It is not common for toddles and small children to experience underarm odor. Body odor does  not usually begin until a child reaches puberty. However if puberty happens  before a child is 8 years old, it is considered early puberty.

What causes underarm odor ?

It occurs when the sweat from the underarm apocrine glands release fatty acids  and ammonia unto the skin. Consult your pediatrician if your toddler has an underarm odor. It could be due to early puberty or an underlying medical condition.

Some of the possible reasons armpit odor

Some of the reasons your child may experience underarm odor include the following :

• bacterial infection
• a rare metabolic disorder that prevents children’s bodies from generating necessary enzymes to help break down chemicals in their bodies

Early puberty also known as precocious puberty can cause underarm odor.  Puberty that happens before age 8 for girls and age 9 for boys is considered early. If you notice other signs of puberty such as breast growth in girls and pubic hair growth in both sexes, consult your doctor.

How is underarm odor treated ?

You can help your child with underarm odor stay clean and smell better by bathing them frequently . You should also wash your child’s clothing and bedding frequently to prevent odor build up. You can also try mild deodorant  that does not contain antiperspirant.  You need to talk to your doctor before using deodorant on a child’s skin.

How to prevent body odor ?

You may have realized that armpit odor in children is more prominent after they have eaten certain foods. You can reduce armpit odor by giving your child organic milk instead of non organic diary.  Cutting down on meat has also diminished the odor in some children.
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