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Original poster

To be miffed after this phone call from DS school

406 replies

GypsyWanderer · 03/02/2022 09:57

So DS is 14. I just got a phone call from a woman at the high school (I don’t recognise her name and not even sure if she is a teacher or whatever) and she tells me several members of staff and students have noticed my DS smells! I am mortified obviously. He has regular showers and deodorant etc.

I guess I’m miffed because I don’t know what to do about it except tell him every day to have a shower and deodorant which I do anyway with all the kids. I’m just shocked that several students and teachers have noticed when me and DH haven’t. Also kind of wish they had sent me an email rather than an embarrassing phone call Blush

OP posts:
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Fayekrista · 04/02/2022 18:00

Blazer!! Had same issue with my 13 Yr old boy. Fresh shirt everyday, showered, deodorant etc
His blazer isn't washed as often (rarely back then til I realised I admit)

Barney60 · 04/02/2022 18:05

Just a simple thought..
Did they say when they telephoned what kind of smell, did they say BO?
Is it possible hes hanging around with others that may smoke?

WTAFhappened123 · 04/02/2022 18:08

I would have expected a member of the pastoral team to call me if it’s an issue…perhaps you are nose blind? I put two caps of zoflora in my 2 boys school uniform wash and wash on high to hopefully get any potential for smells out.

FontSnob · 04/02/2022 18:10

You sound like a very lovely person (and a top mum).

bobbetybob · 04/02/2022 18:18

Do the school know he walks 2 miles op? I work in a school and have regular contact with a 14 year old with strong BO, I wouldn't call his parents as he does a fair old cycle mostly up hill to get to school each day in his blazer. I know this because I regularly drive past him. It could be the walk, maybe school aren't aware.

OnTheB · 04/02/2022 18:22

If you don't know who called, could it be a nasty prank call??
Personally I would have asked who I was speaking with and what role they have in my child's school.

If it is a teacher (or someone from the school) at least you're aware and now can look into it! Some people don't smell their own smell! So, it may be something you've not noticed but others obviously have.
Even him being 14 I would still make sure he showers regularly, brushes his teeth when he should and doesn't wear the same clothes etc. More than he should!
I hope you get to the bottom of it.

Dnaltocs · 04/02/2022 18:23

It’s better a phone call as it’s not necessarily on his record. If it continues, silly as it seems, they will inform Social Services, under the heading of neglect.

Vloggamammy · 04/02/2022 18:24

What did you decide to do ? Did you ring school ?

hivemindneeded · 04/02/2022 18:26

Mine went through a phase of lounging in the bath for an hour every night but not actually washing. The bubbles helped a bit but feet and pits need a scrub if you are a teenage boy. Also, they can bathe and forget to wash their hair. I often complain to DC about the smell of their hair as I hate stale hair, but they refuse to wash it very often, even though they shower or bathe every day.

Vynalbob · 04/02/2022 18:28

One of ours needed a prescription deodorant for a couple of years (puberty)... after that they were fine.

Apart from that
sure✔️
other smells (smoke etc)
food
clothing

007Stocko · 04/02/2022 18:31

Another thing to look out for is shoes! I had a problem with a pair of particular shoes that made my feet smell, and I could smell it with my shoes on. No idea why this particular pair and not others, and it did take me a while to work out what it was.

LostFrog · 04/02/2022 18:33

I have to make these calls sometimes. It has to be done in that way because it can be a safeguarding issue and a sign of something else that may be wrong at home. It is usually accompanied by a chat with the child as well, have they done this?

Jewel52 · 04/02/2022 18:34

@Interviewdisaster

Are you sure it was actually a staff member? Did they sound like an adult? Is there any chance it could be some sort of prank? Pretending to be a teacher and calling someone’s mum to tell them that they smell would have been considered the height of hilarity when I was at school Hmm
I thought the same - does sound like the school but more like a prank. Particularly if you’re unclear on the role of the person who got in touch. At my children’s school this would be handled by their head of house or form tutor and probably dealt with more delicately. Is there anyway you can check up?
Hadtocomment · 04/02/2022 18:43

Sometimes clothes that have been washed but just not quite dried properly can smell really bad even though they are officially clean. Or things that might have got a bit wet - maybe in the rain - and then not dried through quite properly. Particularly if it happens a few times or the material is quite thick or they aren't hung in an airing type way (often a collar or a scrumpled arm might trap the wet and not dry fast enough for example).

