9 year old DD with BO. Is this common?

[extrastrongblackcoffee]

Hi,

So my dd has just turned 9 and over the last week or two, I've noticed she has a hint of BO at the end of the day.

Isn't this really young?! I would have thought so. It doesn't seem right to buy her deodorant at this age but then I don't want her getting teased. You know how cruel girls can be!

Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks.

Yes it is within normal.

You can get some mild/natural deodorants suitable for young skin. Now is the time to start having 'that' chat and instilling good hygiene practice.

I think it is common these days for BO and breast buds to start as young as 8, so definitely within the bounds of normal.

What I don't understand is why?? When I was at primary this really wasn't the case for me or any of my friends

Yes, DD has been whiffy since she was 8 (though still doesn't reliably remember to put deodorant on at 11). A friend's DS was the same so it's not even just the girls. I agree, no bras in my year 6 but DD's friends are popping out en masse (though not her bizarrely, in spite of otherwise developing fast).

Thanks for the replies.

Tuiles, I actually had the "chat" this morning. Felt horrible and far too premature, but I made sure I didn't say that I had noticed anything with her (a good white lie I think) but that at this age, bodies start to change etc and so it's a good idea to change your top more often and maybe start having showers. She actually seemed quite excited! I think the mention of growing up, counteracted any embarrassment....luckily!

Thanks for the mild deodorant recommendations. I actually didn't know they existed Any brands in particular?

It is a bit of a mystery, as to why girls seem to be developing younger and younger isn't it.

Alarming really.

It does make you wonder about hormones in the water or something. I've heard people say it's due to better diet that kids are bigger and stronger and mature physically more quickly, but that just doesn't make sense. If anything diets now are more likely to be junky and I'm sure we did more exercise. My diet as a child was in no way deficient

If you Google deodorant for kids lots of brands come up, some made specifically for kids with friendly packaging. You can buy online but bigger chemists will do them, or Waitrose stocks natural ranges.

Well I'm 50, developed breast buds at 8 and started my periods at just turned 10, so it's not just a recent thing

My dd started needing deodorant at 9 and started her periods at 10

Costa - did you find that you were early compared to your year group at school? I just find it confusing and wonder if it's my memory that's wrong, but I started periods and deodorant at 12 (I can distinctly remember the onset of BO, so I don't think I was just in denial ) and I think I was pretty average for the time. A few people I know were 11 when they started with bras and periods, but most were 12 and plenty were 13.

I think I was probably the first, even before my sister who is two years older - but the others soon caught up IIRC

Yep my 9 year old daughter has had BO now for a good 6months, as do some of her friends, their mums have mentioned. I've given her a Sure roll on deodorant. She's got used to it now. She also gets oily hair, and has started getting some spots. I guess that time is coming, I've given her a discreet little bag with a spare pair of pants and a sanitary towel. I'd hate for her to get caught out at school. I've explained all about puberty to her, she's taken it all really well.

Yes, definitely normal. DD2 is quite whiffy if she doesn't wear deodorant, and has to be chased into the shower.

They do include "hygiene" in the little talks they have at primary school.

It's very normal, and it can happen some years before periods, breast buds, pubic hair etc. Some kids go through a brief phase of hormonal BO and then it all settles down again.

But you might want to run her through the Usborne What's Happening To Me book, which is quite age appropriate.

I definitely needed to use deodorant at 9- more than 20 years ago- but periods didn't begin til 12 and no breasts until about 6 months prior to periods so I think the BO thing is one of the first things to happen.

Dear OP,
My 9yo DD has been using deodorant since the age of 8 when she started having BO. She also has a smattering of public hair and just developing breast buds. We have had regular discussions about changes in her body (prompted by her) and she seems pretty comfortable with it. I rarely have to prompt her to put the deodorant on. We use Fresh Kidz deodorant (order it from Boots) as it has no aluminium or alcohol and is kind to her skin. I think that the advancement of the age of showing signs of puberty is pretty universal and is almost certainly related to improved overall health and nutrition.

I think there's always been some children who develop early equally those that develop much later.

I remember my first "sex ed/pubatity" talk was the summer term of year 5 might even been the spring term and I know one girl had already started periods and by no means the eldest, she'd have been 10? I on the other hand as the eldest didn't start till well past 14, maybe even passed 15. Pretty much every one else in between. This twenty something years ago.

Normal i guess is a range.

No I don't think to tbh. My dd just turned 11 today and she was the same. Started buying her roll on, making her shower everyday and clean pj's and tops, shirts foe school everyday etc. She still doesn't have public hair or boobs although she does have wee breast buds that she bangs occasionally and really hurts.

My sister who's now 25 started her peeiod at nine and had public hair at 7! I was about twelve I think maybe even 13, was in first year.

That message looks like iv been drinking with all the mistakes, I haven't! Damn autocorrect! Hopefully you get what u mean!

Public hair 😂

I'm 53, and I got my period at 9.