My son is starting to smell but he's too young for this

[BurnTheBlackSuit]

The last three days (literally came on suddenly) my son has started to smell of BO. I am really worried this might be the start of puberty.

Whilst he is 10, and I know that's just about a normal age for boys to start puberty, he is really really short for his age and hasn't had a growth spurt at all (he grew about 4cm in the last year). I was hoping and expecting puberty to come late so he would have a chance to get a bit more growth in. He is so tiny...

Does puberty BO really come on over night? Might it be something else?

Should I go to the GP because he's so small and not having anything like a growth spurt?

And what can I do about the smell? Obviously he needs more showers, but what about deodorant for one so young? :(

It can be overnight, I would recommend a natural antibacterial deodorant if you're worried about the smell but don't want aluminum e.g. ones with tea tree oil, baking soda etc. as ingredients. Won't stop the sweat but if you're looking for one that will I'd start with one of the sensitive versions personally.
I wouldn't worry about the growth spurt for the minute, it'll probably come in later.

My ds is 10 and wears antiperspirant.

It could well be for him that smelly armpits are one of the first signs of puberty.

My ten year old wears a very gentle deodorant. It's just part of the process. Growth spurt etc will come!

Eh? DS has had this since he was about six. I thought that was early but 10 seems quite normal to me. We haven't had any growth spurts other than normal ones, I think that part happens later.

Regular showers are the first step and when it's not keeping it at bay any more get him a gentle/sensitive deodorant, just let him know it's both regular washing and deodorant, not either or. DS uses a roll on because I don't think he can manage an aerosol yet (he's 8.) He doesn't need it every day, which is just as well as he doesn't remember most of the time. If time is short in the morning get one which advertises that it works for 48 hours and he can put it on in the evening after washing before he goes to bed.

I came on to say that DD2 who is 6 has had issues with this over the summer too. We have made a bit of a joke about checking her pits in the morning Before school. It hasn't been an issue over the holidays

My two wore deodorant from the age of 7 or 8.

10 is totally normal. My DS had bo at 6 and started the rest of puberty at 10.

My DS started smelling at 10 but nothing else happened until this year (he's 14 now!). He is really only starting the growth spurt now and only recently got hair under his arms.
At first I got him the Boots 'Kidz' deodorant, then a Vaseline plain one, because the 'Men' ones were too grown up until he was more like a 'teen'.
In his class in school there is a massive variety in heights. Some lads still look about 9 still and some look 16.

My daughter started to smell of BO age 9 and she is a skinny thing who probably won't be hitting proper puberty any time soon. Get that deodorant!

sounds normal.
dc started bo when about 9.5 years.
daily bath, superwise that they actually use soap. new shirt every day. deodorant on days of sports club and pe.

10'is totally normal, the growth spurt will follow, they don't stop growing when they start puberty. Buy him some deodorant and ensure he showers daily.

If he seems very small to be starting puberty you could speak to the GP. Usually tall children start puberty earlier and shorter children are later so they gain that extra height a bit older.

10 isn't particularly young. Dd starting really humming at 8 and I can remember the school requesting Year 6 to bring in deodorants for use after PE.

Washing alone may not solve it entirely. Look into deodorants. Some will be harsher than others but there will be something suitable.