Is It Safe to Use Deodorant for Kids?

Many children start developing body odour when they hit puberty. Each child may reach puberty at a different age, but body odour is a common sign of puberty. And some children may feel the need to start using deodorant after attaining puberty, especially if they have a strong body odour. If your child comes home and smells a little less than fresh, you might be giving serious thought to buying deodorant for your child. But should you let your child use deodorant to your child? Find out!

Should Kids Use Deodorants?

While you may feel that your little one is too young to use deodorant, you or your child may feel the need for it once they hit puberty and develop body odour. If the body odour is strong and does not fade away after bathing, your child may need to use a deodorant. Deodorants for pre-teens and teenagers are not very different from the ones sold for adults, so you might want to decide after checking with a doctor about the benefits and side effects of using deodorants.

When to Start Using Deodorant for Kids

So when is the right time for your child to start wearing deodorant? Does an 8-year-old needs deodorant? Should deodorants be introduced to children only after puberty? Well, the answer to all these questions is that there is no specific age that is right for a child or kid to use deodorant. It is dependent on when you feel the time is right for your child to use it. There are some factors that you can consider before you make a decision. These are essentially signs to consider buying deodorant for your child.

1. The Onset of Puberty

Your children can start wearing deodorant once they reach puberty. Most girls hit puberty between the ages of 8 and 13 years and most boys hit puberty between 9 and 14 years for boys. A few visible signs could be

• Development of breasts in girls
• Voice changes in boys
• Underarm or pubic hair

2. Presence of Body Odour

Some children may develop body odour even before attaining puberty. It could develop if your child is an athlete or actively involved in sports. The sweat glands work harder and result in body odour.

In both situations, sweating and odour are pretty normal. Sweating is a natural mechanism of the body to release excess salt and fat. It helps to keep the body cool and regulate the temperature.

3. If Your Child Takes Parts in Sports and Other Physical Activity

If your child is active in sports and physical activity, they can start to sweat and feel stinky. Sweat could release body odour, and deodorant could help reduce the odour.

How to Choose the Right Deodorant for Kids

When buying deodorant for your child, there are several brands to choose from. But most of them use harsh chemicals that could irritate the skin and cause further harm. Some brands make deodorants specifically for kids with natural ingredients. Most of them contain extracts from plants and herbs, are free of parabens, aluminium, and any artificial fragrance. Choosing deodorants that are made from natural ingredients is a safe bet. They are soft on the skin and serve the purpose of masking odour. Just like parenting, making a choice on the right deodorant could be draining. But with so many natural products available in the market, you can easily find a good deodorant for your child.

Deodorant vs Antiperspirant – Which Is Better for Kids?

Deodorant is often used for any product that can be used for underarms. In reality, though, there is a huge difference between deodorant and antiperspirant. Deodorants are labelled for odour protection, while antiperspirants aim at reducing or stopping underarm sweat.

As per the FDA, variations of aluminium salts are the only approved active ingredients for antiperspirants. Underarm products containing aluminium are considered to be safe. There are some who avoid using the product. It is best to understand the difference between aluminium-free deodorants and antiperspirants to decide what you should use for your child.

If your child has started developing body odour, and you are considering deodorant for him or her, check the ingredients in the one you are planning to buy. Opt for the one that has natural ingredients in it, better yet check with a doctor about the safety and risks of using deodorants for kids.

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