I am concerned about my 5 YO DD smelling of BO!

[EarlyInTheMorning]

About 8 months ago, when my dd was just 4 years old, I noticed a slight smell of BO on her armpit. I was quite shocked actually. I switched from normal milk to organic and the smell went away.... until yesterday.

Right after her bubble bath I was putting her pyjamas on and I noticed the smell was back. This was right after her bath and she is only 5 years old!

Is this at all normal? I think I'd like to discuss it with her GP but I would want her to hear the conversation. How would you go about this? Have any of you experienced this or is it just my dd?

I had this with my dd when she was the same age as your dd, she is now 8. I was really worried that she was going to start puberty early. I decided to put a tiny bit of a sensitive deodorant on her just on school days, just in case any of the pupils noticed, and have been doing that ever since. I also put her in clean clothes every day and bathe her daily making sure she washes under her armpits thoroughly. She has not gone on to develop any further signs of puberty so far. She is tall for her age though. I know other mums have asked this question on Mumsnet.

I like you made the connection between normal and organic milk, makes you wonder what is in our food nowadays doesn't it?

I noticed the same on my dd at 4 and have been quite worried about precocious puberty etc however there are loads of threads on mumsnet about this so it seems that its quite common. She's now 5 and only gets it when she's been running around a lot etc I got a crystal deodorant to use on her but dh objected. Think I might insist as don't want other kids to notice.

Maybe milk connection- there's so many oestrogenic chemicals around though

I would definately look at diet. Other than milk I would look at if you are using rich ingredients or potent spices, red meat will all cause smells in some people when they are excreted through the pores.

My OP meant to say 'I wouldn't want her to hear the conversation', not that I would want her to hear the conversation about her BO with a GP.

So thank you for your replies, I see perhaps it isn't that uncommon. Would you still mention it to a doctor?

Frequent baths/showers and especially bath products strip the protective layer of the skin. I would try to reduce the number of baths/showers and not use any fragrant bath products, including soap but use Junior Oilatum or similar products instead.

dikker, I am really not sure that a child with BO should have less baths. Less chemicals, yes, but less baths will not help with the smell, will they?

My eldest dd was the same, OP - occasional smelly (really smelly!) little pits aged 4, and I was shocked. I did mention it to the GP, and I said 'BO' which dd didn't understand or worry about - but it was during a consultation for something else, so I sort of slipped it in iyswim.

GP was unconcerned, and I chatted to mums here on MN about it then bought dd some natural deodorant for school days/hot days. Tom's of Maine, I think??

Anyway, she is now nearly 9 and fairly tall for her age, developing fast but no sign of actual puberty yet. I wouldn't be surprised if she got her periods at 10, or even 9, but that isn't considered unusual anymore apparently.

She still gets BO quite easily, but knows all about how her body is just a bit more grown up that way, and ahead of itself - so knows how to manage it

Gawd they just seem to grow so fast....