You’ll know it’s time for your child to start using deodorant when small animals start dying in their presence, and their bedroom smells like they’re hiding a month-old pizza. Or, at least, when you notice they are producing body odor.
Body odor is generally one of the first signs of puberty. For girls, puberty typically begins somewhere between the ages of 9 and 11, although it’s not uncommon for it to start earlier or later than this. For boys, the average age is 11 (source).
Some children start producing body odor at a much younger age. If this is the case, you should speak with their pediatrician to ensure there are no other underlying concerns. With your doctor’s approval, feel free to use an all-natural deodorant on them to help combat the stench (source).
There’s no need to start using deodorant on children who don’t have body odor.