Cleaning

[Mountain_Mama]

When we chose not to circ our son, my dh's family assured us over and over that he would get infections, be 'dirty', and likely end up circumcised after some awful infection when he's 12. I felt very strongly about not cutting off part of his penis. My dh is circ'd so he's not certain if anything 'extra' needs to be done to clean an uncirc'd penis. I've been very careful not to pull anything back, but I've received conflicting info from docs and nurses on how to clean him (which includes that i should pull his foreskin back). I just want to make sure I am teaching my son how to clean his penis properly - can anyone point me to a resource?

Thanks!

[robertandenith]

print this out
http://www.asnatureintended.info/upl...74/babyboy.pdf

[robertandenith]

you are doing great, just wipe like a finger.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

The only one to retract and clean is your ds he wont need to do this even if he is retractable until he is old enough to understand and do it on his own.

The problems that your family is saying could happen do so because of retraction when the foreskin is not ready.

You are 100% right to leave it alone and wash like a finger. Never retract and never allow anyone else to do so. Please read the Warning sticky and the Definition of retraction sticky.

[perspective]

Originally Posted by Mountain_Mama

When we chose not to circ our son, my dh's family assured us over and over that he would get infections, be 'dirty', and likely end up circumcised after some awful infection when he's 12. I felt very strongly about not cutting off part of his penis. My dh is circ'd so he's not certain if anything 'extra' needs to be done to clean an uncirc'd penis. I've been very careful not to pull anything back, but I've received conflicting info from docs and nurses on how to clean him (which includes that i should pull his foreskin back). I just want to make sure I am teaching my son how to clean his penis properly - can anyone point me to a resource?

Thanks!

When a boy is born, the foreskin is fused to the penis head at a cellular level. This is good, because it STOPS dirt, or germs from getting to the penis head and actually keeps it clean and safe from injury.

A study done in the Netherlands found that the average age that a boy retracts his foreskin, is at 12 years old.

When it comes to washing, you just need to practice good hygiene. Teach him like you would any child (male or female) to wash themselves properly, and start good cleaning habits at a young age. Remind him when he is old enough to make sure to clean his penis, just like you would remind a girl to clean her genitals. Nothing really tough here, just practice good parenting and things will be fine.

[Quirky]

The age of retraction is highly variable and can happen at any time up through or beyond puberty. The boy himself should be the only one to retract his foreskin towards his body -- there is never, ever a need for a doctor or nurse to "check" for retractability.

If he's still in diapers, just wipe downwards away from the body like you're wiping a finger. If there's a hugely messy blowout diaper, a good swish in the sink or tub will take care of it and the next pee will flush out anything that managed to get inside the foreskin (although this is pretty rare, really, as one of the foreskin's jobs is to protect the baby's glans/urethra from poop).

My son is 6 and is mostly retractable. When he's in the tub, I remind him before there's any soap in the water to "rinse out his penis." He gives it a quick retraction, swish, and puts everything back where it belongs. I've never once seen any smegma or discharge of any kind (and wouldn't fret if I did, since smegma is normal, just like it is on girls and women). It's not really that he needs to rinse his penis out for hygiene, it's more about setting habits now for later on when he hits puberty and gets generally smellier.

[bluetoes]

My son is getting close to 2.5 and my husband is 33 and neither have had any problems. A bit of a swish in the bath and wiping like a finger during diaper changes is enough for an intact baby/toddler My husband says he was never shown a 'special' way to clean his penis, he just bathed or showered. It's not like you have to get a boy old enough to shower or bathe himself to swish it around using any special means! So don't worry, you in-laws are just being paranoid. As long as it isn't retracted all the time and too soon you shouldn't have any issues.

[fruitful womb]

The only person who should retract the foreskin is the boy himself. Like others have said, it isn't retractable yet therefore its best to leave it alone to develop.

Like a newborn kitten is born with its eyes fused, never to open until developed enough to do so, the foreskin is fused to the glans only to seperate when its developed enough to do so. It would cause damage to the kitten if someone were to open the eyes before they naturally opened on their own. One could cause damage if retraction was forced on an infant or child who isn't naturally retractable.

Puberty is the average age in which full retraction is normal.

You can tell your child when he is older and able to retract himself, to remember the three R's: Retract, Rinse, Replace. No soap is necessary. Or very little soap if he chooses.

Its as easy as if we were telling our daughters how important it is to wipe from front to back.

Congratulations on your newest addition!

[latinalonestar]

You have gotten good advise from the other members. I will chime in and say...
-Just swish in warm water.
-Remember soaps can cause irritation.
-Wipe like a finger if it gets poopy.
-And ALWAYS remember to tell all care providers and baby sitters: "Please don't retract or manipulate my son's foreskin".