Got a surprise tonight

[SashaBreeze]

Tonight when getting our 3yod son in the bath I got a surprise. He reached down and retracted his foreskin! I was under the impression that was a gradual process???? His 5 year old brother has shown not a hint at retraction yet and my dh is circumcised so this was a big first for us.

So stupid question time now. Is there anything different we should be doing with ds age 3 as far as hygiene goes? Also is it ok that ds age 5 has not done this yet? His 3yod brother is a lot more..... hands on than he is so I am thinking that is the difference??

Also what would you say to ds age 5 about this? He was in the bathroom when his brother did this and says "My pee pee doesn't look like that, ewwww." Without thinking I said "It's not ewwww, and your pee pee will do that to one day." Sheesh that caused quite the fuss with him, now he's all stressed about when and why. At a loss I just told him I would talk with him about it latter and got the boys bathed and in bed for the night.

Thank you all for hearing me out, my hope is that my 5yod will forget about it by morning, but I doubt it.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by SashaBreeze

Tonight when getting our 3yod son in the bath I got a surprise. He reached down and retracted his foreskin! I was under the impression that was a gradual process???? His 5 year old brother has shown not a hint at retraction yet and my dh is circumcised so this was a big first for us.

So stupid question time now. Is there anything different we should be doing with ds age 3 as far as hygiene goes? Also is it ok that ds age 5 has not done this yet? His 3yod brother is a lot more..... hands on than he is so I am thinking that is the difference??

It varies. My oldest wasn't retracting when he stopped being naked around me....somewhere around 8 or 9. DS2 has been retracting for several months, and he's not quite 4. I don't recall any of the "steps" that people mention here...ballooning, etc. He just started to retract it.

Hygiene? DS2 pulls it back and swishes in the tub, but that's about it.

Also what would you say to ds age 5 about this? He was in the bathroom when his brother did this and says "My pee pee doesn't look like that, ewwww." Without thinking I said "It's not ewwww, and your pee pee will do that to one day." Sheesh that caused quite the fuss with him, now he's all stressed about when and why. At a loss I just told him I would talk with him about it latter and got the boys bathed and in bed for the night.

Thank you all for hearing me out, my hope is that my 5yod will forget about it by morning, but I doubt it.

I'm honestly not sure what to say to your older boy, because I'm not sure what his concern is. Try to find that out, and go from there.

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by SashaBreeze

Tonight when getting our 3yod son in the bath I got a surprise. He reached down and retracted his foreskin! I was under the impression that was a gradual process???? His 5 year old brother has shown not a hint at retraction yet and my dh is circumcised so this was a big first for us.

Congratulations to your DS. That can be an exciting time for a boy; since he is so young he might just try to show everyone his new trick.

Originally Posted by SashaBreeze

So stupid question time now. Is there anything different we should be doing with ds age 3 as far as hygiene goes?

No, washing habits don't need to change. Neither you nor he doesn't have to explicitly do anything at this point. It might be use full to begin to instill that habit of retract, rinse, replace but only he should do it and it's not at all required. So if you mention it don't worry if he won't do it. If he does it thats fine too.

Originally Posted by SashaBreeze

Also is it ok that ds age 5 has not done this yet? His 3yod brother is a lot more..... hands on than he is so I am thinking that is the difference??

It might be. He may have never tried but it doesn't make a difference at this age. It could be that he can't. However, since he is seeing his brother do it, that might encourage the self exploration that will ultimately lead to your 5yo ds retracting.

Originally Posted by SashaBreeze

Also what would you say to ds age 5 about this? He was in the bathroom when his brother did this and says "My pee pee doesn't look like that, ewwww." Without thinking I said "It's not ewwww, and your pee pee will do that to one day." Sheesh that caused quite the fuss with him, now he's all stressed about when and why. At a loss I just told him I would talk with him about it latter and got the boys bathed and in bed for the night.

I think you did just fine. If you're bathing them together and your 3yo is doing it regularly you will probably have the same conversation again. Perhaps if it comes up again in the bath ask him to try it? He should know that eventually his will do that but when is not that important. If you're telling him that you probably should add that it will be something he does in the bath when he can do it.

[tutucrazy]

Fellow Traveler gave you good advice.

1. No, you don't need to worry about any special care needs. If he wants to retract, rinse and replace then he can. If not, don't worry the penis is still self-cleaning at his age. Retract, rinse, replace will be more important when he hits puberty. When he starts to learn to wipe, remind him never to touch his butt then touch is penis. Teach him to wash his hands after wiping!

2. Your other DS is normal too. The retraction process is different for each child. He will do it in his own time. Just be sure to tell him that he is perfectly normal and his will do that someday too.

[perspective]

Originally Posted by SashaBreeze

So stupid question time now. Is there anything different we should be doing with ds age 3 as far as hygiene goes? Also is it ok that ds age 5 has not done this yet? His 3yod brother is a lot more..... hands on than he is so I am thinking that is the difference??

As someone said, the foreskin is somewhat self cleaning, so its not a big deal. But the answer to your question can be found in your question:

Tonight when getting our 3yod son in the bath I got a surprise. He reached down and retracted his foreskin!

He retracted himself. He is a little boy who likes playing with his penis, meaning he has retracted earlier. This also means he will continue to play with his penis, and if you let him know that the bath/shower is the proper place to play with his penis, he will continue to clean that body part, no problem.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Just like all girls get their period at different ages and mature at a different rate the same applies to boys.

I would explain to the older ds if it comes up again that it is all part of grwoing up and that each child has their own way of growing.

[SashaBreeze]

Thank you all. I had warned you it was stupid question time.

I researched everything to death when I was pregnant with T, but honestly had not thought about it much since, and this new development caught me by surprise.

So far T has not said anything again and yes A is showing his new trick off every chance he gets, sigh, I'm hoping that will be a phase that passes fast. Thanks to you all again.

[MaryJaneLouise]

Thanks for asking this question. My boys are twins, and one is more of a "player" and explorer than the other, so naturally he retracted earlier too. He called it is "tushy bone" (where he got that I have NO IDEA) . His brother said "mine doesn't do that" and like you I assured him it would some day.