How early is to early?ed territory, my 9yo daughter asked if I had deodorant the other day. Ok to start with she is with her bio dad all but every other weekend (long story). Well she came over weekend before last and asked about deo said she sweated bad n it was starting to stink and that her dad n step mom let her wear it n especially after gym. My opinion is, even tho she will be 10 in August she is still to young. I was always told that a child can mess their body up by wearing deo to soon. Now I myself have a sweating issue where I sweat more than some guys, even through the clinical anti-persperant/deo and I cannot miss a day wearing anything cuz even just a few hours I can smell myself. Far as I know she has not started puberty however I have been talking with her to make sure she knows what to expect, especially since the other house tells her she is to young to know and leaves it up to the step moms little sister to say anything and she is only a year older than my daughter. Ok back to the subject, my 10 almost 11yo (step) son hasn't said anything about being sweaty, no smell, and my daughter says the other house let's my 8yo wear it too. I know they make teen spirit, nit sure if they make it for boys, but would this be a good idea or what? Please help me out, I'm not ready for them to he this big yet.
Added, what about anti persperant, is she to young for this? In your opinion what is the best out there?
Thank you ladies for all the insight, I personally started my period at 12 and no didn't know it came at the end of puberty can't remember back then on when I started wearing deo but yes was told I had to wait cuz it would do something to the chemical make up of me by wearing it to early. Just to clarify though I never said she couldn't or I wouldn't get it for her I was just asking about an age, I have all intentions on letting her even though I don't smell her doesn't mean she don't stink. I know its all a part of life and I welcome any and all questions she has, I'm ready for it but at the same time I'm not. As far as the antipersperant, still not sure if we will get that or not as the anti persperants barely help me out. Again thanks for all the helpfull and judgmental comments
If you feel you have valid health issue concerns about wearing deodorant too young then google the topic and research it. If my granddaughter came to me and asked to wear deodorant I would not have given it a second thought.
I would also suggest Arm and Hammer brand deodorant. Aluminum free. My son has been using it since he was 8. And definitely put on after shower. Washing the bacteria away, which causes the smell, drying armpits well and then apply.
My daughter needed it at 8 years old. If they need it, they need it. If her perspiration is starting to have an odor, she is beginning puberty. That hormonal change causes the odor. Let her wear it if she needs it.
If she is "stinking" doesn't matter if she's 10 or not - she needs to use the deodorant. PERIOD.
If she sweats like you do? Take her to the doctor and find out if there is something they can do for her (and you). There are things they can do to help people with hyperhidrosis (this is the clinical name for people who sweat too much).
There is a difference between deodorant and antiperspirant. Deodorant does just that - helps with SMELL. Antiperspirant helps with wetness.
And your 8 year old son? He can use it. I don't see a problem with him trying it and getting used to using it daily. It's great practice!
Good luck!
I teach gymnastics and believe me, some of the kids start to smell around age 7 or 8. I do my best to ignore it, but it's gross and I know the other kids can smell it too!
I've had multiple talks with our team about wearing deodorant. I don't see why you think 10 is too young. You should wear it when you start to smell at ANY age.
My granddaugher's sweat started smelling around that age and she began wearing deodorant: deodorant not antiperspirant. There is no right age to start wearing deodorant. It's the right time to wear deodorant when sweat stinks.
"Not ready for them to be this big yet?" Not letting them wear deodorant will not stop them from "getting big." LOL Their bodies will mature as they will. You cannot control that. Why would you want your daughter to be smelly and self conscious about her smell? Let her wear deodorant.
Wearing it will NOT mess up her body! How could it? She will still perspire. The sweat will just not smell. I don't understand that thinking at all. You can choose a brand that's ingredients are mild or even entirely natural.
Later: About antiperspirant. I think antiperspirant is OK at any age but I know that many are concerned about chemicals and the effect of stopping perspiration; not just taking care of the smell. Some think that stopping the perspiration could be harmful. I don't think so, tho. But perhaps it's because I've never been able to actually stop perspiring under my arms even with an antiperspirant. Even if it does, I think our bodies will adjust and it will cool us by perspiring in other places even if underarm perspiration is stopped. The purpose of perspiration is to cool our body.
