Deoderant on a 4 year old?

Question

Would you use deoderant on a 4 year old. Are there any articles against it ?

A friend of mine wants to use it on her 4 year old, i'm not sure it's good for them - am a nursery nurse and she asked me to find out if it was dangerous. Haven't been able to find anything out.

Answer 1

I copied and pasted a few paragraphs here from various sites (sources below). To me, it's not necessary or worth the risk.

Ordinary antiperspirants use aluminium or zirconium salts to reduce the pore openings. These block the openings and prevents perspiration from escaping. Further more, zirconium is recognised cancer causing agent and a more than casual relationship between aluminium and Alzheimer's disease is being suspected.

The use of anti-perspirants and deodorants has come under a lot of controversy due to aluminum-based ingredients commonly used in many formulations. Experts are saying aluminum may be connected to Alzheimer's Disease and some cancers. And while that debate rages, the Graduate Center for Toxicology at the University of Kentucky Medical Center recommends, "avoidance of aluminum exposure, when practical, seems prudent."

If an aluminum compound, such as aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium, which is very soluble, is used as an antiperspirant, that compound is readily absorbed. Once in the body, the aluminum portion of the molecule ionizes, forming free or radical aluminum (Al+++). This passes freely across cell membranes, and forms a physical plug, that when dissolved is selectively absorbed by the liver, kidney, brain, cartilage and bone marrow. It is this concentration of aluminum that has been the source of concern in the medical community and has prompted the research being done on ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE and BREAST CANCER victims.

Answer 2

I was told all my childhood 'you don't need make up, you still have beautiful skin'. Shouldn't the same apply to armpits? Why would you need deoderant if you don't stink? I don't have enough status to vote for answers, but the long one below with all the aluminium info from various articles is the best answer so far.

Answer 3

No! Deodorant doesn't become necessary until a person hits puberty; that's when their sweat glands start producing those foul pheremones that cause body odor.

A weekly bath ought to be enough for a small child. I haven't heard of articles against putting deodorant on children, presumably because no one has bothered to do those studies becasue they assume no one would put deodorant on a four-year-old in the first place. That's like studying the effects of birth control pills on men.

Answer 4

I don't think 4 yr olds need deodorant, they haven't developed the sweat glands that would produce that much odor. Make sure it doesn't have aluminum in the ingredients, this has been linked to Alzheimer's.

Answer 5

If the child does have body odour then I agree, see a doctor. If not, perhaps your friend should. I am being serious here - when people get obsessed with germs and cleanliness it can be an anxiety thing.

Answer 6

every ones body growing rate is different my oldest daughter has been wearing some since the age of 4 and shes six now.but if u feel uncomfortable then u can use baby powder with corn starch it works.if their starting to smell try the baby powder first.

Answer 7

My daughter is 7,and she uses a roll on deodorant. Two summers ago,I noticed she had slight b.o.,so asked the doctor if I could use anything on her. He suggested a roll on for sensitive skin-I bought her one from the Simple range. She loves using it-says it tickles!

Answer 8

It's probably not harmful, but if a 4-year-old has significant body odor he/she might be experiencing precocious puberty and should see a doctor.

Answer 9

as a general rule i would say that 4 yr old don't need deodorant. If it is just copying parents/older siblings then occasional use shouldn't hurt

Answer 10

I'd be wary of the aluminum content; if anything, maybe baby wipes can be considered if the child feels insecure about the way he or she smells.