body odor

[plainfieldguy]

Any suggestions on how to talk to a middle school boy about using deodorant? Teacher was complaining and asked me to talk to him. Any unique approach/strategy to use that isn't embarrassing for the student?

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

You would be teaching basic hygiene, be matter of fact. I would be more concerned about the home environment. Consider parenting problems.

[SaltineQueen]

:roflmao:Kimmy Gibbler feet. My son has them. We wash his shoes, charcoal them at night and it still reeks. Good luck with the friend. Maybe share a Full House episode with her?

My mother in law swore by yellow Dial soap to control her boys' stinky feet. Thankfully, my hubby grew out of it.

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

All of our 5th graders watch a video about puberty. Girls and boys are separated in different classrooms and the video is played. After the video, they can ask questions. We have a nurse and a male staff member for the boys and a nurse and female staff member for the girls. The video explains body odor and why it happens as well as other aspects of puberty. It is also helpful for young girls who have questions about the dreaded periods they have heard about. I work with our family resource center and this year we had samples of deodorant for the boys and some pads for girls. Some girls don't have a female in their home so it gives them a chance to ask questions. On the website is a parental permission slip that goes out so the parents have the option of their child not participating.

Puberty Materials for Educators - P&G School Programs

I don't mind talking with them about body odor. I think in some cases we are the only ones who may talk with them AND one day I might be the one sitting next to them somewhere.

This much needed talk isn't allowed at my school.

[Amethya]

A lot of our students are low-income, so we get this as well. Most of the time, I ask them and they explain that their parents are too busy working, that there's no one to tell them or don't have enough money for deodorant.

I have some in my office, but the PE teacher who handles the puberty talk, the company that sends the video and stuff, usually send deodorants. So we give it to the 5th graders.

[DeeAngel]

Maybe you need to find an excuse to semi-hug this kid and then you can "discover" the problem for yourself and then the boy won't know anyone complained about him. Tell him is he doesnt clean up his act people might start calling names and its best to just avoid all that in the first place. That might get the importance of it through to him....or not.

[sunny time]

you are becoming a man, that is a good thing. men have body odor, that's a bad thing. you are a man use soap and water every day on tthe parts that no one sees. then use deodorant, a little cologne and the next thing you know you'll be shaving. any questions?

[plumlady]

I really love the diversity of this site! on this topic, brings back so many memories of high school...I bet that young person that's odor has become offensive has a best friend...why not include them in this situation it will help their interpersonal skills and take pressure off teachers/nurses who cannot be everything to everybody..in high school, my bbf had a persist problem of bo, and her other friend and I drew straws as to who would tell kay so other kids would stop the remarks...it fell on me...I told her gently, kay cried and I held her, I hated to see her hurt but I hated the otherkids cruel remarks...to this day we are friends..she knew my motive for telling her was not maliciousness

[nursegj]

Good old fashioned corn starch works well in many cases. It is not talc based. It is derived from corn. Alone or mixed with baking soda, it can serve as a deodorant or applied in shoes to cut foot odor. It's simple and inexpensive. One teenage boy asked me what to do about what he perceived as excessive underarm sweating. I recommended corn starch, he tried it and that seem to do the trick!

[sunny time]

2 pair of cotton socks with a change after school. they go through a lot of socks but 5he odor is limited.

[sunny time]

using mouth wash also kills bacteria and stinky feet

[Amethya]

I kinda had this issue when my niece starting to go through puberty. She was starting to have BO from her arm pits and I explained to her that she's growing into a young lady, and as you grow, you start to smell differently. Explained to her that she's starting to smell and even if she bathes daily, she needs to put deodorant on. She, of course being defiant on a lot of our ideals because... that's her, didn't want to wear it, unless reminded.

Until one day, my brother's mean old ex girlfriend said that she stinks and she needs to wear deodorant, in a very rude way. I felt bad for her and told her, while the way the girlfriend said it was rude, and hurt her feelings. Instead of waiting for someone at school to tell her this, she should listen and wear it, even if that witch was saying it just to hurt her feelings. She understood and since then wears deodorant.

[3ringnursing, BSN]

In my day they talked to your parent. Puberty can be nasty will all those wild hormones running ramped. I remember I was in 6th grade when the ugly P hit: though I showered daily I still needed extra strength deodorant, Odor Eater's insoles in my shoes, and 2 showers a day.

That school year at a parent teacher conference my teacher baldly informed my mother I had BO - my mom laid into him, and informed him I was a very clean child. To say I was MORTIFIED didn't even begin to describe how I felt. Had my teacher been tactful instead of a cruel cantankerous coot who was about to retire things may have turned out much differently. I wanted the ground to swallow me up (sadly, it didn't).

Boys are even worse ... if this is a boy who is possibly skipping showers at this critical stage you really have your work cut out for you.

Tread lightly, because this is still a painful memory for me at age 50. I know you will be kind in however you chose to handle it. Poor guy.