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Original poster

7 year old DD has BO

41 replies

textpest · 16/09/2023 19:44

I've noticed a slight smell of BO on my (just) 7 year old DD. She doesn't seem aware of it and it is usually after exercise/PE. None of my friends have girls this age and I don't know if it is normal or I need to get her checked at the GP. She has had a bit of facial hair on her upper lip since she was about 3 but this is a family trait! She doesn't seem to have any other signs of puberty.

OP posts:
DelphiniumBlue · 16/09/2023 19:49

In my experience working in schools for several years, there are often at least one or two girls a bit pongy by the start of year 4. If she s younger than that ( just 7, start of Y3?) then yes that is a bit early, but not necessarily a sign that anything else is going to happen soon.
Do talk to the GP if you are worried. And ask your Mum what you were like at that age - it might just be how your family are.

Leafytrees · 16/09/2023 19:54

My dd's year 4 but a fair few of the boys and girls started showering and using deodorant last year for the same reason. I don't think it's anything to worry about, she just needs to wash regularly and you could look at a natural deodorant.

RoseDog · 16/09/2023 19:58

I think it's quite natural, remember to also make sure she wears a clean top and they are properly washed, not on cool quick washes, sometimes the stink is actually their clothes.

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Woush · 16/09/2023 19:58

The smell is not from sweat. Its the bacteria that feeds on sweat. Use this as a sign your child needs washing more. A daily bath/shower will stop any build up of bacteria.

SadDustBunny · 16/09/2023 20:03

I mean...You said it's after a workout right? Seven year old do sweat you know. It's got nothing to do with puberty. That's pretty normal. If she was inside doing nothing all day and still got that bad then I would be concerned. I'm honestly kind of mind blown that you're concerned that she sweats after physically exerting herself!

Original poster
textpest · 16/09/2023 20:16

Thanks, as I'm not a complete idiot I do realise exercise and sweat go together.

The issue was with her smelling/ if it was normal or needed checking as I have only recently noticed the smell.

I'm honestly kind of mind blown you don't read posts properly before commenting.

OP posts:
Woush · 16/09/2023 20:19

The issue was with her smelling/ if it was normal or needed checking as I have only recently noticed the smell.

Just needs you to wash her more after exercise or when it's hot weather. Then she won't smell.

Original poster
textpest · 16/09/2023 20:19

She showers every second day but will change this to daily showers for now and see how we get on

OP posts:
ArtyStripedSocks · 16/09/2023 20:22

This happened with my dc then it stopped. And came back at puberty

Woush · 16/09/2023 20:23

It's been really hot these last few weeks. That's likely added to the problem. If she waked up sweaty after a hot night, does some exercise the following day when her body us already sweaty, then plays in the afternoon after all that. Then by thr time bathtime comes, she may well be stinky.

Original poster
textpest · 16/09/2023 20:27

Thank you, I think you are absolutely right. More regular washing before I panic about puberty I think

OP posts:
Waldenistia · 16/09/2023 20:29

Make sure she is washing with soap.

MissAtomicBomb1 · 16/09/2023 20:30

Woush · 16/09/2023 19:58

The smell is not from sweat. Its the bacteria that feeds on sweat. Use this as a sign your child needs washing more. A daily bath/shower will stop any build up of bacteria.

Eh? I'm sure the op realises this!
If her child does PE at school in the morning, they may smell of sweat by the afternoon - are you proposing the op pops into school and bathes her child at lunchtime? Otherwise how would she prevent this. No amount of bedtime baths are going to prevent a child getting sweaty and smelly during the day.

Op, my DC is 7 and I've noticed similar over the last yr, mainly when he's been exercising. No other signs of puberty so I think it's within the range of normal.

MissAtomicBomb1 · 16/09/2023 20:31

Oh and I bathe him with soap daily so he's not dirty!

notthe1Parrot · 16/09/2023 20:31

I taught Y2 for many years, and the occasional child (boys and girls) had BO, often but not always after PE. A quiet word with the parent, usually by the Welfare Assistant, sorted it out.

MrsPepperp0t · 16/09/2023 20:33

My ds started to be a bit whiffy around this age. We found bar soap more effective than shower gel and bought him a stick deodorant.

DyslexicPoster · 16/09/2023 20:35

My 9 year old dd has BO. She is under 120cm and weighs 3 stone. I can't belive she is near puberty. Pongy bo and teenage boy bo where its so bad your eyes bleed hopefully aren't the same. My dd is only in year 4 and looks like a 5 year old 😨

caerdydd12 · 16/09/2023 20:35

ArtyStripedSocks · 16/09/2023 20:22

This happened with my dc then it stopped. And came back at puberty

Exactly the same here!

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 16/09/2023 20:37

Daily shower and use a bar of soap. Clean top every day. It's just a little hormonal blip getting ready for puberty later on. Roll on deodorant if this doesn't sort it.

rainbowlou · 16/09/2023 20:38

This happened with mine when she was 6, the gp referred her for a bone density scan to check for early puberty (She didn’t).

Woush · 16/09/2023 20:38

MissAtomicBomb1 · 16/09/2023 20:31

Oh and I bathe him with soap daily so he's not dirty!

Op, my DC is 7 and I've noticed similar over the last yr, mainly when he's been exercising. No other signs of puberty so I think it's within the range of normal.

Then your child also needs washing more often or more diligently too.

The smell hasn't come from one episode of doing PE. For BO to develop sweat needs to sit for a period of time, enough for bacteria to multiply. Ergo the BO smell is from not washing regularly enough or throughly enough.

it's no big deal. It'll likely be because of th recent hot weather.

Asterales · 16/09/2023 20:40

I'm not sure how relevant my input is here, because I only have a boy, but my year 4 eight year old has become noticeably whiffy over the last few weeks, this is a new thing, and I'm managing it by talking about how he's growing up, encouraging daily showers and have bought him a salt of the earth natural deodorant. This seems to be keeping everything in check and he seems quite pleased with his new regime. Based on an anecdotal sample of his peers I don't think it's out of the ordinary when they get to this age.

Leovaldie · 16/09/2023 20:40

I think there's a hormone surge at 7yo...my ds had really bad BO for a couple of months at that age but it went away and didn't come back until he was 15yo!

eurochick · 16/09/2023 21:34

Mine got suddenly pongy at 8. It seemed very early and she was one of the first in the class to use deodorant despite being one of the youngest. It came on overnight and we had a few pongy days while we found a deodorant that she was willing to use.

SadDustBunny · 17/09/2023 00:51

@textpest

You said it not me. And yes even 7 year olds can smell if they don't wash properly after having a physical activity session. Why on earth would that require a medical appointment? She's probably not showering or changing her clothing properly. Only in 2023 would a parent be concerned about their child breaking a sweat and smelling a little of BO after a solid workout!