Okay, gross. You don't put deodorant on after you start to stink, you shower and wash yourself. And if she's starting to stink when she sweats, she should put deodorant on right after she showers to prevent the stink.
I suggest Tom's of Maine natural deodorant.
Maybe try Toms of Maine?
No aluminum!
What exactly is it you think deodorant will do to her at 10 that it won't do at 13?
If you're talking about deodorant and not antiperspirant, there is NO RISK. This sounds like a holdover from someone telling you that you were too young for deodorant as a child and you holding on to that as truth.
The real, long term risk here is that you DON'T let her wear it and she becomes the "smelly girl" and is socially stigmatized.
Tom's brand is all natural so I'd start there rather than with something full of chemical perfumes.
As for puberty, if her sweat is smelling, she has started puberty. Getting a period comes toward the END of puberty not the beginning. The hormonal changes that make her sweat stink, along with developing breasts and pubic hair are likely starting now. A girls first period is generally two years after the true START of puberty.
HTH
T.
If she's uncomfortable and self-conscious, then let her wear it. Per the other thread this morning, try the Tom's of Maine brand, without aluminum. Burt's Bees may also have something good, but I can't swear by that.
I also wonder if you and your daughter may have a dietary intolerance that produces these symptoms. I can't tell you WHAT the intolerance could be, but this kind of sweating is a symptom. Try checking it out with a naturopath.
My daughter has friends who have been wearing it since first grade. If she feels she needs it and if she smells, then YES, she should have it. Who wants to be the smelly girl in class? What is magic about age? You think 10 is too young? I had my period at 10! and body changes and especially body odor starts long before the period. My daughter, who is 11, has never had a smell to her that I've noticed, so I didn't bring it up. But about two months ago, she came home and asked if I was going to the store soon. I said yes, did she need anything? She shyly asked for deodorant. I immediately said yep, let's go. We dropped everything and took off -- I explained I wanted her to choose something without aluminum, we talked about the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant, and then I let her pick what scent she liked best.
And I've been wearing antiperspirant since about 3rd grade. So I guess if it's dangerous, nothing's happened yet. Check with me in 30 years...
Get ready, Mom. 9 is old enough for a lot of things.
Let her wear it. If she is sweating and notices she smells, ummmm, I think you would be doing her a big disservice and setting her up for being embarrassed!
She's not too young.
A lot of the time the gym teacher start requiring students to wear deodorant/antiperspirant.
I got my period at 11 (5th grade) but I began wearing deodorant in the 3rd grade.
Ready or not - puberty has already begun gearing up and other changes will follow.
How you settle yourself mentally about it is up to you but that has nothing to do with her developing body odor.
Start her on deodorant now.
In a few years this won't bother you at all as you begin worrying about tampons.
She is about the average age to start wearing deodorant. Why do you have a problem with it? Please help her with her hygiene. When she starts smelling that is the time to start using it. Yes, your children are growing up so so get ready instead of saying they are too young.
My daughter started wearing it at 7, she will be 10 on Friday.
My son's are 8 and 6, neither of them needs it.
Every kid is different. There is no problem with her wearing it. There is a problem with her not wearing it if she needs it.
My daughter uses Secret, the same as me.
Deodorant, yes. If she can smell herself, it's time.
Antiperspirant, no. That stuff isn't good for adults either. Blocking your sweat glands is a bad idea.
My daughter is 7. I smelled her the other day. I was surprised she already had bo. I gave her some deoderant and showed her how to use it. If she needs it then she needs it. I am not gonna let her walk around smelling like bo.
I'm not sure why you would discourage a child who wants to take care of her personal hygiene. Kids mature earlier than you think.
I'm not sure why you think deodorant will "mess their body up" at a certain age! I'd be concerned with a young child of 3 or 4 playing with it and getting it on her hands and in her mouth, but not a 9 year old. She knows she needs it and she smells. And you have a tendency towards this problem anyway so possibly she does, or maybe your situation makes her worry about being offensive even if she's not.
