United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My daughter is 7 (she does not have a BPI). On a hot day or one where she is running around or in gym, she has BAD B.O. if she doesn't wear deoderant. Some kids just have active sweat glands and go through the 1st stages of puberty early. I wouldn't be concerned.

my 6 year old wears deoderant too. Its normal for us. Jade uses a organic crystal she is now 8 and still has not started Puperty. In Oklahoma in 100 degree heat, kids just smell. they outside almost all day. so they stink! SHe just uses her non bpi arm for both arms.

My 9 year old needs deodorant as well, my other kids didn't. she's bigger built than they were so may be entering the beginnings of puberty, body mass has a lot to do with that. She is also extremely active, she walks to school and runs, skips, jumps almost continuously at lunch and morning tea. Lots of her classmates, especially the girls, just don't do this at all; sedentary at age 9, a whole generation of heart disease waiting to happen!
Whatever causes it, she has to wear deodorant or the other kids comment. I'm reassured to find she's not the only one!
Jen NZ

Crystal --
I was so relieved when I read your post because my son Parker has no function in his affected hand and after I read these posts I started wondering for the first time --how WILL he apply deodorant?? But yes, I am sure he would use his unaffected hand for both! He would have figured this out without any interference with Mom as he does everything! I don't know why I waste my time worrying!
Pam

Rosalynn uses the unaffected arm to do both sides. My mom has had a stroke and perfers the spray stuff, but her aim isn't very good If you are worried about the enviroment they do make pump sprays (Although now I think about it pumping it up might be an issue for some depending on use of BPI arm) You decrease overspray with the pumps. Our youngest has a trach and respritory problems so if we use anything you spray from a can we have elminated it or switched to the pump to reduce airborn particles. The link below is not an endorsment was just looking for a picture of the stuff we found for my mom, we bought it locally.

http://www.epharmacy.com.au/product.asp ... Spray+75mL

Under my non-affected arm I use the monkey scratch position, too. I place my BPI elbow on the edge of my dresser, or something else of an appropriate height if I'm not at home. When I take a small step back my underarm is exposed. Then I use my non-affected arm to get the deodorant in the affected armpit.

Joanie

Most people are not sticking their noses in our children's pits the way we moms do. Yes kids have a bit of bo, but daily baths should help.

Most pediatricians do not recommend an antipersperant/deoderant for youngsters.

I finally relented with my 9 year old and purchased Tom of Main which is organic but we wear it sparingly not every day.

I think kids are starting to be smellier earlier, but our obsession in todays society with perfection is silly. Again, most kids do not really smell that bad until you stick your nose in their pit at the END of the day.

Not only is katie not able to do it herself the defect in her armpit makes it almost impossible to get anything in there deep enough to touch the skin! I will have to tell her the monkey scratch...maybe with some reconstructive surgery she will be able to get in there with it then.

Do your kids not have that deeeeeeeeeeep armpit? Surely she is not the only one, I know she has some serious injury going on but gosh..

If my girl doesn't wear it I can smell her from OUTSIDE the classroom when I'm waiting to pick her up-she showers twice a day!But she is VERY active.
I too have that deep armpit, my injury is pretty bad. I use a rollon and can shove it in there ok, but it's never as effective as on the unaffected side. It's a real issue.
JenNZ