Help~stinky Feet!!!!!

Updated on March 10, 2008
J.R. asks from La Porte, TX
37 answers

I know this sounds crazy but my son who is 2 (almost 3) always has stinky feet! I have noticed this after he started wearing the new shoes I got him for Christmas. I keep thinking to myself that those shoes were not cheep (Carter's brand) and now his feet stink. When I buy him cheep shoes (Payless) they never stink. Every night I spray the shoes and every morning they still stink. It's so bad that 30-40 minutes after I take his shoes and socks off and walk back into his room the smell is still VERY strong.

I am just wondering if it's the shoes and what else I can do to them to make them smell better. The have those lights in them so I'm not sure it's a good idea to throw them in the wash. Or is this a normal "little boy" issue. I come from a family of all girls so these boys are new for me.

Has anyone else had to deal with stinky feet??? LOL!!!! What did you do to help the smell?????

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So What Happened?

Wow!!! I was shocked by all of the advice I got. After trying many of the suggestions the shoes got the boot!!! LOL!!!! Tomorrow we are going down to Payless for a new (non stinky) pair!

THANKS FOR ALL OF THE ADVICE!!!!

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S.Q.

answers from Austin on

Hi! my older bro had that problem too, my mother solved the issue by getting him thinner sock, and buying him shoes just one size bigger than necesary, it gave his feet more room, and the thinner socks made him sweat less let me know if it works for you!

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K.D.

answers from Austin on

There was a lady on Oprah who had stinky feet and Dr. Oz had her soak her feet in tea for a week (every night). She said it stopped the stinch. Just a suggestion.

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K.A.

answers from Austin on

Be careful using powders because they can lead to fungal infections under the toenail. My daughter's feet are stinky (shoes or no shoes) and I put Vicks on them at night.I know that it sounds strange but it works. And, hey, if the shoes are the culprit, pitch 'em. There is nothing wrong with shopping at Payless!

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T.B.

answers from Seattle on

I have had this problem and the doctor gave me a product called "drysol" to take care of the issue.

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D.M.

answers from Houston on

girl it is the shoes!!! my son is the same way. cheap shoes from payless are fine, but i bought him some nikes for his birthday and he stunk up my house. we call him skunk boy now. he actually wore a skunk costume for halloween last yr because of it. lol!!!!!!

D. Mattern
The MOM Team
Raising your income and your rugrats at the same time!
www.formyrugrats.com
"The only thing that counts is faith, expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6

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P.F.

answers from Odessa on

Have u gotten him new socks lately? Some synthetic socks don't really let your feet breathe even though they say they do..mu hubby got some and his feet began to stink really bad. So, check out your sons sock situation. I also have seen where soaking feet in black tea can help, but not sure of details. I'm sure u can find something on the web. Best of luck- God bless you and your family.

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A.G.

answers from Corpus Christi on

This is going to sound very strange, but your son's stinky feet are probably caused by excessive sweat/moisture. Try rubbing deodorant on his feet - the solid type. It can't hurt!

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C.M.

answers from Houston on

Hi J.. I have 2 boys ages 2 and 8 and 1 girl age 3 and a step son age 10. Both of my boys have has this problem. I found that it was the shoe itself. If you do not want to give up the shoes, sprinkle some baby powder in the shoe to absorb the odor, and moisture. You will have to continue to do this frequently, but he will grow out of the shoes soon. Good luck...and for the record, boys only get stinkier!! lol

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D.A.

answers from Houston on

When my oldest son, who is now 28, was a baby, I had a very similar problem. I finally began sprinkling foot powder in his shoes before putting them on him and that worked like a charm. Hope this helps!

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C.P.

answers from Houston on

J.,

An easy and affordable way to handle the stinky toes is to have your son soak his feet in brewed tea. (Obviously you shouldn't put his feet in if it is hot still) I heard about this on the Oprah show from Dr. Oz so it has a medical basis. What happens is that the tea "tans" you son's feet and helps shrink the sweat glands so that they don't put off that strong odor. Also make sure to wash his feet often, before and after you put on socks and make sure to dry them really well, even between the toes so that they aren't starting out damp. Leather shoes don't let you child's toes "breath" so watch out for them, especially in the summer, and you can use baby powder in the shoes (and on the feet before socks but after being washed and dried) to help absorb the smell. These things should help you out, good luck!!

C.

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M.H.

answers from Houston on

I am not going to argue about it being the shoes. It very well may be. But, I will have to say that my daughter has had smelly feet since the day I brought her home from the hospital. Even my nephew (on my husbands side, of course) had smelly ones too. It could just be the genes. I used to think, "How can a baby have smelly feet!?!" HIS family just laughs at me. So, I guess what I'm saying is, BLAME THE HUSBAND!!! Thats what I do!!!
Margaret:)
P.S. As silly as this sounds, my husband always thinks that stinky feet smell like corn chips. He often tells the baby, "Whew, Corn chippy!!!" hahaha!!

