Funky 7 1/2 Year Old Boy!

No, 7 1/2 is not too young. Get one that does not contain aluminum! Watch the wording close: some have aluminum but don't use the actual 'word' aluminum in the active ingredients; such as GLY, GLY anhydrous, zirconium trichlorohydrex, zirconium pentachlorohydrex. Arm and Hammer, Tom's and Suave MEN are some I know are aluminum free.

Nope -it can happen! Just get him some deodorant! The Arm and Hammer actually seems to work -my husband uses it a lot.

Yes kids this age get underarm smells already.

My daughter is 7, and she uses deodorant.
We use the Arm & Hammer "Essentials Natural Deodorant" which is aluminum free and paraben free. And it works.

My daughter has no problem/hang ups using deodorant. It is just matter of fact, and she knows she smells if she does not use it.

all the best,
Susan

Tussy brand is hypoallergenic and a good one to start with. It was my first deodorant. My oldest boy will be 7 this winter, can't hardly wait :)

My daughter who is 8 is getting smelly pits to so I have her use a mild deodrant. Some kids hit purberty earlier then others, some might also start having body ordor earlier to. I see know harm in deodrant. If your worried about the aluminium try Tom's natural. It is deodrant only with no anti persperant (that is what has the aluminium). It will help keep the funky smell down but doesnt protect against the wettness. Hope that helps

Just make sure he's washing all over. I think its way too young to start on deoderant, but if you do get him some PLEASE make sure it is not an antiperspirant. Antiperspirants have aluminum in them, which is absorbed directly into the skin and does not go away, so you're collecting it throughout your lifetime.
Very scary stuff!
Let boys be boys- they will certainly smell a little "funky" from time to time! Tell Gramma to lighten up :)

FYI in regards to first response. Organic milk does not last longer than regular milk. There are different levels of pasteurization, however, that might affect the shelf-life of milk. Organic milk may have other benefits, but extended shelf-life is not one of them.

I see no harm in introducing the pit-stick or some of that body spray stuff...but don't be surprised if, on occasion, he's still a bit funky...depending on how active he is.

Are you sure it is only coming from his pits? IMO, boys (at most ages) tend to have a 'wet dog' smell to them after playing outside, its an all-over body sweaty smell...not just isolated to their armpits. Do you know what I am talking about?

Washing the hands is always helpful.

~Please know, he will go crazy with the spray if that's the route you go:)

First make sure he's actually taking a shower and is using soap and washing everything, if he's like my son, he thinks a shower is just getting his head wet and standing under the water for 5 minutes.

I'd give him a shower, wash under his arms with soap. Send him out to play for the day and let him get all nice and sweaty and then smell him.
check and make sure it just wasn't a funky shirt he had on too.
I would opt for just powder first if that doesn't work, then go for some mild deoderant and tell your pediatrician next time you see the doc.

You may want to look into LUSH cosmetics, they are a natural and handmade product line and they have some powders that get great reviews! I love the products and you can order it online at lush.com! Good luck and he is a boy he porbably thinks COOL right now!!! Have fun! Take care.

I would recommend trying corn starch (NOT baby powder - breathing talc in is no good). I have a little jar of corn starch I use just for body sweat. Get him an inexpensive powder brush (I found them for about $6 at the drug store), barely dip the brush in and brush on. It's easy and helps a TON. I have been using it for years in the areas that tend to sweat a lot but where I wouldn't put deodorant at.

Try bathing him with anti-bacterial soap. Apparently there are just some people who have more body odors than others and anti-bacterial soap is supposed to cut down on this. Not sure if you can get it in the kids' section or if you want to use adult soap on him... You can also then just put baby powder under his arms. Try the Johnson's medicated baby powder (you can get it in Walgreen's and other drug stores).

Sounds like it is time for deodorant. He is growing up.

he is about the right age for the "funk". boys starting around that age in my family always had that funky smell. pasty, stinky, dampness...deoderant will definitely help and making sure he showers each night before bed. :)

Switch to Organic milk (organic everything else if you can), make sure he's washing all parts of him with soap, and get him some Tom's of Maine natural deodorant. Voila!

I'd like to second the opinion that you check to make certain he is washing his "pits". We still need to remind our nine year old boy that taking a shower means scrubbing his hair with shampoo, getting soap at least into all of his creases (pits, groin, bottom), and then rinsing all the soap and shampoo off.

Please consider not providing a body spray, it is bound to be overused and can lead to teasing at school or breathing problems for the staff. There shouldn't be any problem with a deodorant (check with your ped.) but an anti-perspirant is not good for the body.

L.! I had the same thing happen to my son at the beginning of the school year! I could not believe it. While I did by him some Tom's of Maine natural deodorant, I read about milk and all of the hormones it contains...just as a test, I switched to organic milk and guess what? It has been about 6 months and it has never happened again. I have also been buying all natural beef as well. But I suspect it was the milk. Might be worth a try if you're not already using organic milk, plus it lasts waaaaaay longer than regular milk in the fridge. Good luck!

ADDED*** Yes, it's the UHT treatment process that make it last longer (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=experts-...) but I've rarely seen UHT non-organic milk in the average grocery store. Not relevent to this discussion anyway :-)