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Today’s the day. My 5th grader is watching the 5th grade puberty movie at school.
Having two older brothers [2] who also viewed this rite of passage, I know the video is no big deal. I’m pretty much an open book when it comes to this information, so hopefully there won’t be much new information passed along to him.
But there’s always one big takeaway for the kids. And it’s not what you would think.
The video stresses over and over that the boys should start wearing deodorant. There is also mention of antiperspirant.
Both of my older children came home after watching the movie and let me know that needed to start wearing deodorant IMMEDIATLY.
Deodorant and Antiperspirant
I’m not so sure I agree with that takeaway. Not every 5th grader needs deodorant. And no 5th grader should be wearing antiperspirant. As we all know, kids develop at different rates. There might be some kids out there who have begun puberty and are offensively smelly. Deodorant is a good option in this case. But it really comes down to personal choice, not a video mandating that they wear it.
We need to provide education about deodorant and antiperspirant
Conventional deodorants and antiperspirants contain controversial aluminum and their ingredient list is long and filled with other suspicious chemicals that I don’t want on my body and I certainly don’t want on my teen’s developing body.
We are a culture obsessed with smelling pretty [3]. Take a stroll down the deodorant isle at any supermarket and the options are endless. A recent poll [4] of over 500 parents revealed that approximately 50% of children ages 4 to 11 are using deodorant by age 11.
Don’t Buy Into Those Super Smelly Deodorants
You know what brands I’m talking about. They seem to be the go-to brands for many teen boys. Many of the highly scented deodorants contain synthetic fragrances that are made up of literally hundreds of chemicals, including hormone-disrupting phthalates [5], and other ingredients that have been associated with cancer. And they stink!
Say no to antiperspirants
Aluminum-based compounds are the active ingredients in antiperspirants and they block the sweat glands to keep sweat from getting to the skin’s surface. Some scientists [6] have claimed that using the aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants may be a risk factor for the development of breast cancer and/or Alzheimer’s. If you are determined to use a product use a safe deodorant [7],not antiperspirant.
Safe Deodorant Options
Yes, you can make your own deodorant [7], but if you aren’t a DIY type of person here are a few product suggestions for safe deodorants:
- Tom’s of Maine [8]
– I’ve been using this brand for years and there are no artificial colors, or fragrances or preservatives, although it does contain propylene glycol, which is a petroleum derivative. [9]This brand is simple to find at many retailers and comes in a variety of mild fragrances.
- Nourish Organic Deodorant [10]
– This organic deodorant comes in lavender mint [11]
- Primal Pit Paste Natural Deodorant Stick [12]
– I really like this brand. The deodorant goes on smoothly and doesn’t leave a white film. It comes in a variety of scents, including unscented. There’s no bad stuff in this deodorant: NO Aluminum, NO Parabens, NO Toxic Chemicals, NO Fragrances, NO Corn, NO Gluten, NO GMOs.
- Miessence Roll-on Deodorant [13]
– Another certified organic deodorant with a fantastic ingredient list. This deodorant also scored well on the Skin Deep site [14].
Don’t forget to read your labels and find a deodorant that works for you. Not only will each of these deodorants work well for your teens, but they’ll work for everyone!
What’s your go-to brand for deodorant?
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photo credit: 20130716-4 DCPR Practice 2013 [16] via photopin [17] (license) [18]