What age??

[pidget]

I have a 9yr old daughter who all of a sudden has become obsessed with deodorant. I don't think that she needs it but lots of her friends use it. My big query is what is suitable, i have friends who go on about ones that cause cancer and those that don't but i am sceptical. Any advice welcome!!!!

[sara3]

buy her a flowery body spray. I'm sure she'll be delighted!

[~Wingnut~]

Have a look in your local health food shop :o)

My daughter is the same but she doesn't really need it yet but her Grandma has got her one from there because it doesn't contain aluminium.

[Eve]

I was going to say the same, get her a nice body spray.

Maybe her friends all have some nice smellies which they spray themselves with during the day and she feels left out.

Or maybe a comment has been made about how she doesn't use it, kids can be cruel.

Say for example after PE if a cruel kid has noticed she doesn't and done an urgh thing to her.

When I was older (at main school) I remember feeling really embarassed and not understanding as most of the girls were shaving their legs and underarms and such long before I was and I had to go to my mum and ask.

[Tups]

I am a retired school teacher. I taught 9 year old girls. It just took one girl to turn up with a body spray to make the whole class want one. I had to stop them spraying it around in the classroom; the air was unbreathable! I worry about children so young playing around with aerosols; they can cause all sorts of problems, from respiratory to cancer. If the girls really feel they need to smell sweet, I would encourage them to use baby wet wipes to remove sweat. This would also make them feel refreshed. They could always be personalised by putting them in pretty holders.

[Tups]

I am a retired school teacher. I used to teacher 9 year old girls. It only took one girl to bring along a body spray for the whole class to want to jump on the band wagon. I had to stop them from spraying the various aerosols in the classroom; the air was unbreathable! It's a shame the children so young want to mess around with such things; they can cause all sorts of problems from respiratory to cancer. If they genuinely feel the need to freshen up, I would encourage them to use baby wet wipes, which they could personalise by carrying them in pretty holders. This would a) remove the danger aspect and b) remove the sweaty smells, rather than simply masking them.

[ermintrude35]

how about mum roll on deoderant...or is that not as cool as it used to be when i was at school?

[jacey]

Hi Pidget, My daughter has just been through breast cancer, so I have been reading up on this lately. There are risks with aluminium based deodorants. My daughter now uses BIONSEN aluminium free. Spray (don't recommend any sprays,) Roll On or stick, which lasts ages.You can get it at Tesco. :-)

[Miss-Ladybug]

Im sure Sure came out with light body sprays for young girls ;]

Or try your health food shop

[pidget]

Thank you for all your serious answers, lots to think about! God help me when it gets harder!!x