The tween years can be a difficult time for both you and your child. So many changes happening all at once – social, emotional changes, puberty, etc. – can be challenging to navigate.

If you’re not sure if your child is going through puberty, you can look for these signs: voice changes (in boys), body odor, underarm hair growth, and breast development (in girls). Typically, puberty occurs between the ages of 8-13, these are also known as the tween years. You may even notice body odor before puberty hits, especially if your child is active or an athlete, and tween’s sweat glands overproduce leading to odor.

When you decide to introduce deodorant to your child is completely up to you. But if you’re noticing body odor creeping in or the onset of puberty, this may be a clue to do so. Once you are ready, the market is flooded with all type of kids’ deodorants, which can lead to even more confusion in an already difficult time. Fortunately there are safe deodorants for kids that’ll keep them smelling fresh all day without causing any skin irritations or allergic reactions.

Why Choose a Natural Deodorant for Kids

For the most part, many of us grew up with basic commercial deodorants available in grocery stores and didn’t think twice about using them. In today’s world, we have the opportunity to choose from natural deodorants and commercial deodorants. Commercial deodorants tend to contain ingredients including aluminum, parabens, propylene glycol, and triclosan that work to mask the odor instead of attacking it where it starts. These ingredients also sometimes contribute to allergic reactions and skin irritations. Natural deodorants contain none of the ingredients listed above and work to prevent odor by changing the bacterial makeup living in the underarms and reducing sweat to begin with.

What Ingredients to Find in Kids Deodorant

Natural deodorants contain ingredients that benefit the body differently than what is generally found in commercial deodorants. In fact, you won’t see these ingredients at all in commercial deodorants. When looking for a natural deodorant, check ingredient labels for charcoal, coconut oil, and arrowroot powder.

Charcoal – It might sound funny, but charcoal is actually a cleansing compound. Since activated charcoal is carbon that has been processed to become porous, it has the ability to absorb moisture, neutralize odor and detoxify the skin. This helps keep your tween’s armpits dry and odor free.

Coconut Oil – Changing the bacterial makeup of the armpits is important for odor prevention. The antibacterial properties of coconut oil can do just that. And with less odor-causing bacteria living in the underarms, your tween will stay dry and fresh longer.

Arrowroot Powder – This ingredient is common in cooking but also common in natural deodorants due to its capacity to absorb oil and moisture. Your tween will feel more confident and comfortable knowing their armpits will stay dry throughout the day.

To find the best deodorant for kids that are free of gluten, soy, dairy, and nuts, check out TBH Kids’ Kids Deodorant, which contains natural ingredients like charcoal, coconut oil, and arrowroot powder.

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