Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

7 year olds told to bring in deodorant for after PE

32 replies

Loz1975 · 17/11/2015 08:40

Hi, is this a normal request please in other schools? My dd has come home and said that their teacher has requested that they all bring in deodorant for after PE as there's a horrible smell in class afterwards. They are all 7 and the birthdays are from May in that class so no one 8 until May through August.
Can children this young even use deodorant? I wouldn't even spray it in the same room as my DC. Is this really ok and the done thing?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BoboChic · 17/11/2015 08:44

I doubt deodorant is the solution to a stinky post-PE class of 7 year olds. If they were all freshly bathed with clean gym kit before they started, that should suffice.

Lonecatwithkitten · 17/11/2015 08:49

My DD needed to use roll on from this age, not that she always did. But she was never asked to take it to school.

Original poster

Loz1975 · 17/11/2015 08:50

Quite agree. They bring their PE bag home at the end of each half term only so I sneak to all my DC's pegs once a week to take used t-shirts and replace with fresh ones before bell.

OP posts:

AChickenCalledKorma · 17/11/2015 08:54

My 13 year old doesn't even use deodorant yet! And her pits don't smell at all. Her trainers are another matter ...

Possibly there are one or two smelly kids and the teacher doesn't want to single them out. But I wouldn't supply deodorant for a 7yo that doesn't need it. It's just unnecessary chemicals on very sensitive young skin.

StormyBlue · 17/11/2015 08:58

I wonder if there are a few precocious kids who have started to really pong, but it would be unfair to single them out so they have made a blanket request.

Schools often have a roll on only policy, sensibly.

Original poster

Loz1975 · 17/11/2015 09:19

Yes that makes sense not to single anyone out. So it's ok to give roll on then? It's the aerosol I was worried about, with everyone spraying it in class but perhaps she meant roll on. I've older children and never had a request from school before , this was just from teacher to the children, other mums had the same request from there DC last night as well. My daughter doesn't need it, I'll wait and see if a letter comes home perhaps. Thank you all.

OP posts:

Seeline · 17/11/2015 10:07

Ours were requested to take in a deodorant from Y5 - although again I don't think any of them really needed it.
We were specifically told it had to be a roll-on - 30 kids filling the air with Lynx and Impulse wasn't considered helpful to the asthmatics in the class!!

BertPuttocks · 17/11/2015 10:19

We've never been told to send in deodorant but have had letters that request only roll-ons are used in school.

Dd used to complain to me about her Yr3 classroom smelling after PE, so that would have been 7 - 8yr-olds too.

BertrandRussell · 17/11/2015 10:20

"I doubt deodorant is the solution to a stinky post-PE class of 7 year olds. If they were all freshly bathed with clean gym kit before they started, that should suffice."

Yes, but they aren't all going to be, are they?

MooseAndSquirrel · 17/11/2015 10:29

Yep I've worked a few places where older primary children are asked to bring roll on - every time there's been one or two stinky kids and it would be horrible to single them out, so a blanket rule is much kinder.
I don't like the idea of chemicals on my non stinky 7year old - so I would buy her the natural coconut one, my mum bought me one when I was pregnant with DD2 (crazy sensitive skin) and it works (mildly) think she got in from amazon

steppemum · 17/11/2015 10:29

the funny thing is that they need to wear it BEFORE pe and not after. Putting roll on onto stinky pits won't take the smell away, it will just add roll on smell to the sweat smell!

My eldest 2 started using deo at around 8-9, because they smelt. Youngest is 8 and doesn't smell yet (it is very distinctive when they start the hormone sweaty smell) I would not be happy with her being asked to wear deo at school.

I would ignore unless a letter comes home, and then quietly question.

misscph1973 · 17/11/2015 11:05

I think it's their feet that smell. They wear the same school shoes 6 hours daily, think about it. shoes can't really be washed on the inside.

Clutterbugsmum · 17/11/2015 11:10

I think it's something teachers do now day and is part of the PHCSE lessons, and to be fair it's not particularly nice if you have a classroom with 30 smelly children in.

