To worry about my 6 year old daughter and early puberty?

[guitarstringseadgbe]

Today when I was cuddling my 6 year old, I noticed a very slightly sweaty smell (she had been dancing around btw).

I had a closer smell, and it definitely was coming from her armpits. Not strong, but was definitely there.

I am now desperately worried she’s starting early puberty. No signs of body hair or breasts etc.

Would you be worried? Has this happened to anyone else very young like this? Should I speak to the doctor?

it can start at 6 or 7, as this is very early i'd speak to my g.p about it.

Is she just 6 or nearer 7? The process of puberty can start as young as 7, and body odour is one of the first things, but that doesn’t automatically mean she’s going to start her periods in the next few months.

Try not to make a big deal out if it, use it as a gentle opportunity to talk about personal hygiene and just follow her lead.

yes, but op still needs to get advice from g.p as their may be under laying causes for it occuring so early and it needs to be checked out.

I’d add that I’d only consider talking to my GP at this stage if there were other signs such as developing breast buds or pubic hair.

Yeah, my niece has always been sweaty, even as a toddler. If there were other signs e.g. breast development, periods etc. I might consider a GP visit but for a slightly sweaty smell after exercise? I wouldn't be worried personally

My daughter started getting BO when she was 7 (she may even have been 6 as I remember she was year 2 and her birthday is July). She's 13 now and still hasn't started her periods!

Everything else - pubic hair, underarm hair, breast development etc. happened at the normal time.

I wouldn't worry.

My toddler smells sweaty after charging around at soft play, I wouldn't jump to that conclusion unless there are other signs or if you experienced very early puberty yourself

Thank you. To those of you with young children being sweaty, does it smell like actual adult sweat?

She only just turned 6 in August.

Thanks

My DD had BO from around that age. Other than the slightly smelly armpits she didn’t show any other puberty signs until she was eleven. I think some people just tend to be a bit more prone to BO than others, you can get deodorants for children if you think it’s becoming a problem, I probably wouldn’t go to the GP unless she develops breast buds or pubic hair.

Yes, my DD’s sweat smelled like adult BO.

DD1 had premature adrenarche - her adrenal glands have kicked off into puberty, but not her ovaries/pituitary gland.

She was growing public & underarm hair, had body odour and spots from 5 yo. No body-shape changes, breast growth etc as that's not the adrenal gland effect.

Best to be checked by a GP as there are extremely rare conditions that can bring it on that might need treatment. DD1 just has premature adrenarche on blood tests and Xrays on her hand to see if her bone growth was accelerated (it was - at 8 her bone age was 11, at 10 she was 14yo for bone growth. Obviously tall for her age but it should even out). No treatment needed.

It's worth a phone call, even if they want you to see if anything more develops after the body odour.

I started puberty at around age 6. Had a full B cup by 8 and periods by age 10.

It happens.

I noticed the same on DSD 6 in June (she was 6 in April). I brought her some children's deodorant as she's seen me use mine daily so it wasn't anything new to her. It's by 'Salt of the Earth' and is all things friendly. Also smells lovely! I got hers off Amazon but you can buy it elsewhere. She feels 'grown up' using it and it's started the habit around her hygiene & personal care before the rest of her body starts changing so it's not all too much to grasp/understand/come to terms with at once.

Yes, like very bad adult BO!

My eldest was the same at that age, I had to buy her deodorant very early on. There was a brand that was marketed for children and contained less chemicals and things that used to be available from the large supermarket locally. There's quite a range available online. There were no other early signs of puberty and she's now 11 and still developing at a typical timeline. But yes, definitely like adult b.o. Particularly after being active and dancing etc.

My son was 6 and a few months when I noticed he'd developed BO.

The doctor said it was within the realms of normal.

Aged 10 and he has pubic hair and has big feet and quite tall but no other signs. First pubic hair in year 4.

My DD had/has this. Started around 6 too I think. She’s 9 now and actually has a full underarm worth of hair.
When I spoke to a doctor about it, they said they only start to “worry” when there is pubic hair.
My DD now also has pubic hair sprouting. I really hope she doesn’t start her periods any time soon but timing wise, I don’t think anyone would do anything about it now.

We have a girl in my primary 1 (so just 5 if she even is) class who has noticeable BO. She is also diabetic and I wonder if this may be connected?! Is probably mention it to a dr at this age even just for piece of mind.

as an ex nurse i would totally encourage a visit a visit to the g.p because there can be under lying problems that is causing an early 'precocious puberty', a blood test will usually be done to check hormone levels at the very least. you certainly don't ignore it just because someone else's dc had it with no related problems.

@elfycat

DD1 had premature adrenarche - her adrenal glands have kicked off into puberty, but not her ovaries/pituitary gland.

She was growing public & underarm hair, had body odour and spots from 5 yo. No body-shape changes, breast growth etc as that's not the adrenal gland effect.

Best to be checked by a GP as there are extremely rare conditions that can bring it on that might need treatment. DD1 just has premature adrenarche on blood tests and Xrays on her hand to see if her bone growth was accelerated (it was - at 8 her bone age was 11, at 10 she was 14yo for bone growth. Obviously tall for her age but it should even out). No treatment needed.

It's worth a phone call, even if they want you to see if anything more develops after the body odour.

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Thank you everyone. She’s under a paediatrician for a totally unrelated issue so I’ll mention it. I have a phone call with him in 2 weeks.

I'd certainly mention it to your GP

My DD had definite BO at 6 then it disappeared for about 4 years and restarted when first signs of puberty arrived at about 10

I had extremely hairy legs, stomach, pubic region etc from the age of about seven.
Always best to check out with GP, but in my case turns out I’m just hairy
The rest of my puberty happened earlier side of average meaning I was tall for my age, began growing breasts etc before the other girls in my class. But periods bang on average at 12.5 years and because the rest of my puberty happened so early I stopped early so it evens out.
Now 5ft5 average weight B cup regular periods etc, still super hairy though!

My DNephews went through this. The elder one at seven years old (was huge) had bad skin and a full pubic bush. I believe the doctor put him on some kind of hormone blocker as it was very early.

He's a young teen now and yet looks physically like a 19/20 year old. Big and broad.

His little (also huge!) brother is six and just has very smelly BO type sweat. His mum is taking him to the doctors thigh as he's also started getting breakouts and she's concerned as he's far too young.

It's a genetic thing, but the dr can help...