My son is 8, and also wanted to use deodorant. I let him pick one that didn't have a strong fragrance. At first, he put it on every day, but I guess the novelty wore off, he only uses it occasionally now. The way I see it, I have worse battles down the road.....deodorant wasn't a big deal.

My son is 8, and he also asked for deodorant. I figured with all the battles that lie ahead, this wasn't that big a deal. Besides, after a few days, the novelty wore off, and he hardly uses it.

I noticed my daughter *needing* it at about age 9-10. Don't see what the bug deal is- won't hurt and it will make her feel grownup. I bet she stops when the newness wears off.

My 8 year old daughter has needed it on one or two occasions. I bought her a nice mild one from the health food store with a subtle fragrance. I don't see anything wrong with it.

Yes, my dd needed it around 10.

If your child wants to use it now...LET THEM. Its so hard to get kids into new habits. My dd NEEDS it but forgets it alot of times...just so hard to remember.

Though I would recomend a deodorant from the health food stores. It has been proven that many deodorants and anti persperants contain harmful chemicals that can lead to many problems from cancer to alzheimers. Of coarse the general public doesnt acknowledge this...but do your research on this and you will be amazed at how dangerous they are. My dd uses a gentel oranic deodorant and it works just great for her.

thanks to all. it's hard to believe how fast they grow up. just the other day she was learning to walk and talk. lol.

The deoderant-causing-cancer has been written up as a hoax by no less than the American Cancer Society. The e-mails claiming cancer-causing proof were hoax emails designed to scare people into forwarding them on. I would worry more about the BO :-) than the possiblity that deoderant (or more accurately, antiperspirant) causes diseases.

Here is a link that might be useful: Urban Legends site with links to ACS

Well, there may be no proof to cancer, and it may be a hoax about cancer but there have been many tests concerning memory loss after long use and alzhiemers.

Besides, a child that old doesnt need all the harsh chemicals in commercial deodorants. A mild gentle one works just fine and with no possible side affects in years to come.

However, Iam very much in to organic and healthy things, so am naturally concerned. Some folks think its all a bunch of hooey, to each their own I guess.

Get a crystal deodorant stone. You wet the stone and put it on and there is no aluminum in it.

I'm posting this link so you can see what a deodarant stone is. I don't know of this company.

I buy mine at the grocery store. You can also buy at the health food stores. They are more expensive (about 5 dollars) but will last about a year.

Here is a link that might be useful: deodorant stone

My mother in law uses the stones, she loves them, she wont use aluminum either. I didnt have much luck with the stone I bought but there are different ones. But they do make organic deodorant too if you need something stronger than the stones. My dd started out with the stones and she loved them. Thanks for the link~

Just wanted to jump in and say how impressed I am at the reasonableness of all the posters here. I think it's great that so many people are approaching this so sensibly.

I teach grade five, and the deodorant issue is a biggie. Out of twenty children easily eighteen of them are at a point where they have started to need it. They play hard at recesses and work hard during gym class. (As they absolutely should!) I have addressed the matter in a frank (but general-no singling out of course) way and had minimal support. A general note "suggesting" this might be a good idea, etc. netted no appreciable results. Although I did get two responses saying basically, "Are you kidding, my kid is only ten. We're years away from needing to start that." (Oh, how I'd love to have those parents try standing next to their children, right after gym period, trying to explain long division while holding their breath!)

I have one or two who now use it. Another two keep it in their gym bags to apply just before gym class.

I tell you, some days, especially in June, all those sweaty little bodies in an enclosed, non air conditioned room with only two tiny windows and no breeze, is unbearable.

I wish you guys could go door to door in my school's community and spread the message. I dream of fresh air, and pleasant smells.

Just had to share.

Skr~Bless your heart! I never thought about it from your angle! That would be horrible to have to smell all the time. My goodness, that would be an eye opener for a parent.

