DS9 smells like boy

[yellowgecko]

He’s only 9 and the boy smell has been there for at least 12 months. He showers every day, I wash his hair 3 times a week and I’ve got him one of those kid-friendly deodorants.
Tops are washed daily.
It got worse recently, and I think he’s not been washing properly, so I’m checking post-shower and sending him back in if I can still smell him.

What else can I do?? I know that kids can / will smell, but he’s 9, not a teenager yet 😢 I can’t spray him with Lynx yet (or whatever the cool kids smell like these days). Any advice appreciated. I’m trying so hard to be casual and not give him a complex about it. I’m worried kids at school will notice and be mean, especially when he’s been running / sweating. He’s skinny, average height, very active.

This is why I’m starting to check again, because I don’t think he is washing properly, which is not helping.
I wash clothes at 40, bedding / towels at 60. All tops get the armpit sniff test at shower time, 99% of the time they go straight into the wash basket!

Yes BO. I was trying to put it kindly

9 feels so young. Maybe the next step is a ‘proper’ deodarant. I like the suggestion of tea tree from PP, I will look into that

Well girls do have BO as well so it’s a bit odd to call it a boy smell!

I think that's right op. Ideally adult ones would have gentler ingredients but they don't because they generally just don't work.

Also, I know a couple of people who don't smell too fresh (both women actually). They are both wedded to shower gel: it doesn't do the trick.

DH uses Dove bar soap (as do I) and smells fine. Its quite gentle. I'd start there (he does need to properly lather it on) and if that doesn't help you may need to up the deodorant.

Also, I think you are right not to make him self-conscious (you stink etc), but it can be done in a way that makes him feel its a right of passage, getting grown up etc ("you need more than a baby and little kid's routine now").

If you don't tackle it, kids at school will ... I'd much rather get in first!

Thanks for this I will look into it. Oh bless her, 6 is so young 😕

Little ones in my family use Fussy (as do I) which is natural and very effective.

Thank you, this is why I posted, the next step is probably a proper deodorant, I am just worried about him using it so young. But it may well be time.
He’s been using my bar soap (orange scented, quite strong actually!) and I can still smell him after the shower so washing lessons definitely needed.
Dove do roll on as well, I’ll look at those and the tea tree one.
Kids can be so mean, and he really would take negative comments to heart.

Proper bar soap, and make sure he scrubs himself properly. A flannel can really with getting clean.

Hair washing every day.

A proper adult antiperspirant. My DD needed to use one from about 7yo. She had BO.

Give the armpits of his shirts a scrub with laundry soap before washing, or soak in Napisan to get the smell out. I’ve been doing that to my DD’s shirts since she was 7yo.

How about Mitchum. Comes in spray, roll on and stick.

He could try wiping his underarms with witchhazel before applying antiperspirant. It helps to reduce the bacteria that produces the stink. Also make sure he’s applying antiperspirant straight after his shower. For example if he showers at night but doesn’t apply it until morning then he’s got a whole night of sweat and BO stinking up his armpits.

Well, despite the recent (and short-lived) Mitchum burning/itchy skin debacle, the truth is, even though I had a touch of it under one armpit, I - and all my friends - are back with Mitchum roll on because it is the undisputed King of Deodorants (and no longer burning with the reversion to the old formula!)

Actually there is Lynx antiperspirant spray and Lynx deodrant body spray, they are different. My lads used them was young teens with no BO problems. H uses the antiperspirant every day and smells fab.😍

I just remember the boys at high school drenching themselves in it! 😆

is he actually washing when showering? at that age I had to tell dc regularly that they need to actually use soap and not just stand under warm water for an hour

but tbh bodies undergo big changes that age. they (and parents) need to adjust to it.

and mothers are very sensitive to the smell of their children.

IME smelly children = cheap products and hit & miss usage of said cheap products. Bar soap (preferably a vegetable, ideally olive oil) or even black soap is best, with a friction mitt ALL OVER. The friction mitt needs to be washed after every use.

My DS does shower on, get wet and lather soap then turn the shower off and wash really well all over, all nooks and crannies from head to toe then shower back on to rinse off. Saves water as a bonus.

Tea tree oil is honestly great, I buy a little high quality bottle and it lasts ages. I let my daughter bathe herself, she's too old for me to be in there and wash her now, and if there's still a bo smell after we just clean the armpits with the oil. Never been any irritation and I've never smelt any bo after applying! Then deodorant after. The Conchus one is like a thick cream and excellent.
Got the oil tip after scouring the internet with the same issue. Honestly couldn't believe the smell coming from her at 6, I thought it was my sister's boyfriend initially 😂 I think a change in smell is the first signs of puberty/hormones changing as she's nearly 11 and in the full throws of it