"Mr. Happy doesn't come all the way out."

[Vishapmama]

Hi. I'm sure this has been addressed before. My DS, who will turn 4 next month, is just starting to "pull back". According to him, "Mr. Happy doesn't come all the way out." I believe this is because his foreskin opening is quite narrow. His foreskin is, I believe, fully separated at this point.

I'm very encouraged by the fact that he is experimenting with retracting himself. We have never interfered with the process, and have been adamant with medical folks that interfering with his natural anatomy is not up for discussion. But we aren't quite sure if the narrow foreskin opening is something to be concerned about. Is there something we should be teaching him or encouraging him to do beyond his own natural curiosity and efforts at retracting? Or is this something that will take care of itself as puberty comes on, with changing hormones, etc?

Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks!

Visha

[Yulia_R]

Originally Posted by Vishapmama

Hi. I'm sure this has been addressed before. My DS, who will turn 4 next month, is just starting to "pull back". According to him, "Mr. Happy doesn't come all the way out." I believe this is because his foreskin opening is quite narrow. His foreskin is, I believe, fully separated at this point.

I'm very encouraged by the fact that he is experimenting with retracting himself. We have never interfered with the process, and have been adamant with medical folks that interfering with his natural anatomy is not up for discussion. But we aren't quite sure if the narrow foreskin opening is something to be concerned about. Is there something we should be teaching him or encouraging him to do beyond his own natural curiosity and efforts at retracting? Or is this something that will take care of itself as puberty comes on, with changing hormones, etc?

Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks!

Visha

who is Mr. Happy?

but seriously, totally normal at this age.

[Juvysen]

My almost two year old hasn't retracted himself (afaik) and I don't know if it'd retract now or not, but yesterday I saw him stuff his finger in his foreskin and move it all the way around the tip, so I guess that means it's separated but not really retractable... I was stunned when he did that... lol. My point, I guess, was that it seems his foreskin opening is pretty small, still. Granted he's a bit younger...

[Yulia_R]

My son just turned 4 and has a pin size opening (it was very tiny when he tried to pull his foreskin back). It is totally normal. The opening is the last thing to loosen up, it can take years for this to happen.

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by Vishapmama

Hi. I'm sure this has been addressed before. My DS, who will turn 4 next month, is just starting to "pull back". According to him, "Mr. Happy doesn't come all the way out." I believe this is because his foreskin opening is quite narrow. His foreskin is, I believe, fully separated at this point.

I'm very encouraged by the fact that he is experimenting with retracting himself. We have never interfered with the process, and have been adamant with medical folks that interfering with his natural anatomy is not up for discussion. But we aren't quite sure if the narrow foreskin opening is something to be concerned about. Is there something we should be teaching him or encouraging him to do beyond his own natural curiosity and efforts at retracting? Or is this something that will take care of itself as puberty comes on, with changing hormones, etc?

Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks!

Visha

Sounds completely normal to me; his self exploration will eventually lead to the hole widening.

[minkajane]

My 4.5 year old is the total opposite. When he bathes, I've taught him to pull back the foreskin as far as it will go and rinse. The opening in his foreskin is wide enough to see the urethra, but that's it. It doesn't pull back any farther. So I'm guessing he's not separated at all, but he's got a wide opening.

If I mentioned it to the ped, they'd probably want to put him on steroid cream or get him cut if he's not retractable by 5. Three or five seem to be the "magic ages" peds and urologists like to say everyone should be retractable by.

[zinemama]

No advice but..."Mr. Happy"? Did he come up with that on his own?

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Totally normal. His foreskin is still doing what it is meant to do keeping stuff out. A thread you might find helpful http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=764732

[glongley]

Two things have to happen in order for the foreskin to become retractable: 1) the foreskin has to separate from the glans and 2) the tight opening has to loosen. As for the latter, it is literally true that the foreskin becomes invested with more elastic fibers as the boy grows to adulthood, hence the loosening will happen on its own with development.
http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/lakshmanan/
So time and the effects of his own pubertal hormones should take care of the loosening on its own.

BTW, sometimes the separation happens first, and then the loosening, and sometimes the loosening of the opening happens first, while parts of the foreskin are still firmly attached to the glans. There is a lot of variability, every boy is different.

My older son did not retract at all till he was 8 - just a pinhead sized opening. Then when he was 8, very quickly the very small opening got looser and looser, and almost overnight he became completely retractable - and all on its own, no outside help needed.

Gillian

[MommytoB]

cute indeed!

[Vishapmama]

Originally Posted by zinemama

No advice but..."Mr. Happy"? Did he come up with that on his own?

Yes! He came up with that completely on his own!

[tutucrazy]

Originally Posted by glongley

Two things have to happen in order for the foreskin to become retractable: 1) the foreskin has to separate from the glans and 2) the tight opening has to loosen. As for the latter, it is literally true that the foreskin becomes invested with more elastic fibers as the boy grows to adulthood, hence the loosening will happen on its own with development.
http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/lakshmanan/
So time and the effects of his own pubertal hormones should take care of the loosening on its own.

BTW, sometimes the separation happens first, and then the loosening, and sometimes the loosening of the opening happens first, while parts of the foreskin are still firmly attached to the glans. There is a lot of variability, every boy is different.

My older son did not retract at all till he was 8 - just a pinhead sized opening. Then when he was 8, very quickly the very small opening got looser and looser, and almost overnight he became completely retractable - and all on its own, no outside help needed.

Gillian

My son is separated but the opening is not widened. The widening of the opening happens with hormones as Gillian has stated. He is totally normal! Retraction can take until after puberty. Here is another thread to read:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...893&highlight=

[eepster]

Definitely stay with his own comfort level. If you encourage him to try to force it too early it could cause paraphimosis (when it gets stuck behind the glans.) Just let him go at his own pace.

[Vishapmama]

I'm so grateful, and glad that many of you mamas have confirmed what my gut has been telling me... to let my sweet little guy go at his own pace.

He was sitting on the toilet earlier telling me, "My Mr. Happy doesn't come out all the way. Only daddy's does."

There's something so incredibly endearing about a 4 year old who is so free, comfortable, and happy with his body.

Thanks again!