Back-to-School Hygiene:

What Moms (and all parents) Should Know About Odor

New backpacks, fresh outfits, and sharpened pencils aren’t the only back-to-school essentials. As our daughters and sons head back to class, there’s another thing we need to keep in mind: hygiene and odor.

Why Odor Shows Up in Kids & Teens

As kids grow into tweens and teens, hormones start doing their thing. Add in sports, gym class, cafeteria food, and long school days — and odor can creep in. Here’s what to know:

  • For Daughters: Tight jeans, leggings, periods, and hormonal changes can shift vaginal pH, leading to odor. Stress + skipping showers doesn’t help either.
  • For Sons: Sweat glands go into overdrive during puberty. Add in sports, heavy backpacks, and deodorant avoidance — and the funk shows up quick.

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The Gym Trio [For Her]
Regular price
$88.00
Regular price
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$88.00
The Gym Trio [For Her]
The Gym Trio [For Her]
The Gym Trio [For Her]
Regular price
$88.00
Regular price
Sale price
$88.00

Signs to Watch For

(and Talk About)

Stronger Body Odor

Not just after gym, but throughout the day.

Vaginal Odor Changes

For daughters, odors that are fishy, yeasty, or unusually strong need attention.

Clothing Habits

Wearing the same leggings, socks, or hoodies multiple times without washing.

Skipping Hygiene

Teens may forget showers, deodorant, or period product changes.

How Parents Can Help

Conversations around odor can feel awkward, but they don’t have to. Here’s how to support your kids:

1. Normalize It

Let them know odor is natural and happens to everyone.

2. Provide Tools

Stock hygiene kits with pH-safe cleansers, wipes, sprays, deodorant, and clean underwear.

3. Talk Balance

For daughters, explain that vaginal odor isn’t about being “dirty,” but about pH. For sons, make clear that sweat + bacteria = odor, and showers matter.

4. Encourage Routines

Remind them that consistent showers, fresh clothes, and hydration are key.

To really help set them up for success, keep a regimen that keeps them on track daily.

Build Their Hygiene Toolkit

Just like you wouldn’t send them to school without notebooks, don’t send them without hygiene basics.

  • For daughters: A small kit with pantyliners, wipes, mini cleanser, and deodorant.
  • For sons: Deodorant, body spray, and clean socks (yes, socks!).

Back-to-school is more than academics — it’s about building confidence, too. Helping your kids understand and manage odor sets them up for success, self-esteem, and long-term health.ther important changes in her body.

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