DD problems with smells

[MuppetsMuggle]

my DD 3.10yrs, has always been a very clean person (doesn't like having dirt on her clothes - we go through about 3 changes of clothes a day, always washing her hands etc) and has always has a thing about smells. it was really bad at first, where she would constantly get go on and get upset about it, so it would cost me a fortune in air freshener. at one point she started to get a little better, but all of a sudden the problem has returned, so again costing me a fortune in air freshener. if i don't spray room freshener, she gets really upset and sets her asthma off.

Any ideas what this is, and how do i tackle it??

I think that if she was my dd or GP I would consider speaking to the health visitor, sounds as if she has some obsessive traits.

Wrt the air freshener, afaik this in itself is not a good idea with asthma. Could you open the window for a short period for fresh air.

Are there genuinely any smells? (say if you have changed a nappy or forgotten to empty the bin or whatever?)

Could you turn it into a game? Big, OTT, happy'eeeeeewwwww YUK' or 'oh NO!' when she smells something or gets dirty so it can be acknowledged iykwim. We say oh NO never MIND. But dd got all weirdy about glitter on her knee yest . Took a while of teasing and 'you're all SPARKLY isn't it FUNNY?' brainwashing but we got there...

And maybe some messy play with you? Has she seen you get messy and react like it's funny/not a big deal?

It sounds as if she has some sensory issues-my DS5 has Asperger's and is very over-sensitive to smells. (he also washes his hands obsessively.)

How is she with her other senses-does she find loud noise upsetting, or dislike the feeling of clothes? Any problems with eating?

MM, sounds similair to my DD.
She is 4 has a very sensitive sense of smell also and can get quite upset if her brother is drinking juice near her as she cant stand the smell of it, she has been like this from about 2.

She woke up one night and I went in to settle her she was about age 3 at the time, I leant in to kiss her and she said " you eaten nobbly bobbly" !! I had about an hour earlier after she was asleep.

She uses her sense of smell to decide whether she likes something or not quite often and really doesnt like bad smells and wont put up with them, but I dont pander to her, I just say well move away from what you dont like the smell of or go and get some fresh air outside in the garden.

Onepiece i have windows open for fresh air everyday. generally there are no smells unless DD has broken wind lol

Tiggi - DD has no problem with eating, she eats a very good healthy diet. Regards to clothes not the feeling of them, she just doesn't like getting dirty iykwim. Loud noise she doesn't mind, but doesn't like being in a crowded place/room.

Tidgy - That sounds just like my DD.

Right now shes playing with her Fifi cottage, shes just said Fifis boots are dirty so shes gone and put them in the sink to wash.

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Could you use a water spray or something rather than air freshener?

seeker thats a good idea.

add to shopping list water spray bottle!!

do you think i should see our doc about what it could be ie OCD or something.

seeker thats a good idea.

add to shopping list water spray bottle!!

do you think i should see our doc about what it could be ie OCD or something.

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bump - its getting worse.

should i take her to docs?

Yes. For your peace of mind if nothing else. Either there's something there that needs to be resolved or treated, or the doctor will tell you he can't see anyhting wrong. If there is something wrong, then you'll know and be able to start coping with it, and if thee isn't then you can start trying to remedy your dd's behaviour yourself, perhaps by getting her to interact with other chldren in a situatio where they will potentially get dirty. Maybe seeing other children coping will 'shame' the behaviour out of her - if there isn't an underlying problem.

But you won't have any peace of mind over this until you see a doctor. From that perspective, the worst he could do is say it's nothing.

Maybe your DD is destined to be a great perfumer? It isn't necessarily a bad thing to have a highly developed sense of smell.

Tott - she goes to pre-school/nursery everyday, but i have to take extra clothes in incase she gets to dirty, they try and help with not allowing her to change to much iykwim.

I'll book an appointment, thanks.

BA - its not that its a bad thing, its just she gets really upset when you say you have to deal with it iykiwm.