The time inevitably comes when your precious little angel starts to smell more like a little gremlin. It’s perfectly normal, but that doesn’t mean your nose wants to, or has to, tolerate it. So, here are some tips to help you and your child keep the B.O. at bay.
Take morning showers
Mornings can be hectic, so in order to save time many parents have their child shower the night before. That way, all they have to do in the morning is splash some water on their face, throw on some clothes, comb their hair, and walk out the door. It makes a ton of sense from a practical perspective, but are they still totally clean from last night’s shower? Not so much.
You see, no matter how clean their bed may be, the fact remains that us humans often sweat while we sleep, even if just a small amount. And when that happens, the bacteria that naturally live on our skin awaken and start snacking on that sweat, which ultimately leads to odor (via the gases the bacteria fart out — yea, it’s wild). So what you’ll often find is that by mid-morning, your kid is already smelling pretty ripe. No bueno!
This is why we recommend getting the kiddos up a little earlier so they can bathe in the morning, ensuring they’re getting a clean start and can then stay fresh throughout the day. Or if a morning shower is absolutely impossible, at least have them wash their armpits with soap and water before getting dressed. Wet wipes can be handy for this, too.
Wear breathable clothes
Whenever possible, try to ensure your little stinker is wearing natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, or wool. These are by far the most breathable and will ensure the best air flow to their body, keeping them fresh for longer.
When shopping for athletic clothing, look for a blend, such as 50% cotton and 50% polyester, versus 100% polyester. Synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon aren’t breathable, so when used in a garment on their own they trap heat against the body, which causes odor. Blends have the benefit of providing the moisture-wicking properties of synthetic fabric as well as the breathability of natural fibers, keeping your young athlete both cooler and dryer while they play.
Stay as dry as possible
Odor-causing bacteria love moisture, so staying as dry as possible throughout the day will inhibit their ability to spread and cause a stink. This can be done in a number of ways:
- After showers, dry off completely before getting dressed
- Change clothes and dry off as quickly as possible after getting sweaty (e.g., after practice or gym class)
- Keep a change of clothes in their school locker that they can wear if they get rained on, for example
Wash clothes with vinegar
Okay hear me out — this really works! Sometimes laundry detergent can’t quite lift out all the odor from clothes and needs a little helping hand. That’s where vinegar comes in. Because vinegar is an antibacterial, adding one cup to your load of laundry will help eliminate the stubborn bacteria that might be clinging to your stinky child’s clothes. It will also help loosen set-in oils or chemicals in the clothes, and even soften the fabric!
To ensure no weird staining occurs, you’ll want to use white vinegar for this. And no, your laundry won’t smell like vinegar afterwards. The vinegar-y smell dissipates with the wash.
Use a kid-safe deodorant
You knew this one was coming, didn’t you? We are a deodorant company, after all. But hey, it’s true! If your son or daughter’s pungent odor is relentlessly returning despite all your best efforts with the above tips, it’s probably time to get them a deodorant. No age is too young, really — if they’re funky, they’re ready.
The most important thing is to make sure you get them a deodorant that’s suitable for their young, sensitive skin. Look for one without aluminum, baking soda, and artificial fragrance (these are the most common irritants for sensitive skin). In terms of format, we prefer roll-on deodorants because they’re always smooth and easy to apply, whereas stick deodorants can sometimes be hard, chalky, and painful to put on.
Of course, we’re partial to Kobi Sport Deodorant — it checks all those boxes and has the added benefit of being the only sport-strength kids’ deodorant currently on the market. But, there are a few other options out there that might be strong enough for your child, especially if their B.O. is still rather light.
Happy odor-fighting!
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