5 year old boy with musty underarms??

I'm not a mom but I have a 5 year old god son that I look after quite often. Last weekend he was over my house I noticed that his arm pits were sorta musty. I couldn't believe what I was smelling, I felt that he was too young to be smelling like that. When he took his shower I made sure I personally went in behind him and washed his underarms properly. I told his mother about this and she said that she was going to buy him some arm and hammer deodorant. I begged her not to. I don't think that he needs something that strong. My personal opinion is that when he is washing up, he doesn't wash his arm pits. When hes at his mother's house she never washes him, she makes him do it hisself. I asked him to please monitor him for a couple of days and even if she has to take 1 minute out of her busy schedule to wash his arms herself then so be it. My question is do 5 year olds really need deodorant?? When I was 5 I don't remember having to wear any.

Answer:
I think you are quite correct with your consern. And it's good that you expressed your concern to the mom, although sometimes it can be a bit case sensitive and you kind of have to find a way doing that in a tactfull way.
Maybe you can actually try and train the boy to do it himself when he is at your place?! just a thought :)
wash them or put d/o on them
I think you're right on this one.. She needs to watch how he's washing himself and teach him how to do it correctly.. he is certainly too young for deodorant... Good luck to you
@ 5 years old, the should be able to was them selves just fine. If his mother never taught him how than thats her fault. But you are acting like deodorant is like some kind of cancer causing kill machine. Who cares? let him were deodorant. just make sure he knows how to use it
My son is 7 and i don't put any kind of deodorant on him, but he also gets a bath every other day and he still like to have baby powder on him. maybe she needs to take him to the doctors to see if he has a problem if he doesn't then the mother needs to teach her child how to clean himself better or help him, that is concerted neglect
My 5 year old gets musty underarms. I do have to go in the bathroom and make sure he washes every part of his body. He may need someone to explain how important it is to wash every part. As I help my son I let him know that it is important to be clean. Most of the time I just guide him by saying make sure you wash this and that. And no I don't think a 5 year old needs deodorant, just some good personal hygiene training.
Okay, the truth of the matter is that some five year olds may need deodorant. My daughter started wearing deodorant around that age. It didn't matter how you cleaned under her arms, she would eventually smell musty. She's very hairy and sweats alot. So, I think it just depends on the childs sweat and oil glands. Now don't get me wrong, I didn't use a strong deodorant. We used Tussy. She's eight now and she still uses it. It holds her all day. So, she's one that just needs an extra boost.
Some children do start being smelly at a early age, so his mom is on the right track about him using deodorant, I would caution her to buy the kind that is for sensitive skin, make sure she reads the back because some are not for kid use at all.
wash

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