I'd think it would be unlikely to be the dogs. But if it was - I'd be a bit worried if they smell so much. I have met the occasional very smelly dogs in my time but normally they have not been in optimum health or their coat is very thick and they've not been brushed regularly enough or they are given the wrong food. Excessive bathing of dogs shouldn't be necessary. In fact if you do this too much it might even have the opposite effect. Most dogs smell a bit doggy particularly if they get wet but not extreme enough to come off on someone and remain after a two mile walk to school. I think I'd investigate if it might be something clothing wise that is getting wet and is thick and doesn't dry well. Or maybe it's sweating on the walk to school activating old sweat in the clothes that hasn't come out due to dry clean only or not quite being washed on high enough temperature or something like that. Or maybe just not realising and putting the occasional unwashed item on along with the other washed ones? People have different sensitivities of smell and maybe some might not be so aware. The only other thing is it isn't bad breath is it? I'd maybe check if teeth ok and no infection or anything. It is very hard to smell your own breath so hard for someone to realise without a helping hand. Hope you find the answer. I understand it's embarrassing - they probably didn't want any of the students to say anything to him so alerting you so as not to embarrass him which is better I think.

Inwiththenew · 04/02/2022 18:46

If it’s his pits, look up armpit mask. It’s a clay mixture that you put on armpits and is brilliant at getting rid of smells. You have to do it a few times or once a week depending on how much detoxing needs to be done.

Mirw · 04/02/2022 18:48

If he is showering every day it might be medical. One of my brothers was particularly smelly! It turned out that he sweated excessively and this caused the smell. Our GP was able to give him pills that stopped it until he outgrew whatever it was. It would seem that it can be genetic and his boy had the same thing, but he was aware and got his boy seen to before anyone at school complained. Taje him to see your GP.

mumwon · 04/02/2022 18:56

if it has not been mentioned/suggested if its not raining hang their blazers outside inside out on a hanger when they come in if its still day light & all day either Saturday or Sunday -fresh air can really help even if the garment has not been washed

museumum · 04/02/2022 18:56

If he has exema do you avoid biological washing powders or liquids?
If you do then maybe try a sports wash like “halo” which is specifically designed to fight sweat odour. We swear by it for stinky sports kit www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/all-price-lock/halo-sports-laundry-liquid-1l-25-washes-

AutomaticMoon · 04/02/2022 19:01

Magnesium Glycinate stops BO after months of taking it. Magnesium deficiency is super common and can aggravate BO. As can polyester fabrics.

Luna9 · 04/02/2022 19:02

Maybe his clothes not washed or dried properly or dried too wet

AutomaticMoon · 04/02/2022 19:02

@Inwiththenew

If it’s his pits, look up armpit mask. It’s a clay mixture that you put on armpits and is brilliant at getting rid of smells. You have to do it a few times or once a week depending on how much detoxing needs to be done.
Wow! That sounds cool. Magnesium milk or cream or spray also neutralise armpit odours.
AutomaticMoon · 04/02/2022 19:08

Oh and I read about a study that still found fecal matter in clothes washed at 40 degrees 🤮 And most clothes are ‘wash at 30’ so this is v upsetting. I had a friend who lived in damp basement flat and all her things smelled like mildew, like they hadn’t been dried properly but it was her slum landlord’s fault for refusing to fix penetrating damp 😞

I have a waffle cotton long sleeve t shirt and lately the collar smells like mildew after 1 night of using, never used to happen. I have to wash it at 60 degrees to kill this smell, 40 or 50 doesn’t do it.

AutomaticMoon · 04/02/2022 19:10

This can happen if the clothes aren’t spun enough before drying. OP, perhaps your WM can do with a clean?

AutomaticMoon · 04/02/2022 19:11

Didn’t even think of that, it could definitely be a prank! Used to do prank calls as an (constantly unsupervised) child to entertain myself.

deedeemegadoodoo · 04/02/2022 19:14

I’m not saying this is the case with your child, but I’ve known staff having to contact home due to the child not wiping their bottom properly or soiling themselves (none medical reasons). This is teenagers as well.

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