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S.B.

answers from Houston on

My son was the same way. I don't know maybe the sweat from the type of shoe, but a little gold bond powder in his socks will alleviate the problem. For the shoes already stinky, put some baking soda in them for a day or so, then shake it out. The soda will absorb the smell.

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M.A.

answers from San Angelo on

try pulling out the insoles; you could repalce them with odour eaters (if they don;t come that small try tracing and cutting out and adult size), or putting powder under the insoles: talcum powder, baby powder, or even baking soda or borax

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T.R.

answers from San Antonio on

I have not read your responses but I know my little brother got like that when he was 3 and we noticed when we bought the good brand of shoes his feet would smell as well compared to when we bought the cheap brand. Then I thought of it this way god was telling me it was not worth buying him expensive shoes when he was just going to grow out of them in a couple week and maybe months. But in reality his feet sweat profusely and when he had the "good" shoes on they are made better with more cusion and material so his feel will sweat more compared to the think cheap shoes. You know Payless has very cute shoes and reasonable so I would stick with that and save your money because when they get to the age where they are going for fasion and not comfort you will be wanting those payless days back. Good luck on that.
T.

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K.D.

answers from Houston on

My feet used to stink a lot, too, which is not very lady-like for a girl. My aunt told me that I lacked ZINC. I figured that it couldn't hurt to take an extra vitamin, and believe it or not, it worked! If I take zinc, my feet never stink! When I quit taking it, the smell starts again. I don't know about the RDA for a child, but perhaps you can make sure that he takes a children's multi-vitamin with ZINC. Just a thought! Good luck! :)

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K.W.

answers from College Station on

I don't think it is a "Boy Thing". My son is now 11 years old and I have some experience with boy issues. If the shoes cause his feet to smell then don't wear them. They may be made of materials that cause his feet to sweat more than when he wears other shoes. Thus, the sweating makes his feet and shoes smell.
Also, sometimes if shoes get wet from rain water or if you wash them and they are not dried right away they can sour and begin to smell.
Hope this helps!

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A.S.

answers from San Antonio on

My oldest son is now 20 and has had that problem since about 7 years old.The doctor told us to spray alcohol in his shoes before and after he wears them. It works. His new wife says she never lets them run out of rubbibg alcohol! My other four boys have not had that problem, the youngets is six,so we're waiting...

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R.N.

answers from Beaumont on

My husband saw this recently on T.V. To stop foot odor, soak the feet in "Tea" . That's right, plain 'ol tea ! Now, here's the part I'm not certain of. Is this ok for a child ? You might look that one up on the Internet, or ask some of these other ladies.

Good Luck ! Best wishes.

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R.L.

answers from Houston on

It's definitelt the shoes!! It's probably a fungus type thing in the shoes! Get rid of them. I agree to stick with the cheaper shoes, especially sine they grow out of them so quickly. I used to get shoes at Walmartmostly. Now that my son is 7 we spend more mone\y on better shoes, Good luck.

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S.O.

answers from San Antonio on

Change shoes...Also, Avon sells a foot spray that will prevent or cure any foot fungus that might have formed because of this; it should also stop the odor. But, you don't want him continuing in those shoes. Some shoes, once wet, never get rid of the smell.

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R.F.

answers from Killeen on

Anything with peppermint in it even lotion will help his feet as the peppermint directly on the feet help to keep the feet smelling great.

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N.F.

answers from Albuquerque on

I see that someone else has already said to use alcohol. Here's my addition: An old trick is to use vodka. I know it sounds funny... but vodka (rubbing alcohol, too) kills any bacteria that causes body odor. We would use "the solution" in a spray bottle on these crazy mascot-type costumes that can't be washed or dry cleaned. I think the difference is that rubbing alcohol (or fabreeze or lysol) has a strong smell all on its own, whereas vodka has no odor when dry.

Do his feet "breathe" in the new shoes? Maybe there's no where for the odors and wetness to go if it's a synthetic material.
Good luck.

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L.L.

answers from El Paso on

wash his feet with white vinigar every night.

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T.H.

answers from Houston on

I have 3 boys & it's such a BOY thing. We have a running joke that the boys feet smell like they walked around in vinegar. One thing I've done is put fabric sheets in there everynight, spray oust & lysol in there in the morning & alternate between a couple paor of shoes. My boys are so h*** o* shoes it seems like I buy new shoes all the time. But trust me..it only gets worse...LOL!! Every boy mom has this issue..at least from what I've heard. GOOD LUCK..hope this helps a little bit. he he!

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L.C.

answers from Houston on

Try sprinkling a little Alum in his shoes...You can buy Alum in the spice isle at your grocery store. It worked for my husband!!Good Luck.

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B.S.

answers from San Antonio on

Hey J.,
Dr. Oz said that if you have stinky feet you can soak them in tea and it takes the stink away. My little sister always had stinky feet when she was little so it may also just be a little kid thing.

