Help! My daughter is 8 1/2 and her one armpit has started smelling with definite BO.
I didn't hit puberty until late, 13-14. Is it possible she has begun or can you have stinky pits without the rest of development happening for years?
Obviously we are washing with soap everyday now. She started showering by herself 6 months ago so she may have been missing spots I didn't realize.
I don't know if we should start on deodorant, it seems way too soon. She hasn't started developing in other ways but with me it all happened together so I'm not sure.
Thanks for any help/advice you can offer I am the oldest and all my friends kids are younger so this is new territory for me.
my son wears deodorant and has at least in summer and gym days since he was 6. He stinks what more can I say. Just make sure it's NOT an anti persperant, those contain aluminum that is then absorbed into the skin and not good for you, and go with an all natural brand if you can. but yes she can just have stinky pits and be years from puberty, and if she smells then she isn't to young.
This is perfectly normal and no it isn't puberty. This is just one of our body odors that develops first. Using deodorant is fine. My 8yo boy does and I was talking with some moms about, as I call them, "stinky boy pits," and they were saying their daughters had them too. Don't worry about it.
I noticed a similar phenomenon with my stepdaughter when she was about 7-8. When she first came to live with us full-time, she had already been told to start using deoderant. I thought that was silly for a child so young to use deoderant, but when she stopped, there was a definite increase in the smelliness! At this point, we have her using a very light-smelling (made for teens) deoderant, and I think it has made a world of difference.
One of my daughters started having body odor at around the same age - I took her to all kinds of doctors and found nothing. She did develop underarm hair early, but no other developments at that time. She's almost 13 now and is developing normally. I've actually heard of this from several other moms and I don't think it's that unusual. One thing the docs told me - that put my mind somewhat at ease - was that the body odor and underarm hair are more the male hormones (we all have both), so this doesn't have anything to do with her female hormones (in other words, you don't have to worry about her getting her period this early). If you can get her in the deoderant habit, I think that's a good thing. Just be sure to choose one that's safe and natural like Tom's of Maine, Dry by Nature, etc. We like the mint/rosemary natural deoderant from Earth Science. Look in the natural products section of the store. Don't use anti-perspirant as these contain aluminum and other chemicals we shouldn't put on (and therefore in) our bodies.
My daughters had to start using deodorant at 9-- that shocked me.... I was surprised. (makes you feel old, doesn't it? -- to have a child on deodorant-- Just wait till your son starts shaving!)
My daughter is now 11 and a couple years ago, we noticed she had started having some definite BO. She started using a deodorant then. Some of her friends had started using it by then, too. Nothing to worry about!! It just seems hard to watch them grow up so fast!! I think I was a litle older, too, when I started using deodorant. I have heard things in the news about added hormones in certain foods causing kids to mature faster now than when we were young.
My daughter will be 9 in Sept. She started having BO at 8 also.
She wears deodorant/ antiperspirant daily
I have noticed her breast developing but no hair anywhere.
She is getting the attitude to a little.
My niece is 8 and she's been using deodorant for a while now. I'd just advise that you only get her deodorant and NOT and anti-perspirant. They have harsh chemicals no one needs, especially not a child!
It is time for anti-perspirants or deordorants. My daughter was in bras by the middle of third grade. Had the odor problem for 5 months before she began getting her arm pit hair. My cousin's daughter had the odor problem for a year before she started other signs of developement and my 11 year old grandson started using deordorant a year and a half ago and just started getting arm pit hair about two months ago.
Natural course of aging.
Hi Kerri,
This is what I would do. I would make sure she is showering everyday, and showering after doing anything physical where she might sweat like soccer, softball, or gymnastics. I would also remind her to make sure she is washing every part of her body really well. Then, I would buy her a very mild deodorant, and explain to her why and how to use deodorant. You never know, an 8 year old probably won't take much offense to the whole hygiene talk like a 12 year old would. :) Good luck!
Both of my children started using deodorant at 8 years old. They didn't have any other early signs of puberty (they are 12 and 16 now). I buy them unscented deodorant.
