When Should Kids Start Using Deodorant

Kids grow up fast, despite how much you want them to stay little forever. In the blink of an eye, they go from toddlers to school age to puberty. This brings a whole host of changes to deal with, including body odor. Of course, you may notice that your kids are a bit smellier than usual, even before those bodily changes happen. So, when should kids start using deodorant?

Puberty

Kids don’t all go through puberty at the same time. For girls, it can happen between the ages of 8 and 13, while boys start puberty between 9 and 14. The first signs of this change include new hair growth in certain areas of the body for both genders, as well as individual changes, like breast development for girls and vocal changes in boys. The sweat glands also start to create more moisture, leading to more sweating and body odor than you’re used to in your child.

Some kids go through these changes before you expect them to. Precocious puberty brings these symptoms on early, plus there are some medical conditions that could cause similar changes to your child’s body. If you’re concerned, be sure to speak with a doctor to ensure these changes are normal and there are no health risks to worry about.

Whatever the reasons for the increased sweating and odor, it may be time to consider deodorant for your growing child. This will reduce these issues and help your child maintain their confidence since they don’t have to worry about damp patches on their clothing or smelly bodies.

Deodorant or Antiperspirant?

Though some people think that deodorant and antiperspirant are the same things, there are some very specific differences between these two products.

Deodorant

Deodorant is designed to help mask the odor your body produces. It does this using subtle fragrances to keep you smelling fresh throughout the day. Deodorant doesn’t stop you from sweating, it only prevents you from smelling bad.

Antiperspirant

Antiperspirant may also have a scent to it but its main purpose is to stop you from sweating. It does this by blocking the sweat glands, so they produce less moisture, keeping you dry.

Which to Choose

There is no right option when you have a child who needs to start