B.
www.MoreForMyBaby.com

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J.R.

answers from Austin on

It's the shoes. That happened to us with a particular pair of shoes. Everyone's feet stink after wearing shoes to a certain degree, but this was terrible, and no powder or alum or spray helped at all. We threw them away, far far away!

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M.B.

answers from Houston on

I have had to deal with that problem with several of my nephews and nieces; this worked for all of them.

Several times a day (at least 2) wash the feet with Dial soap and warm water, towel dry and apply a deodorant to the soles of the feet. Be sure to use deodorant only and not the deorodant/anti-perspirant combo. With regular use, after a few weeks you may have to only do this once daily.

Good Luck!

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L.B.

answers from Sherman on

stick to cheaper shoes or see if you can soak or at least rub the feet really good in tea....check out DR. oz from oprah.com they can help...
L.

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D.B.

answers from Killeen on

my son is backwards from that. When I bought him payless shoes, his feet would stink. But I think it comes down to the ventilation in the shoes and if the child is hot natured. Try to find socks that are thinner or more breatheable. If nothing else you can put a little cornstarch in the bottom of the shoes and it can absorb the odor.

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C.M.

answers from San Antonio on

I have two daughters and their feet also stink. Though I don't think as bad your son's. Dr. Oz on Oprah one show had a similar question from a College student about her own feet. He told her to soak her feet in Tea and that would help to take away the smell. It has to do with Bacteria or something in the feet. I don't know if you can get a 3 year old to sit long enough to soak his feet but perhaps you can make some kind of game of it. I would just go ahead and wash the shoes.

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L.D.

answers from Houston on

Have the shoes gotten wet lately. Was your son palying in mud puddles. If the answer is yes, then you will need to throw the shoes away. I have 3 boys. Sometimes tennis shoes will stink and there is NO way to get the smell out if they've been in water. My son's friend came back from camp and spent a few weeks with us. I kept saying what smells. Well, the shoes did. I call them camp shoes. No amount of washing will return them to normal. I tried everything other than bleach which would have ruined the shoe too. If it is his feet that stink, that will be another issue for the doctor.

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J.C.

answers from San Antonio on

Toss the shoes in the garbage. I would say spray them with Febreze however, if it's the kind of funky odor that is caused by a bacteria, continuing to expose his feet to that bacteria can lead to athletes foot/and or nail infections. A toenail infection is extremely hard to fight. I've been told that even the prescription pills advertised on tv don't work much of the time, so it's really just not worth risking giving him a lifelong ugly green/brown flaking nail.

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J.A.

answers from Waco on

Stinky feet is caused from dead skin tissue. Ususaly assocated with athletes feet... You may have killed the fungus by using a antifungal cream but you still have the tissue pressent and that is what you are smelling.

To rid you son of his foot oder you may want to try what my husband uses.

A mixture of 50% Power Boric Acid and 50% Power Salicylic Acid. Add 1 teaspoon of power to each sock every other day for 3 days. All the dead skin will leave by then and his feet will look like and smell good once again. Do not use but only once a year.

Dr. Scrolls Makes a power that works very well using the same ingredants but it is milder with a talcum power added. Must be used over a much longer period of time....

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K.L.

answers from Austin on

Hi J.,
I was shocked when my son started getting stinky feet at 12 mos :). Who knew little babies feet could stink so much?

I buy shoes at Sandy's Shoes (on Anderson Lane) & there is a brand from Japan (Tsukinhoshi) that has "green tea extracts" in the sole of the shoe to combact the stink factor. Plus, we can toss them in the wash every week & then air dry them in the window. No more stinky feet here for the last 18 mos! I have also seen them at Nordstrom in hot pink for girls :)

K.N.

answers from Austin on

Get rid of the shoes. Why risk having him develop a foot fungus at 2?! You'll end up spending more in medications and doctor visits than just buying a new pair. Besides, you're suppose to buy new shoes every 3 months for toddlers. If you got them around Christmas and its March now, then you've gotten almost 3 months out of them. Try to find shoes made with fabric instead of leather, since his feet are sweating so much.

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C.S.

answers from Victoria on

My son has stinky feet, but not from shoes. His just stink. If it is really bad, you can soak the foot in tea and it helps loads. Just make tea like you would to drink without the sugar. Fun part is keeping his feet in. :) Anyway, more than likely since you didn't notice it until those shoes, it is probably the shoes. Cheap or not they aren't letting his feet breathe and they are sweating and now the shoes are stinky too. I have washed shoes with lights in the washer and they survived. I just didn't put them in the dryer. I put them by the central a/c return and when it kicks on and sucks air in, the air blows over the shoes and drys them in about 6 hours. They only thing is that the shoes will continue to do what they are doing, so I would use them as special shoes and not wear them everyday. Need to check and see if they are man made materials and if so then they won't let the feet breathe only natural materials like leather, canvas etc.. Good luck and hope this helps.

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