Very funny! My daughter is eight and she will be 9 in august. I started having this problem with her last summer. She washes her armpits, but it does not help. I do have her using deordorant. She uses Teen Spirit, which is specifically made for teens/young girls. It does not have all the harsh ingredients in it like our deordorant. Plus, it makes her feel more responsible about taking care of her body, because it has different "girly smells" little girls love. Good Luck!
Not that anyone knows for sure if she's starting puberty, but I will share my experience. But first I would like to tell you that in my humble opinion you should wait on the deodarant. If you really feel the need to do something, use deodarant WITHOUT anti-perspirent. Healthy bodies need to sweat.
My daughter is now 6 1/2. When she was an early 5 I noticed her armpits had body odor while she was on my lap. I thought how odd?? I took note of it and within 4 weeks or so of noticing that I noticed her aeriola's (more her right one) were puffy. An all so familiar sight when I was in the 5th grade. Something I couldn't get over either was the type of moodiness she had- like a pre-teen. I took her to our regular doctor and he didn't seem alarmed but by my persistance we got her into an endocrinologist for a series of tests. Sure enough my 5 year old had started puberty. We as parents decided that Olivia would not take the Lupron injections every 28 days, but rather we would research how to help her naturally. This was not an easy choice. Olivia is otherwise a healthy non-overweight child who grew faster that the rest, lost her teeth before the rest, and started getting B.O. and boobies before the rest. So my point is, my first indicator that she started puberty was the B.O. She still has that, but she does not wear anything for it. She'll have a LONG road ahead of her for that. I also homeschool her so she doesn't have that pere pressure to wear it. We had the breast growth under control fo about a year, and then we became lax on the suppliments she takes from the holistic doctor during a period of low finances- as- our insurance doesn't cover it. She then started breast growth again, so we started being consistant again and we'll see what happens. Watch anything that has hormones added (regular milk the cows have injections of hormones) certain beef etc. You'll hear contradicting evidence, but if it is puberty you'll take many measures within your means to help control it. My advice to you : No deodarant, watch for any other indicators such as puffy aeriola's or armpit/pubic hair, and moodiness more associated with pre-teens and if you notice any of these make a doctor's appointment to verify if she has started puberty. And if you feel it's too young, take the necessary steps to help her out. And my BIGGEST advice is to go with mommy instincts and be persistent. Despite what some may think, you know your babies and you know them best. Good luck.
I got some deodorant for myself that I will let my daughter use when this issue comes up with her. At Meijer I found a natural deodorant in a lavender scent. It smells great and doesn't have all the chemicals that other deodorants do. It's in yellow plastic and it's a clear gel stick.
Hi Kerri,
I had stinky pitts at 8 and started wearing deorderant. She needs to wear deorderant. I'm at work and took a survey to see how old everyone was and the range was from 6 to 10 so she's right on. You were late fortunately. :) You don't want her to be embarrassed or teased for having stinky pitts so deorderant is in order. Your little girl is growing up.
Both of my children started using deodorant by 7 or 8 years old. I buy the natural deo without aluminum products in it since it is suspected that they are bad for us. It is sometimes a trial to get them to remember it, but it is better than them being made fun of for smelling bad. If you are concerned, call your doctor, but I think I did and was told it was not an abnormal thing (sorry, it has been a while and I can't remember exactly what was said, but it comes down to it being within the parameters of normal).
Yes, it is totally possible to have BO at an early age and puberty much later.
My daughter had it around 6 or 7 , and my granddaughter has it sometimes now at 7.
You can use plain baking soda if necessary or I am sure they must have some "natural" deodorant at any Health Food store.I would just try to minimize it and not make it a big deal, so she does not become self-conscious.
Everyone develops at different rates. My step-daughter developed the need for deordorant anti-perspirant at the same age. I think it is completely appropriate for her to use it. This doesn't have anything to do with age. This is a hormonal change. Some of my friends didn't begin their periods and develop breasts until late middle school. The girls in my family received their menstration around age 11. I wore a size C cup at 11 years old. I was an average size child and considered thin. Everyone is different.