Safe Deodorants for Children

As your child goes through puberty, you may begin to pick up on a noticeable odor coming from his direction. Whether you're buying your child a deodorant off the shelf or you've decided to make your own, certain ingredients are safer than others. Before you let your child swipe on a stick, take a careful look at what's really inside.

  1. Questionable Ingredients

    • Aluminum and parabens are two components of some deodorants that many feel are unsafe ̵1; both have been shown to cause or mimic the effects of the hormone estrogen and have been associated with breast cancer. However, because studies of deodorants and breast cancer provided conflicting results, additional research is needed, according to the National Cancer Institute. Even though there's no substantial connection, you may want to play it safe and avoid these two ingredients when you chose a brand for your child. Another ingredient to watch out for is propylene glycol ̵1; a chemical used in antifreeze. Although there is no conclusive research that says it's harmful as an ingredient in antiperspirant-containing deodorants, you may want to steer clear as a precaution. Dr. Claire McCarthy, on Parenting magazine's website, suggests avoiding deodorants with added antiperspirant in them anyway, as they may irritate some children's skin.

    Natural Deodorants

    • If you're worried about the ingredients in deodorants, look for ones that are all-natural. Vegetable oils are main ingredients in many "natural" deodorants. Glycerin, sodium stearate and ethylhexylglycerin are common ingredients that are all derived from vegetable oils and in some natural deodorants, according to natural deodorant manufacturer pro Stevan Todorovic on the website Education.com. Keep in mind, these chemicals aren't the same as pure veggie oils ̵1; they come from plant-based products ̵1; but they are considered safe.

    DIY Deodorant

    • Open up your kitchen cabinet and you'll likely find ingredients for a homemade deodorant. Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of water to make a moist paste. Have your child use her fingers to apply this under her arms. Another option is to make the mixture in a spray bottle. Add more water than baking soda for this version ̵1; if there's not enough liquid, the deodorant will clog the bottle's nozzle. A few drops of vinegar added to the mix can also help reduce armpit odors. Dr. McCarthy suggests dusting baby powder under your child's arms as a deodorant alternative.

    Skip the Stick

    • The best deodorant may be no deodorant, at least for some children. The article ̶0;Hygiene Basics̶1; at KidsHealth.org states that some children don̵7;t need deodorant or antiperspirants. So don̵7;t just assume that your child needs to add deodorant to their daily routine because of his age. If no odor is apparent, a daily shower may be all that̵7;s called for.

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