My boys are 9 and 6, and they smell when they come home from school. There is no nice way to put it. It is not their underarms, but their heads. Now that the weather is warm, they shower each night before bed. Is there anything I can do? I met them at the door when they got home from school, and the minute they walked in the smell hit me.

By Nanaoie on Monday, April 2, 2007 - 05:41 pm:

The only way I have found to get rid of the smell is send them to college.;)

By Trina~moderator on Monday, April 2, 2007 - 05:49 pm:

Do they go to bed with damp hair? That could be part of the problem. If so, either have them blow dry before bed or try having them shower in the morning. Do they wear deoderant yet? Are you sure it's not BO? The reason I'm asking is because neither of my kids (DS: 10, DD: 9) smell when they get home from school. They both wear deoderant most days and either shower at night and blow dry before bed or shower in the morning before school. However, it's still fairly cool here in CT. When I did notice a smell it was because they needed to start wearing deoderant.

By Trina~moderator on Monday, April 2, 2007 - 05:50 pm:

Oh gosh, DD isn't 9 yet. Not until June!

By Tarable on Monday, April 2, 2007 - 05:56 pm:

I know the exact smell you are talking about and the only thing that I have ever found is a shower. But you might try deoderant for the 9 yr old because it might be more than just his sweaty head.

You could try a really short hair cut and see if that helps. I would think the less hair the less your head would sweat, but maybe not.

My 11 DD came home yesterday from playing outside and was all sweaty and gross. But hers was because she "forgot" to put on deoderant.

By Conni on Monday, April 2, 2007 - 06:00 pm:

Oh, I know the smell!! lol Good question! It was better after mine began wearing deodorant and stopped having recess. lol (middle school age)

By Yjja123 on Monday, April 2, 2007 - 06:26 pm:

Frequent showers and deoderant That is how we deal with our smelly son. Short hair did not seem to make a difference. He just seems to sweat--a lot.
Good luck!

By Bobbie~moderatr on Monday, April 2, 2007 - 06:44 pm:

I know the smell all to well.. DS (15) washes his hair every morning now and he started using male body soap, deoderant and body spray early on (about 10) and he thankfully only smells when he does something major (mowing the grass).. But I think it is just a guy thing..

DD's have been using deoderant since they were 8.... They would get musky other wise.. But not so much the hair issue, they all wear some type of product on their hair... And they all use fresh smelling body sprays once ready to leave the house..

Oh and I suggest buying something they like to use... DS thought he was big stuff with the mans soap and he took extra care in making sure he was cleaning every where with it...

By Ilovetom on Monday, April 2, 2007 - 07:27 pm:

LOL- the send them to college was a classic answer.

By Amecmom on Monday, April 2, 2007 - 07:45 pm:

My kids are still little, but I use Matrix Amplify instant conditioner which is a leave in conditioner spray, on them every morning. No matter what they've been doing, their hair smells yummy.

Actually my 5 1/2 year old boy is not too much younger than your six.
Ame

Oh, and ditto not going to be with a wet head.
Ame

By Jelygu on Monday, April 2, 2007 - 07:59 pm:

I love the sending them away to college line, too funny!

By Kate on Monday, April 2, 2007 - 08:21 pm:

I don't understand the 'wet head to bed' issue...why does this make hair smell bad??

By Jjb on Monday, April 2, 2007 - 08:28 pm:

Oh my gosh! My ds-6 has the same problem. It's his hair that smells. Sometimes in the AM after a shower it smells, before he even goes to school. I've changed shampoos which has helped a little bit...but it's still there some mornings. I'm going to try the leave in conditioner- great idea Ame.

By Cocoabutter on Monday, April 2, 2007 - 08:38 pm:

Ditto on the haircut. My son gets a buzz cut every year, and I don't notice that sweaty smell.

But a nightly shower is really a great habit to get them into, for puberty's sake.

By Vicki on Monday, April 2, 2007 - 09:00 pm:

I have heard that a shampoo with a mint scent to it is great for stinky heads. Something about the menthol in it???

By Debbie on Monday, April 2, 2007 - 10:42 pm:

My oldest has longer hair, but my youngest has very short hair, and they both smell. So, I don't think it matters. LOL, my oldest would have a fit about going super short again. A battle I don't want to fight. They don't go to bed with wet hair. We blow dry the oldest ones, if it is too close to bedtime, and doesn't have time to air dry.

I will have to try deoderant. Though, I have smelled under his arms, and he doesn't smell there. I love the idea about the leave in conditioner. I will have to pick some up tomorrow.

At dinner tonight, my oldest ds said his teacher talked to them last week, and hygene. She told them that after recess the class smelled like a gym locker.

LOL, between the smell, and the pee all over the bathroom, I sometimes wonder what I did to deserve 2 boys. LOL, but, I wouldn't trade them for the world.

By Latonya on Monday, April 2, 2007 - 10:58 pm:

Debbie, try having 3 boys. I do!! And a DD. My boys are 10, 8, and 3. My oldest 2 get that smell too. I call it their "wet dog smell" because that is what it smells like to me. It is aweful. My boys like to keep their hair as short as possible so they keep a buzz cut. Since we have been doing that it is better. My 8 yr old has the worst smelling feet I have ever smelled. When he comes in and takes off his shoes you can smell it all over the house. I have to make him go to the bath and wash his feet and put his shoes in his closet. I bought him some foot powder for his shoes and that helped a little but not enough.