6 Yr Old BO ?????

Updated on May 07, 2010
K.P. asks from Milwaukee, WI
16 answers

My daughter is six and has had armpit BO a few times in the past month. She is a beanpole so its not a weight-related issue. She showers/bathes every other day, at least. Now that it is getting warmer she will start showering daily, so changing that routine might help. But besides that I'm wondering if deoderant is safe for her or is there another solution? Is this normal? Thanks :)

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A.T.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Yes, but 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 and Tom's are some I know are aluminum free.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.M.

answers from Sheboygan on

Get her some deodorant. Let her help pick it out so she will be more likely to use it on a regular basis. And at 6yrs. old, she could probably start taking a shower on a daily basis, as her body is going to start changing soon and you'll want to have established a regular routine with her when it happens. My daughter had the same problem at that age, and daily showering along with a deodorant that she picked out herself really helped a lot.
Good luck!

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Yes, kids this age... have BO.
My daughter is 7, and does, since last year.
I use "Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural Deodorant" for her, which does not have any aluminum or paraben in it. I just get it from my local Long's Drug store or CVS.

LOTS of kids this age, do or begin to have B.O.
It may come and go, depending on their fluctuating hormones as well. Both boys and girls.

all the best,
Susan

3 moms found this helpful
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M.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi K.,

Diet causes odor. She's a beanpole but that doesn't mean she isn't eating something that is causing it. Some things are better than others and the additives they put in some foods have exacerbated this problem. If you've ever traveled abroad the body odors are different in the different cultures. For instance, Europeans have odors where the Japanese don't. It has a lot to do with the types of fats and meats that are eaten and their regularity.

I wouldn't recommend any type of deodorant at this point, aluminum or not. My first suggestion would be an absorbable multivitamin/mineral complex to strenghten her immune system. If this is a health issue you want to be able to tell if it's getting better or worse.

Regards,

M.

2 moms found this helpful
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T.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

Hi K.
I see you have alot of good answers here but I wanted to let you know that body oder is caused when bactieria starts growing on the skin. So instead of a deodarant I would just use soap and water daily and have her checked by the doctor for some other causes.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

K.,
I had the same issue with my son. He bathes daily yet it would make your eyes water!
This will sound crazy but it worked for us and has never happened again! Switch to organic milk!

Once I switched, no more BO. Ever.

Try it for a few weeks--couldn't hurt.

You can also use Tom's of Maine natural deodorant, but you won't need it!

1 mom found this helpful
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P.O.

answers from Jacksonville on

Do you cook food with lots of garlic. That can cause a body odor early. Sometimes it is just how her hormones are made up and has nothing to do with hygiene. You can use baking soda and water paste to get rid of the odor and use a natural deodorant (not anti perspirant)

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J.L.

answers from Milwaukee on

Actually, it's not terribly uncommon. My daughter has had the same problem since she was 4. We eat a lot of organic foods including organic milk and haven't seen any change in odor since making the switch, but you could try that. We use "Tom's of Maine" deodorant for her. It's all natural and safe for her sensitive skin. I like that it's really gentle, especially since she's so young, and it works well. You can buy it at your local health food store or even Target and Walgreens. Washing under her arms each day will also help.

Good luck!
J.

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L.C.

answers from Montgomery on

I suggest using baby powder or shower to shower if you are not ready for the deo just yet, also I was in Wal Mart last night and discovered a wonderful new product by degree called Degree natureffects it is a body mist. I personally use the powder for my son since the weather is getting warmer and he spends more time outside at school...good luck!

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T.J.

answers from Seattle on

For reasons of it being easier to treat if caught sooner, there's no harm in having her checked for thyroid or pituitary gland imbalances, her peditrician or your family doctor can do it or send you to en endocrinologist. It may just be nothing, or maybe she just needs to stop consuming dairy products, but it's really easy to check just in case that's what it is! My 7 year old niece was diagnosed at age 6, they had her seen by the doctor because of the BO and it turned out to be pituitary.

I sincerely hope that all the other posters have at least mentioned this to their child's doctor, because the only six year old I've ever known with BO had a medical problem. I've done a lot of work with children over the years..babysitting, camp counseling, cheer coach, pageants, and knowing my daughter's friends, and have never encountered one single kid with BO at that age, other than my niece. If there is a hormone imbalance it can seriously mess with their growth and fertility. I do not think this is normal from my experience, and it surely doesn't hurt to run a simple blood test just to be sure!

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K.W.

answers from Milwaukee on

hi yes it is OK for your daughter to use deodorant my daughter is 7 and has been using it for 2 years now

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S.D.

answers from Minneapolis on

My 8 yr old dd wears deoderant, not on a daily basis, and just in case. We talked about growing up several months ago and decided she could have deoderant and can wear it when she feels she needs to (or when she thinks of it). My younger dd just turned 7 and we did get her some, too, but she rarely thinks to put any of. I think it is fine. But, I would also be sure she is washing and rinsing herself well, putting on CLEAN clothes, that her bed sheets are changed on a regular basis, and that the fabrics she is wearing aren't making it worse. I would just be sure she doesn't feel bad or self conscious about it.
S.

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S.G.

answers from Rapid City on

Since some ingredients in antipersprant and deoderant could be linked to some kinds of Breast cancer i wouldn't start her on that this early.

Is she washing well under her arms? At this age they pretty much have their baths on their own. My youngest son was this age when he was wearing a tank top one day and raised his arm. I seen fuzzy under his arm and asked him what it was. He looked at me and said "that is my hair". I put him in the tub and scrubbed him. I found out that he was playing more then washing when in the tub. Also make sure she dries really well under the arms, between the legs and her toes. Dampness will cause odor in any of these places.

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C.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

There are crystal deodorant that are safe and natural you can get at Whole Foods or a Natural store, or just use baby powder.

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L.V.

answers from Sioux Falls on

i have not had this problem yet but i would agree with another post that it is probably diet related. i would switch to organic dairy products and possibly a total organic diet but at least the dairy products. i would suspect hormones in the milk.

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S.S.

answers from Santa Barbara on

K.-
I found that sythetic clothes makes the problem worse.
S.

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