Hope good smelling days come your way~ :)

I would let her use a deoderant. My daughter is 9 and she wants to start using it just like her older sister who is 12. I would buy a brand that is just a deoderant, not the added anti-perspirant. It's healthy for kids to sweat. NancyLouise

I think it would be harmless to let her wear a deodorant. She will probably lose interest in it soon enough. She just wants to be grown up!

My son is 8 and I was really surprised this past summer when I noticed that he was needing it! I thought he was too young and that didn't happen until puberty. Oh well, first child, what do I know. Anyway, I went out and bought him some "Teen Spirit" deodorant and we made a little joke about it. I would ask him how his teen spirit was today! He doesn't need it now in the colder weather but he sure did in July!

My daughter is 8 and she started needing it last year. My ped recommended either Tom's of Maine or the Teen Deodorants. They have less chemicals in them. It's worked out fine for my daughter. The last thing I wanted was for kids in school to notice if she needed it (I would hate anyone to make fun of her). She's a bit on the heavy side -- has anyone noticed that heavier kids seem to mature sooner?

I second the recommendation for the Tom's of Maine products - they work well and have far fewer chemicals than other brands. I'm not sure how concerned we have to be about chemicals in the environment, but it may be safer to err on the "less is better" side.

Pam

I have noticed that heavier children do tend to mature a little faster.... it seems that when I was in school the bigger boys in the class got facial hair sooner,a nd the bigger girls got hair other places sooner than the rest of us.
As far as the deodorant goes, let the kids use it. They have ones in the stores that are geared towards pre-teens and teens. Even if they don't *need* it just yet, they will soon, and will be familiar with it/in the habit of using it. Once they start *needing* it, I would remind them about putting it on every morning before they leave for school - having your mom mention it is a lot less embarassing/irritating than being made fun of for smelling....

I thought of this thread on Friday when my son (age 7) and his friend (age 10) came inside to play with the computer after they had been outside playing hockey for quite a while. My son went to the bathroom and the other boy asked me to go to a specific website so he could show my son something.

Well-this 10 year old could use some deodorant badly. I didn't think it was possible for such a young child to need deodorant, but they certainly can. I didn't say anything to the boy becuase I didn't want to make him feel bad, but the next time I talk to his parents I think I will mention it to them. So-if your child wants to start at age 7 I see no harm in it. I will talk to my son about starting to use it soon (before he needs it).

Mommabear

i'd pick my battles & give in to this relativly harmless 1.

I don't see any reason why you shouldn't get it for her.

I think deoderant is fine to use....but I would stay away from the anti perspirants at this age. I have five kids..four girls and one poor boy...lol

Even my teen girls only use deoderant not the anti perspirant. Anti perspirant CAN clog the pores and cause swollen glands and that is how the whole "cancer scare" started. Over blocked pores....

Now in the case of boys..they just smell at this age...my son is in 5th grade. And he and some of his friends DO use deoderant and good lord if they don't smell like wet dogs when they get done playing. LOL As soon as he is done playing outside for the day it is straight in the shower...
I can't wait till he outgrows this stage. Hormones are a wonderful thing....LOL

**note---zinc seems to help with those body odors as well. If you don't want to just give them zinc tablets...a childrens/teen multi vitamin WITH zinc works great.

Fufu,

Could you cite a reputable source for the info concerning anti-perspirants clogging pores or swelling glands? I'm asking because I read an article in a health magazine about two years ago that claimed anti-perspirants had no such effect, even though it would seem they'd have to in order to work. The article concluded there's no known heatlh risks caused by anti-perspirant use unless you are allergic to their ingredients.

Lee,

Sorry, I typed too fast...I should have previewed before I submitted. I thought I had added the allergy comment to that sentence. So let me state clearly......

there is no link to any cancer by anti perspirant or deoderant use. The only condition that can take place is irritation--which can include swollen glands, clogged pores, redness,etc--- of the area due to allergies, injury, or sensitive skin.

I had to do research on this years ago as my mother in law got my girls all worked up on this when they went to visit her. So all the info I got was from the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, our own pediatrition and several random oncologists.

I will be more careful when I post...thank you Lee for double checking me on this.
=)

Beats trying to act grown up by smoking!