Deodorant is just what it says - something to cover up the smell. Antiperspirants are another story - they stop the sweating in an area that is prone to odor - and a lot of people think that formulas with aluminum are not a good idea, even leading to breast cancer. However they are still on the market in heavy amounts - which may or may not mean they are safe. Other people think we shouldn't worry about it.
Personally, I have tried to switch to all-natural deodorants without antiperspirant elements, and have not had great results. I find I have to reapply every 2 hours or so. Some are made from natural clay. Tom's of Maine is a well-distributed brand but there are others. You could start there with your daughter and let her keep adding as needed. Carrying a small size in her backpack might be an option - just FYI the solid stick-type ones don't do well in the summer heat.
And in general, if "the other house" isn't telling her stuff she needs to know, it's even more important that you do. Look in the library for books designed for her age group that give her the facts about all the aspects of growing up. Try to see these milestones as adventures, not things you aren't ready for! The better prepared she is, the better it will work out for everyone. You definitely don't want her getting her info from friends because neither parent will deal with it!
When my son was in 3rd grade the teacher sent a note home requesting ALL the kids started to wear deodarant. He couldn't handle the smell in the classroom anymore.
So, 9 is not too early.
i think that if she's old enough to notice her own after-exercise odor and be self-conscious about it, she's old enough to use deodorant. it's not an age thing, it's a development thing. i can see making rules about when to date or stay alone in the house, but you can't really dictate when her hormones start changing.
i share your concern about chemicals. she can use deodorant stone brand, or just make a paste of baking soda and water on her fingertips and dab it in there.
khairete
S.
It's not an age thing, it's a body chemistry thing. The period may start at 12, but the body's chemistry is changing for at least a couple years before that. I believe the underarm hair starts to grow and sweat glands change prior to the period, so that would change her scent enough that she would need it.
When they start to smell, they are old enough. This isn't something that is age-specific but biologically driven. Body odor is often one of the first signs of puberty.
She isn't too young, and if she smells around her friends she is going to have a hard time socially. I don't know what you use, but I can't stand the smell of teen-marketed products. My son uses Sure Fresh scent, which I think smells like nice soap.
Sounds like she needs it. Our daughter started wearing it when she turned 7 because she started getting stinky after running around school all day. No big deal. Anti-persperants aren't good for the bod, though. We need to perspire! We use Tom's of Maine Deodorant or Speed Stick Deodorant unscented. Both are low in toxicity and very safe.
My son started being stinky last year at age 8. 9 is not too early. Get her some Toms of Maine (or other natural one). I don't see anything wrong with it and I don't think she is too young.
We all sweat and who ever told you it would hurt her to use it were wrong, if shes smelling then she needs to.use it..girls are maturing so early that the ages they needed it 20 years ago is different now.....getting them used to using deodorant seems to have arrived...., they do have it for boys but its just a name to sell it..its all the same.....both are at the age where they need to start getting into different hygienic routine, especially with them playing more sports in school and being more active..
I just recommended this deodorant on another post. I wouldn't do an anti-perspirant for her, but this is a GREAT alternative.
http://www.poofscloset.com/servlet/the-513/*Poofy-Organic...
She is asking you to wear some. She has indicated that she needs it. Please go by her needs vs just her age. Don't just her on anyone else, either. I started out using Tussy, but that's just deodorant, not an antiperspirant. My SD likes Suave and Dove.
I believe she is not too young if it bothers her. I think anti-perspirants are not good for anyone. My daughter and I like Crystal Essence Mineral roll-on deodorants.
My dd was 4 when she started wearing deo. She is a sweater so her underarms smell. I told her it was ok to go without but then the kids started teasing her. We tried deo but it didnt hold so we had to go to anti-persperants. You have to do what is best for her. From the kids I know your dd is late using deo which is a good thing. Good luck!!
Just a thought, you could let her wear deodorant that ISN'T an antiperspirant. If I had to guess, it would be an actual antiperspirant that could cause issues (if any of them can).
never too young for deodorant some kids at my daughters school need it earlier than that
