Early natural retraction?

[hazelnut316]

Hello! My intact son is 4 1/2 months old now. I was changing his diaper and noticed some smegma, so I gently wiped it away, but I noticed even more was coming out. I very gently moved the foreskin back, being very very careful to not pull it tight. When I did that, the entire head of his penis (except the ridge) became exposed, which has never happened before! He didn't cry, there was no bleeding, ripping or redness. I was shocked because I wasn't expecting that to happen! Can it happen naturally at this age? I don't know what to do now about caring for it. Do I continue to clean it like a finger, or does that change when it detaches? I want to make sure I do the right thing.

[mommyinIL1976]

I would say he's fine. If there's no redness or anything, no damage was done.

DS2 was born with a very long retractable foreskin at birth. No issues whatsoever.

I wouldn't make it a habit to retract (no matter how non-forcefully). Just clean it like a finger. It is a self cleaning organ. When he gets a little older he can retract and swish it in the tub.

[eepster]

It doesn't need cleaning underneath until puberty no matter how early it retracts, so don't worry about it for now. If you accidentally retract it again, make sure you pull it back down into place.

It may become difficult to retract again as he continues. Through development. Though the foreskin and glans are no longer attached, the sphincter may still be tight and as the glans grows it may not fit through for a period of time.

[JBaxter]

DS4 was the same way. We just wash it like his ear.