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Parenting

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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:

MrsTerryPratchett · 17/09/2023 00:54

All the washing with soap in the world is not the difference between puberty pong and little kid pong. DD started minging at 8 and only Mitchum stood a chance. Yes, she washed every day and had new clothes everyday.

Puberty pong isn't because children stop washing.

Georgie743 · 17/09/2023 01:37

My DD got a bit pongy at 7. So did a couple of her friends. She's always had a daily bath/shower, but we added an anti perspirant. No pongs now. I think some kids just start whiffing earlier than others!

Wallywobbles · 17/09/2023 05:24

Both my DDs had bo at 7. Tried healthy deodorant but it was shit. They've used sure for over a decade now.

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7 year olds Children's health Families General health

Wtfnowseptember · 17/09/2023 05:42

I guess op is worried as children should not produce a BO smell until puberty. My very hot and sweaty ds did not produce any smell whatsoever. My dd had a BO smell from 3, when I was still daily bathing her and putting her in clean clothes. The gp said not to worry unless she showed signs of puberty e.g. breast buds, but she never did. She's close to puberty now and actually the smell has gone, although obviously she showers regularly and uses deodorant.

Hedonism · 17/09/2023 05:42

MrsTerryPratchett · 17/09/2023 00:54

Puberty pong isn't because children stop washing.

Absolutely agree.

Mitchum all the way here too, for my 8yo DD. It's the only thing that works. Her older brother does not smell yet! They both shower daily and have clean clothes every day.

Eastie77Returns · 17/09/2023 06:14

I read threads like this where people state that their DC only began to bathe/shower daily with the onset of puberty and it perplexes me.

Younger children get incredibly grubby, smelly (not BO but other odours), poo without wiping properly etc and yet it’s common on MN to read that parents bathe small children once a week with just a flannel face wash inbetween🤢

Original poster

textpest · 17/09/2023 08:57

@SadDustBunny No, I didn't mention sweating at all. Or say I was suprised she was sweating. I said I had noticed a smell and asked if it was normal as I hadn't noticed before. Learn to read things properly, stop being condescending and stop commenting on this post. You are unhelpful.

OP posts:

LittleMonks11 · 17/09/2023 09:10

BO can be a sign of impending puberty - but at the end of the day there isn't much you can do about it. Get her a little natural roll on deodorant for days when she has PE. I don't think she needs a GP appointment. My niece began her periods at 9.

SavBlancTonight · 17/09/2023 09:21

Dd was assessed for early onset puberty. When we saw the endochronologist, he told me that BO and even a bit of extra body hair are not really a concern or unusual. The symptoms they look out for are actual body changes such as breast buds forming (which was happening with dd).

So yes to more washing and some deodorant! But no, it's not unreasonable to have asked or be concerned.

SavBlancTonight · 17/09/2023 09:23

LittleMonks11 · 17/09/2023 09:10

Actually, they can delay puberty if it is starting too early. As young as 9 for their period is considered early but within limits. Signs of impending periods earlier would be a concern. If dd had been in early puberty when she was assessed, she would.likwlt have started aged 8 or even earlier. Too early for lots of reasons.

FrenchFancie · 17/09/2023 09:27

Dd at 7 was a bit pongy sometimes (but we lived in a hot country at the time so she sweated loads). We encouraged washing daily and using a natural deodorant. She’s nearly 11 now and just starting to show signs of puberty, so although I do think the bo was a sign of things changing, it didn’t mean she was about to go full blown puberty!

Barbiesback · 17/09/2023 09:28

Does your DD use an antiperspirant? DS is 8 and he's been using one for a while.

caringcarer · 17/09/2023 10:10

I'd put on a gentle Dove dry stick deodorant on her after her shower or bath every day. Show her how to do it.

LittleMonks11 · 17/09/2023 10:14

@SavBlancTonight yes puberty blockers exist but I don't think OP DD is actually developing yet. Or have I got that wrong?

LittleMonks11 · 17/09/2023 10:24

My own DD had temporary premature thelarche when she was about 3 and was under supervision for a couple of years just checking bone growth and any other signs of premature puberty. It just went away in the end. She's 12 now and is developing but hasn't started periods yet. We are on standby though and carry pads around!

AngryGreasedSantaCatcus · 17/09/2023 10:31

Some kids start earlier than others. We had y3 girls starting their periods. What I have noticed is that some children from certain ethnic backgrounds do start smelling a lot sooner. It's not a washing or cleanliness issue, as they're fine in the morning when they come in and clean. They do smell by the end of the day . I guess because they're so young, the parents don't think/realise that they would benefit from a gentle anti perspirant.

In contrast, DD is nearly 12, going through full blown puberty and she doesn't smell, so a daily shower and a roll on(when she remembers) does the job even when it's stupidly hot, she has PE and her school shirt is soaked.

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