8 Year Old Daughter with an Issue

Okay, here's what I would do. Stop with everything that's scented regarding the body sprays and "girlie things" in the shower. She's not too young for her body chemistry to start changing for the early stages of puberty. Puberty isn't just about visible physical changes. Odors are often the first sign.

I would try her out with gentle washes and avoid talc powder at all costs. Especially if the intent is to put it in her underwear. It's associated with a higher risk of feminine cancers. In addition, if she has a yeast infection the yeast will thrive on talc powder. If she has a "moisture" issue down there, then she'll need to wash more often. The best wash for the vaginal area is WATER. Not soaps, not feminine washes, but water otherwise you risk irritation and UTI's and ruining the body's natural pH to where she'll require feminine washes for life.

Find a gentle deodorant for her underarms, unscented.

Take her to see the pediatrician to see if you can determine if this is a medical issue. If it's something the pediatrician can't figure out or handle, shell refer you to a pediatric specialist that can.

Until then, try to get her to increase her water intake. If she's dehydrated it could make her urine smell stronger and affect the strength of her body odor. Note if there have been any changes in her diet. Keep a food journal and activity journal. If she has any health complaints, keep those in the journal as well.

There is a condition where people's smell is stronger and it's nothing to do with cleanliness. There was a mystery diagnosis show about it. http://www.bloodbornebodyodorandhalitosis.com/2009/06/mys...

The other thing is look at her diet. Does she like foods with a lot of spice or garlic in them?

Could it be something that she eats regularly doing it? Or maybe a certain vitamin?

You don't mention deodorant. She's not too young to start wearing it. That may not take care of all of the scent but could help with at least part of it.

In fact, the body sprays and "girlie things" are just covering scent and their perfumes will wear off during her day; I would talk to her doctor for more specialized products that would actually neutralize body odors rather than just covering them with perfumes. A good pharmacist may be able to direct you to such products too. But you would need to know first what part of her body really is the source of the smell.

You mention a urine-like smell but don't ever say explicitly if her scent seems to be over her whole body or if it seems to be coming mostly from her pubic area. If the latter is the case, you could ask if she should be tested for a yeast infection or other type of infection that could be causing her to have a stronger smell in the pubic area. Some people's body chemistry just makes them prone to more yeast infections and though she seems young for that, why not rule it out or at least ask the doctor?

Also, I would avoid talc -- that only covers up scent and talc itself is not healthy for having around and in her vagina and urinary tract; while the jury is still out on firm results, there are some studies questioning whether talc may be linked to cancers and other conditions (plus, inhaling it by accident is dangerous to the lungs). In fact, many doctors now say not to use talcum powder on infants, so I would not use it on an 8-year-old either.

I was thinking maybe it is something she eats. Oddly enough my 4 year old son gets a wierd odor from eating pickles. It took a while to figure that out but we know that is what causes it. I have brought it up to the pediatrician and she said somethimes foods can do that but its not a cause for concern. I will just have to warn him of that issue as he gets older if he dont out grow it. She should not have to use body sprays at 8, maybe just deoderant. i would take her to the dr and see if they can narrow it down to something. otherwise keep tract of what she eats and if it gets worse after certain things. Good luck

You might try this. Alfalfa is a deodorizer and cleans out the system. It helps stop smelly feet and smelly bodies. If you would like to try it go online to www.nutritionandhealthnow.com and check out the information on alfalfa.

Also, you might stop all scented anything and let her own natural body scent come through. That also may be the problems.

N.

My daughter smelled a bit like that once and it turned out it was because she was standing up to wipe herself instead of wiping while still in the sitting position. A small drip of pee would fall from her and land on her pants and that was the source of the problem. Those tiny little droplets can be surprisingly stinky.

Also, do you have a cat or other animal in the house that could be "scenting" her things?

I looked up "children who smell like urine" and discovered that it's related to kidney problems if the smell of urine comes from their breath.

Wish I could be more help. =(

/EDIT - I just read that you have a younger child, five year old, non-verbal autistic child who is still in diapers. Is it possible that the source of the odor could be from him in some way? Time to do some sleuthing!