I’ve been there; your little one comes running to you for a big hug, arms raised, and whoa! The smell hits you like a jackhammer over the head. You stare at your child in disbelief – how could this little munchkin of 6 years old have this strong body odor!
Where did it come from? How did this happen?
Let’s take a few minutes to debunk some myths, and then let’s create a safe space where we can start talking about body odour BEFORE our kids actually need to have the convos!
FACT! Body odors can start to appear in kids well before puberty! This could be for a number of reasons including diet (remember that garlic rich pasta you made 2 nights ago? That could have been it!), and activity levels. When kids are active they will likely sweat causing odors to appear. Of course, those polyester soccer jerseys never help! Having the conversation early can help our kids understand why these smells are happening, and help them see that these events are normal.
MYTH! Body odors can occur when bacteria is breaking down sweat, and in addition to diet (mentioned above) can also occur during times of stress, physical activity and due to genetics. Using a natural deodorant and ensuring our kids have strong personal care routines will help with this of course!
MYTH! Did you know sweat is actually odorless? When we sweat, and that sweat mixes with our bacteria on our skin, that is actually what causes us to have an odor. Now that we’ve debunked a few myths, let’s explore why its important to have these conversations before we actually think our kids need them. Whether it is about periods for girls, or body odor for all kids, there is one golden rule that stands out – having the conversation before the event helps our kids understand these events are normal, and once they experience a period or odor, they will know exactly what to do.
For girls, it is so important for us to start packing an “emergency kit” in their backpacks, sometimes as early as grade 2 (7 or 8 years old). It may seem young, however with some girls getting periods as early as 9 years old, ensuring your daughter has their emergency kit in their backpak, and knows what to do with it, will be a LIFESAVER.
What should be in this kit? We’ve put together a list to make it easy:
1️⃣ Extra underwear
2️⃣ Extra pair of leggings (can be folded up and put in to a small bag, or even a clear
plastic zip top bag)
3️⃣ A few pads
4️⃣ Mini pack of wipes
5️⃣ Mini deodorant
For all kids, having a conversation about strong personal care routines that include using an all natural deodorant at an early age will be game changing. Having the convo before the BO appears means you get to teach and engage in a shared experience; and using deodorant will feel natural and just another part of their day to day.
Unfortunately, waiting until after your child has experienced BO to introduce deodorant may sometimes feel remedial, as you know there is no option (the deodorant now must be used all the time). Because we are encouraging conversations to start early, to set up our kids for success, its important to also ensure we are using all natural products. In addition to Ellie’s Earth, share some other personal care products you’ve used with your little ones!
Here’s to creating confident kids!
