Body Odor - Early puberty - HELP!!!!
SD 8 has horrible body odor. She was given deodorant and instructions how to use it several months ago, but still doesn't unless someone tells her to. We also noticed blackheads all over her nose. She had 1 very light episode of spotting several months ago. We are going to have her bathe every day (instead of every other day) but I am not sure how to handle this. DFiance is scared shitless of facing that she is developing(sort of)and won't talk to her - I have talked to her a little and the ex claims to have, but SD says her mom never talked to her.
Any others out there with really early puberty signs? How did you explain without giving too much info? This is falling on my shoulders almost completely. I don't mind - I would rather her hear this from a woman and it looks like her mom is not going to prepare her for ANYTHING.
Literature...
...might help. I'm sure there are books geared towards girls her age these days to help them understand & deal with it. You might want to check out the school library or even contact the school nurse (just a thought.) If none of that helps, try Barnes & Noble online, or Amazon. Good luck!
Hipi
yeah
I agree - I explained that when your body grows bigger into a lady's body that sometimes you have stuff that comes out of your privates - sometimes it would look reddish brown and sometimes it would look clear or white. I also explained that she might have hair starting to grow in places like her underarms and her privates, that it was normal and she shouldn't be scared if that happened. We talked about her body odor then and we went shopping for deodorant - which she picked out. I also told her that as her body kept growing she would notice that her breasts started to feel tender and would grow and that everyone has these things happen at different times - hers just started happening sooner than some other girls.
She denies discharge but I have noticed it in her panties when I do laundry. I haven't noticed another "period" but I am not sure she would tell me if she had anything happen at her mom's. I want her to be able to be open about this stuff and the only way I know how is to talk talk talk. Her dad talks to her minimally about the girl stuff.
oh yeah - no breast buds - although her last annual physical she was underweight.
She seems grateful that I talk to her about this stuff, so I think that is a good sign. I just never expected to have to do it at 8!
milk
If you can get this to open its got some interesting information about what we, especially the kds, are putting in our bodies.
I had to copy and paste this in the address window.
http://www.snopes.com/medical/potables/walmart.asp
I do think all of this stuff is related and its important to look for organic instead of hormone treated milk.
"I will ask- so what do kids
"I will ask- so what do kids say about "x" or whatever...it takes the spotlight off her to respond to her opinion but can rather say "Oh my friend says...." which sometimes feels safer."
WHOA! what a good idea - I will try that next time we talk.
I know where you're at.
My SD started using deodorant when she was 4 years old, she is way off the charts for her age group, now 8, we fear puberty will begin very soon. We had to remind her everyday to put it on, but she eventually got used to doing it herself. I recommed you give her the knowledge she needs. I bought this GREAT book from American Girl called "The Care and Keeping Of You" it explains everything about her body and how to take care of it from head to toe, and helps You answer questions. It is just for kids her age and has comments from other kids about how to except what is happening to her body. I hope this helps, be patient with her, we all needed a little help starting out.
I am very patient
when it comes to things like that. I feel really bad that her own mother doesn't talk about things "like that". I can't imagine what it would have been like if I hadn't had my mom to go to, not that I wanted to back then, but I knew it wasn't taboo to talk about.
thanks for the American Girl book - she loves anything American Girl.
:-)
It sounds like you are patient. I share in your frustration that BM doesn't take a role in the big quesitons. Good Luck.
My 6 year old has body odor
I am not a step parent but I do have a D that has had body odor since the age of 5 y.o. About 1 or 2 weeks ago Good Morning America had a recent study about girls who get their periods at age 7. The recent study was focused on stress the child is having with a parent. I felt horrible because I can sometimes stress my daughter but did I really cause her to get body odor? I have not yet taken her to a pediatrican... and was hoping to relate to some else. If you have any comments it would really help.
I have been using Gold Bond talc after every shower and that helps her stay fresh.
We had a talk the other day
We had a talk the other day about her blackheads - what they are and how to wash her face more carefully.
She has been doing better with the deodorant each day and she took the news that she needed to shower every day in stride.
I don't know where you are,
I don't know where you are, but most public schools require Guidance Counselors to provide education on puberty starting in 4th grade. There are no discussions of sex, just body changes, periods, etc. I would contact the school counselor and ask what, if anything they teach and then just reiterate that.