Kids start to have body odor around the time puberty starts and hormones change. Usually, this happens when females are 8–13 years old, and males are 9–14. But it can also be normal to start puberty earlier or later. Bathing every day, especially after a lot of sweating or in hot weather, can help with body odor.
It's not actually uncommon for younger kids to have armpit smells. This smell is due to bacteria, sweat, and hormone changes. And as long as your child doesn't have any other signs of puberty, and they're under the age of eight, it's not a concern.
There's no specific age for a child to start wearing deodorant or antiperspirant. Many start in their teens. Some start as soon as puberty starts to cause body odor, which can be as early 8 or 9 years old for some children. Then again, some never use it, even as adults.
Encourage your children to drink lots of water and stay hydrated. Drinking organic, Soya or almond milk instead of cow's milk is helpful to prevent body odor in children. Avoid foods that can cause body odor and increase the intake of fresh, green leafy vegetables and herbs.
The Vinegar Wash
Throughout the day you can dampen a washcloth with a solution of 50/50 water to vinegar. Gently rub on the underarms. Make sure there are no cuts, it can irritate them. If your child says it stings or burns, dilute the mixture even further.
Your child's hormones are changing, which stimulates their glands and increases perspiration, especially in the underarm and groin areas. That increase in perspiration combines with the bacteria that live on the skin creating the odor.
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Similarly, some girls and boys may have early growth of pubic and/or underarm hair or body odor that isn't related to other changes in sexual development. This is called premature adrenarche (ah-druh-NAR-kee). These kids may need to see their doctor to rule out "true" precocious puberty.
If you have diabetes, a change in body odor could be a sign of diabetes-related ketoacidosis. High ketone levels cause your blood to become acidic and your body odor to be fruity. In the case of liver or kidney disease, your odor may give off a bleach-like smell due to toxin buildup in your body.
“Lead with something about the importance of moving our bodies and nutrition, then transition into showering and body odor,” she says. “There's a high likelihood they've seen either parent use deodorant, and you can suggest the two of you go and pick out something of their liking.”
When the sweat from your glands meets the bacteria on your skin, it breaks down into products called thioalcohols. The thioalcohols give off a strong, often sulfurous scent that can also be comparable to onions or meat.
If you're concerned about sweating and body odor, the solution may be simple: an antiperspirant or deodorant. Antiperspirant. Antiperspirants contain aluminium-based compounds that temporarily block sweat pores, thereby reducing the amount of sweat that reaches your skin.
For girls, puberty usually starts around age 11. But it can start as early as age 6 or 7. For boys, puberty begins around age 12. It can start as early as age 9.
Premature pubarche, or the development of pubic hair before the age of 8 in girls or 9 in boys, is most commonly caused by premature adrenarche. Adrenarche is the maturation of the adrenal zona reticularis in both boys and girls, resulting in the development of pubic hair, axillary hair, and adult apocrine body odor.
Deodorant for Kids
They may feel self-conscious about sweating and smelling. Deodorant is safe for your kids to use when they're ready. In fact, many brands make a deodorant that is specially formulated for younger wearers.
But body odor, which can occur in 7-, 6- and even 5-year-olds, generally isn't considered cute, leaving most moms, dads and caregivers wanting to nip stinky armpits in the bud right off the bat. First thing's first, though. While body odor in children can be hard to be around (and smell), it's perfectly normal.
Most body odors start at the time that puberty begins, usually between 8 and 10 years of age. Hormones in your child's body increase the amount of sweating they are apt to do. The resulting odor is due to skin bacteria breaking down compounds in the sweat to produce chemicals.
"It's all about association, and kids often sniff things that conjure up pleasant memories that they find comforting." These soothing smells can simply help a child feel more safe and secure—or relaxed enough to facilitate sleep.