YEp. That's the age! not everyone is stinky at once and obviously if your daughter isn't smelly yet you don't have to comply. There are also many natural alternatives like 'Tom's of Maine' and baby powder for the less stinky.

I have boys and when they get there I'll be sure to comply. I feel for the teachers---that age can be severely stink and bile-inducing...I used to be a camp counselor.

Anonymous wrote:I wish the teacher in my DS's first grade class would tell the kids to bathe!

My 7 year old would get stinky between taking a shower at night and waking up in the morning so I started doing showers in the morning, but by the time she got home from school she was stinky again. I decided it was time to bite the bullet and do deodorant

Anonymous wrote:There might be a few kids in the class that are starting to have BO, and instead of singling those kids out, she made a blanket statement. If you don't think your daughter has BO yet, don't use deodorant. But if it was my kid who was starting to smell bad, I'd be happy the teacher just addressed the class instead of embarrassing my child.

+1

I remember vividly my FCPS 4th grade teacher saying "Let's make the end of 4th grade more pleasant for all of us. Starting Monday - everyone please wear deodorant - swipe at least 3 times kids and we will have a much happier classroom!" We also had a short lecture about proper teeth brushing! But I agree, it is better not to single out one or two kids.

Anonymous wrote:I wish the teacher in my DS's first grade class would tell the kids to bathe!

I wish the teacher in my DS's first grade class would tell the kids to bathe!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is 9, and in 4th grade.

She came home yesterday telling me she needs to start wearing deodorant. I asked why. "The teacher told us to.". She told the whole class, did not single out my child.

I realize it's getting hot and the kids are getting sweaty at recess. But deodorant on a NINE year old???? My child is not in puberty yet. She doesn't smell. I buried my face in her arm pit to check, no smell.

I think I'd rather delay my child using deodorant as long as possible because I've heard that they can be linked to breast cancer. She'll have enough years ahead of her of exposure to deodorant, she doens't need to start at NINE.

Am I way off base here? Is it normal for a 4th grade teacher to give a blanket directive to a bunch of nine year olds to start using deodorant???

That's just stupid. Is that everyone's excuse on the metro? WTF

The aluminum is indeed an issue. But you can just use many of the aluminum-free versions.

Anonymous wrote:My DD is 9, and in 4th grade.

She came home yesterday telling me she needs to start wearing deodorant. I asked why. "The teacher told us to.". She told the whole class, did not single out my child.

I realize it's getting hot and the kids are getting sweaty at recess. But deodorant on a NINE year old???? My child is not in puberty yet. She doesn't smell. I buried my face in her arm pit to check, no smell.

I think I'd rather delay my child using deodorant as long as possible because I've heard that they can be linked to breast cancer. She'll have enough years ahead of her of exposure to deodorant, she doens't need to start at NINE.

Am I way off base here? Is it normal for a 4th grade teacher to give a blanket directive to a bunch of nine year olds to start using deodorant???

That's just stupid. Is that everyone's excuse on the metro? WTF

Your child may not need it, but other children do. My daughter started wearing deodorant regularly when she was 8. She needed it. Typically, for matters of hygiene and puberty the whole class (or sex segregated class) is addressed. I know in my daughter's 4th grade health unit, things like wearing clean clothes every day were mentioned along with deodorant, the wearing of bras or under shirts, and growing hair in new and exciting places.

Like you, I was concerned about what was in deodorant, so I shopped around and got some that I considered "safer." While one of the standard suggestions is to let your child pick it out (to increase compliance with using it), I pre-filtered the options available to her. If your child is typical, she will take time adjusting to wearing deodorant, so getting her started thinking about it now can help when she does start to stink in a couple months/year.

The classes mainly smell of stinky feet, not sweaty armpits, at that age. Of course there are a minority of children who need deodorant in their armpits at 9, but the bulk of the problem is feet, I promise you!

No need for a deodorant, even an aluminum-free one, if your DD has not developed armpit odor!

My 7 yo (first grader but very big and tall for his age) needs deoderant. We use Tom's and it works great. Our pediatrician said it was normal.

I remember when this was sent home in our "4th grade newsletter". My mom looked at the letter, looked at me, and said "this means someone in class stinks".

She bought me deodorant which I used intermittently until I realized I needed it.

I have friends in other areas of the country whose fourth grade kids also had this talk recently... I think it must be the norm to have the conversation around now.

I don't know what we'll buy our son when he's the right age, but I've got to find something better than Axe!

4th grade was when our 4th grade teacher asked the kids to take a shower every day. Then they gave them information like, DO for the BO. 4th grade, especially in June, especially in hot humid weather, can get very stinky. I liked that htey made it across the board. It is good hygiene and some kids do better when they hear things from adults other than their parents.

OP here, OK. Thanks for the input.