My little guy and his penis

[MamatoPeach]

Whenever the diaper is off. My son(8mo) gets excited to grab himself. We have to keep moving his hand away to clean him. During bathtime, he sometimes doesnt leave it alone. He even bends in half to try to put it in his mouth.

My husband and I, feel like its inappropriate but know that he is a baby and let him explore himself.
I was a nurse in pediatrics for 7yrs. Changed lots of little boy diapers and never noticed a little boy so eager to grab himself.

Is this because my son is intact and has more sensations than most? Is this why culture started circing little boys, to control them from touching themselves?

[eclipse]

I dunno. I think it's pretty normal for little boys to play with their penis, foreskin or no foreskin.

[FaithfulOne]

Awe! I would say its just a phase (well, in my experience its a lifelong phase that lasts right through adulthood )
My boys both were OBSESSED from the moment they discovered it. Every diaper change they were all over it. Then it sorta phased out until we started potty learning then, whoa, all over again. Now they can acheieve moderate erections and make them move w/o using their hands.


I know its sounds a bit much...but it is normal exploration and is also whats intended naturally to help losen their foreskin over time.

[mama24-7]

i agree it's normal. & ds 2 has tried to bend over to get his mouth on it

sus

[crystal_buffaloe]

According to Wikipedia at least, circumcision has historically been a means to curtail masterbation:

"In the 1890s, it [circumcision] became a popular technique to prevent, or cure, masturbatory insanity. In 1891 the president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England published On Circumcision as Preventive of Masturbation, and two years later another British doctor wrote Circumcision: Its Advantages and How to Perform It, which listed the reasons for removing the 'vestigial' prepuce. Evidently the foreskin could cause 'nocturnal incontinence,' hysteria, epilepsy, and irritation that might 'give rise to erotic stimulation and, consequently, masturbation.'"

[texmati]

Originally Posted by MamatoPeach

Whenever the diaper is off. My son(8mo) gets excited to grab himself. We have to keep moving his hand away to clean him. During bathtime, he sometimes doesnt leave it alone. He even bends in half to try to put it in his mouth.

My husband and I, feel like its inappropriate but know that he is a baby and let him explore himself.
I was a nurse in pediatrics for 7yrs. Changed lots of little boy diapers and never noticed a little boy so eager to grab himself.

Is this because my son is intact and has more sensations than most? Is this why culture started circing little boys, to control them from touching themselves?

My intact DS does this as well. He's 10 mos, but has been doing it for a while. We don't consider it inappropriate, because he also tries to get his foot into his mouth, and tries to eat my elbow. Once he get's bit older, we will start talking to him about polite touch for himself and others.

I'm sure that that what you write about circing being a way to avoid this playing around is correct. I would think that it's more comfortable to play around if you are intact becuase the super sensitive part is hidden.

[weezix]

my ds is 2 and is constantly playing. he tells me "penis is happy mom!" lol. i hope he grows out of it. because of his age it doesn't bother me.

[Catubodua]

it's not inappropriate at all - he doesn't think of it as a sexual organ like you do. he's thinking oh cool! i can grab that interesting thing they keep covering up on me!

as said above, he's also trying to put his foot in his mouth, grabbing his ears to explore and, if he's like my son, shoving his fingers in your eyes, mouth, nose whatever.

they are just exploring, there's nothing sinister about it.

[JBaxter]

Momma of boys X4 and it is very normal

[KempsMama]

IMO, circing has nothing to do with it. Some little boys just like to explore more than others. Girls do it too!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Originally Posted by texmati

My intact DS does this as well. He's 10 mos, but has been doing it for a while. We don't consider it inappropriate, because he also tries to get his foot into his mouth, and tries to eat my elbow. Once he get's bit older, we will start talking to him about polite touch for himself and others.

I'm sure that that what you write about circing being a way to avoid this playing around is correct. I would think that it's more comfortable to play around if you are intact becuase the super sensitive part is hidden.

A great big They dont see it as sexual and wont for many years to them it is just another neat thing to try and mess with. I also agree it has nothing to do with him being intact it is a boy thing. But it is true circ has roots in curbing the male sexual appetite.

[thtr4me]

My little guy was the same way. Once he was old enough to understand, we implemented a "hands off until the bottom is cleaned" rule when it came to touching while changing. But he tended to have the kind of poop that managed to get all over both front and back, and poop on the bottom is enough for me. Now that he is 4, I do remind him that he should not be playing with his penis in front of other people (especially grandparents and guests), but other than that try to just let it go.

[ElliesMomma]

Originally Posted by Catubodua

it's not inappropriate at all - he doesn't think of it as a sexual organ like you do. he's thinking oh cool! i can grab that interesting thing they keep covering up on me!

THIS. inappropriate? what does that mean to an infant? it is also "inappropriate" to throw food, smear it in his hair, put his hands on his poopy butt, etc.

and, so what that he touches it anyway? it feels good, he touches. my son has been grabbing and pulling it, stretching it, grasping it hard with his scratchy nails and grabby hands... for many months now.

now, my daughter never really touched herself in a like way, certainly not when she was an infant. i figure "it's a boy thing."

TOTALLLY NORMAL. relax!

[eepster]

I'm gonna guess that the reason you didn't see much penis grabbing when changing diapers at the pediatricians office was b/c of the general strangeness and the novel environment. The babies visiting the Dr were too distracted and stressed to want to play around the way they do at home.

[MamatoPeach]

Originally Posted by eepster

I'm gonna guess that the reason you didn't see much penis grabbing when changing diapers at the pediatricians office was b/c of the general strangeness and the novel environment. The babies visiting the Dr were too distracted and stressed to want to play around the way they do at home.

I worked in a pediatric hospital. Which was 'home' for some very sick kids Maybe they were too sick to want to play around.

We don't fret about it, we know he is just a baby exploring. It does make us feel a little uncomfortable when the playing continues for long periods of time. Just because we are not use to seeing it. And I am glad he isnt the only one to try to put it in his mouth

I did have some girlfriends say that maybe he does it more since he is intact, so i thought i would ask the experts....thanks guys!

[Catubodua]

Originally Posted by MamatoPeach

I did have some girlfriends say that maybe he does it more since he is intact, so i thought i would ask the experts....thanks guys!

ha! wait until he's 6 and starts playing little league and has to wear a cup. i swear, you get 15 little boys out in the field all grabbing their crotches through the whole game.

[billikengirl]

My intact DS does that, but so does my circed nephew.

[EdnaMarie]

Originally Posted by eclipse

I dunno. I think it's pretty normal for little boys to play with their penis, foreskin or no foreskin.

Having known many of both types of naked boy babies, I agree with this.

(Though I might add that they do return to the whole "playing with the penis" thing from time to time throughout adulthood... circumcised or not!)

[thixle]

Originally Posted by ElliesMomma

now, my daughter never really touched herself in a like way, certainly not when she was an infant. i figure "it's a boy thing."

Nah, not just a boy thing. DD2 found her 'button' and if she's naked, she's more grabby than any of the little boys I've been around, lol... I think some kids are just more fascinated

[MittensKittens]

Totally normal!

Now, that quote about circumcision curing hysteria and epilepsy on the other hand... Fascinating though!