Personal hygiene becoming a battle

[justabigdisco]

Hi all. My 12yo (Y7) DD is a nightmare when it comes to personal hygiene. Needs to be made to shower, ‘forgets’ to wash her hands after using the toilet, ‘forgets’ to change her underwear, wear deodorant etc (which she definitely needs, I get a waft of BO when she removes her blazer if she hasn’t put it on). Happy to spend ages preening in front of the mirror in the morning (brushing hair, applying lip gloss etc) but isn’t bothered about getting the basics right and when I ask her ‘have you done x y z’ she lies about it and so I end up sniffing hands/armpits to discover that in fact she hasn’t done it.

Is this normal and do they get on with it eventually? Am getting increasingly frustrated that at her age I can’t trust her to just deal with this stuff herself, feels like I’m parenting a toddler. Any wise words most welcome (and yes, she is my eldest!)

Mine did go through a stinky phase. that was replaced by 30 minute showers, tons of deodorant and scents and copious amounts of hair mousse, gel and spray!
Mum friends reported the same with their offspring.

I think this is normal, sorry OP. Just keep reminding calmly and eventually she will get it.

Yes normal, sorry.

They do come out the other end!

It’s very normal!!

we introduced baths etc at night to avoid them having no time in the morning

Ok this is all reassuring thanks everyone! Do I continue to sniff her armpits and send her back upstairs to add deodorant, or just let her be stinky though?!

I'd just say to her to remember deodorant Dd every single day until it passes and it does pass, like a pp said the 30 minute showers are on the horizon! seriously though I think they struggle accepting puberty and the changes in their bodies and the difference in sweating so its all about avoidance,

I could have written this exact post! Thanks for both this and all of the reassuring responses!

sorry and shower agree with them going at night so they have time to faff about in the morning.