It also depends on the child, my dd1 didn't need to use it until probably yr 6 where as dd2 who is 8 has just started as she is being to smell on days she has PE.

ghostspirit · 17/11/2015 11:15

i dont think kids should use spray. roll on maybe but not spray. i did not think 7 year olds got BO .i guess is must differ. might be good to get one for sensitive skin to.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 17/11/2015 11:18

Wouldn't it be better if they used a roll-on antiperspirant before PE, rather than just adding a fragrance over the top of sweat afterwards?

I used to be an exam invigilator in ds1's secondary school - the atmosphere of BO and Lynx was so thick you could almost slice it. All this teacher is going to end up with is a classroom that smells of whatever sweaty smell was already happening, with a fug of 30 different scents over the top.

And in my experience of Lynx body spray - that stuff is basically weaponised fragrance. One teenage boy, wielding a can of Lynx, can fill an entire house with a concentration of Lynx you can taste. Imagine all the boys in the class, with different cans of Lynx or similar!

Monahed · 17/11/2015 11:24

I'd question with the school if maybe it's not just the kids that whiff, it's the PE kits left in school for a half term. Ewww.

And believe me ghostspirit, some 7 year olds do get BO. My dd has needed a roll on since she was 7 - the polyester PE polo shirts don't help. But the key is that she has a shower/wash in the morning and THEN puts on the deodorant, before PE. Plus she has a fresh polo shirt for each session.

I wouldn't be happy with a request from school like this. It's a pretty bad habit to get children to use a roll on after PE, and not useful for those that don't need it. As a start they should instead send the PE kit home weekly.

TheWildRumpyPumpus · 17/11/2015 11:30

My 8 year old can come home from school some days properly honking. I really wasn't expecting to be dealing with BO at this age, so it's a real surprise.

2 days a week he does a before school sport club and then gets changed straight into uniform with no chance for a wash. Then during the day he has hockey or other PE - then he stays late 2 days for gymnastics and basketball.

I've started sending in body wipes for a quick clean up under the pits after the early morning club. His PE get washed twice a week as he comes home in it regularly but he must sweat loads during the day.

quirkychick · 17/11/2015 11:35

We haven't had this yet, though dd is in Y5. Also, aerosols are triggers for asthma. But surely a taking kit home at least weekly and roll on before PE would help.

Notcontent · 17/11/2015 22:26

Tricky. At this age they shouldn't be smelly and need deodorant as long as they have a bath or shower daily. The problem is that if mumsnet is a true reflection of society, it seems that most people don't think kids need a bath more than twice a week....

LynetteScavo · 17/11/2015 22:39

After PE is too late, isn't it? Surely they would need to use it before activity to stop them sweating...the clue being in the name "antiperspirant". After PE they would need something to cover the smell. I can't imagine any primary school being happy with sprays....and roll-on after PE is shutting the door after the horse has bolted.

DD was told to useantiperspirant in Y5..along with a crop trop to "prepare her for a bra." The poor child won't need a bra in the next 5 years.

I would have thought at this age a daily shower and fresh clothes would be enough.

ClearEyesFullHearts · 17/11/2015 22:49

For everyone who has primary children who smell, please some advice of particular brands of deodorant or anti-perspirant you use? Even which wipes.

I think it's finally time for my eight-year-old. I've been resisting for over two years but even the doctor says there's nothing wrong, she just has body odour.

Mandzi34 · 18/11/2015 06:50

ClearEyesFullHearts - my 8 year old is the same! She's worse than my 10 year old boy who only smells slightly when he's been running around.

Jftbo74 · 18/11/2015 06:56

I wouldn't comply with the instruction and would inform the teacher. I dont see PR as good reason to put unnecessary chemicals on a7 year olds skin

YakTriangle · 18/11/2015 07:12

I would actually be quite cross for my DC schools to send home instructions about what underwear they should be wearing and what age they should wear deodorant. Shouldn't things like this be decided by the children and parents, rather than a member of staff?

Gileswithachainsaw · 18/11/2015 07:28

if the kids are smelling then they bees something.

not sure how would be deemed suitable for a school or anyone to ask. it's not pleaser to have to be in a room with people who smell.

I agree re chemical usage that would concern me too. however when it comes to more personal things like showered deodorant underwear there does seem alot of denial on MN. and alot of age restrictions before people will consider stuff no matter how the chikd is developing or what hygiene steps are needed.

Flip

1 2