

They said it was within the range of normal and there are more important signs of puberty to keep an eye out for.
I think it's a good idea to have it on record - for DD because I have issues with endometriosis/hormones etc and I don't know if she can inherit it.

I've also made sure that I only buy her cotton t-shirts, no polyester as it seems to be most noticeable when she wears those.

We've only noticed how bad the smell is since lockdown. We're really strict aboutaling sure he doesn't smell normally as we've warned him that he will get teased at school if he doesn't wash. You never, ever want to be known as the smelly kid at school.

I took my dd to the drs aged 7 when I saw she was developing & they said it was perfectly normal. She didn’t start her periods until she was nearly 12.

I've also made sure that I only buy her cotton t-shirts We live in a very hot, humid place so she only wears cotton anyway otherwise she'd be so uncomfortable.
Rentacar I think lockdown has certainly increased our awareness of the smell...

I noticed bo in my then 6 year old and what looked like the start of development. I suppose I should have taken her to the GP but I was exactly the same at that age. You could take her for reassurance though - definitely no harm in doing that.

Anyway, my dd is now 12.5, started her periods a year ago (normal and not the only one of her friends to do so) and is still growing. All seems well!

As a high school teacher in a hot and humid country overseas I will say our middle school (ages 10-14) corridors always stank of BO. The need for children to wash thoroughly, wear clean cotton shirts and wear deodorant sometimes was a common conversation between PE teachers and counsellors etc. So to me this sounds perfectly reasonable. I too am a furry Mediterranean and grew up there. I remember having BO from the age of around 8+ and didn't start periods until I was 14. I wouldn't be too worried but of course a visit to the doctor will no doubt be reassuring.

No advice about the possibility of puberty, but using real old fashioned soap rather than shower gel will help the smelly pits. Plus deodorant

Another tip I learnt thanks to DHs disgusting gym kit, is to spray the underarms of their tops with white vinegar before washing them as it neutralizes any residual odours. It may be that although they are still sweating, a lot of the smell is coming from their clothes too. Worth a try

My Dsis struggled with this as a child. No amount of washing helped. She managed it with a deodorant called Driclor. You put it on at night and wash it off in the morning. Eventually she didn’t need it anymore and just uses a regular antiperspirant.

She didn’t go through puberty any earlier than most other girls either.

Hope this helps some of you. X

My two daughters got BO at a similar age but didn't start periods until they were 12. I also started to use deodorant at 8 but didn't start my periods until I was 12. I didn't think there was a problem with my daughters and didn't go to the Dr.

It’s perfectly normal. That’s about the age they lose the little child smell and get body odor. You just teach them about deoderant and move on.
There’s no need to take her to a doctor. It will make her think she is too young (she isn’t) or that she smells “especially bad” (she probably doesn’t).

Thanks for all the replies on this thread. My DS is 8.5, amongst the tallest in his class (despite average parents and being one of the youngest in his class). Ive just started noticed him smelling. Nothing too bad but I want to get deodorant or whatever sorted before September

My 11 year old DS has BO and has had it since he was about 7/8. He's needed to wear deodorant since then and that solves the problem. Although he's taller and looks older than his peers he hasn't started puberty yet.

To be fair they’ll triage you, so you don’t need to be deciding if this is worth a check up - it’s for the doctors to decide how best to help you.

No harm to call the GP - they may be happy to reassure and advise over the phone or might think she needs to be seen face to face.

However I have taken advantage of this heads up to read a book about puberty to him. Didnt read it all but he knows we have the book now so I ll leave it in his room.

However I have taken advantage of this heads up to read a book about puberty to him

If you do this, remember to warn best friend's mum!

It's probably normal - I think some people just develop an odor more easily than others. That said no harm in going for a check up just to make sure.

Lol good point about warning best friends mum as best friend is small and slight for his age so unlikely to develop early.

However as they won't see each other for at least 2 weeks and quite probably 4 weeks DS will probably have forgotten by then

I'm pleased I've came across this thread, my dd is 6 and she said to me her armpits were smelly, I had a sniff and sure enough they were. You would never smell it from a distance though I have to literally have my nose in her armpit! I keep checking and they aren't smelly all the time sometimes she could have been running around and there's nothing then other times she hasn't done much and it's there. I've been really worrying about it I thought she was too young.