Putting up a sign in DS's room- advice

[Mama Poot]

11 month old DS is intact. Many posts here with horror stories regarding doctors and unknowing family members retracting a baby boy's penis got me to considering posting a sign above our changing table. I haven't thought of exactly what to put on this sign, and I'd love to hear suggestions! I am almost 39 weeks pregnant with our second- also a boy ( so says the u/s.. ) and we are having a home birth. With so many people coming and going and helping out with baby duty, I felt this sign is necessary because I don't want to have to worry about someone harming DS while I am recovering from the birth. Is this a good idea? I don't want the sign to be offensive- I just want peace of mind, and also to educate people who are not familiar with caring for intact boys.

[kldliam]

Good thinking!

what a wonderful idea!!! It will be informative and helpful to all those who are unfamiliar with and educated about the intact penis. It is well worth doing to protect your son. Maybe inject some humor into it somehow.

[paquerette]

You could just stick a NoCirc pamphlt to the wall, highlighting the relevant parts.

[phoebemommy]

I've been thinking about this very topic, worrying too far ahead, as usual --
I'm 36 weeks pregnant, and we're planning a visit to my IL's (several states away) in December. It's a whole new concept to them that we aren't circing, and DH's aunt is a nursery nurse (and already full of lots of self-righteous advice I don't like). They're also all completely nutzo about a baby coming, and I so anticipate people wanting to change our boy's diapers. I'm going to have to supervise, I think, or at least give a lecture on proper intact penis care every time I let the baby out of my arms.

[St. Margaret]

I think that's a great idea! I was starting to think about making a potential future DS a little shirt that says "don't give me bottle/formula/pacifier and don't touch my penis!" lol. For at the hospital. But a sign over the changing table is a fab idea for having people over after the birth. Plus down the line in case you ever have a baby sitter or something like that. The impression I'm getting about retraction is that you can't be too careful. I'm glad I'm reading up on it and getting that into my head, and stealing great ideas like this!

[Islay]

A BIG little message from Patrick & Henri

Please make me comfy and clean.

I like being me. I like my penis/pee-pee/willy [use a familiar term]. Please just wipe it clean. My foreskin won't pull back. It's not supposed to because I'm still a baby. If you do, it will HURT me, so PLEASE don't try.

I love you...

__________________________________________

Something like this, maybe?

Christopher

[QueenOfThePride]

That's cute!

[mommyswenn]

What about just saying something like, "Please leave my foreskin alone -- it doesn't need to be pulled back. Thanks, _______."

Hopefully your family respects your wishes.

)

[veganf]

Maybe just print out the 'proper care of the intact penis' document and highlight the really important parts and post it next to the changing table.

[paquerette]

I like Islay's. I'll bet we can rearrange it to rhyme and make a poem out of it. Wouldn't that make a nice cross-stitch sampler?

[KnitLady]

Personally I would keep the sign as simple as possible! I like the ideas of printing out info about care of the intact penis, but honestly when someone is going to change his diaper they probably aren't going to read it or even realize it's relevant. Something simple right by the diapers or wipes where they can't miss it.

[Mama Poot]

Islay I like your idea! I think I'll go with something cutesy but to-the-point like that. Thanks everyone!!!

[Lula's Mom]

Originally Posted by paquerette

I like Islay's. I'll bet we can rearrange it to rhyme and make a poem out of it. Wouldn't that make a nice cross-stitch sampler?

[MAMom]

Originally Posted by phoebemommy

I've been thinking about this very topic, worrying too far ahead, as usual --
I'm 36 weeks pregnant, and we're planning a visit to my IL's (several states away) in December. It's a whole new concept to them that we aren't circing, and DH's aunt is a nursery nurse (and already full of lots of self-righteous advice I don't like). They're also all completely nutzo about a baby coming, and I so anticipate people wanting to change our boy's diapers. I'm going to have to supervise, I think, or at least give a lecture on proper intact penis care every time I let the baby out of my arms.

I'd recommend not letting someone that you don't fully trust to change your DS's diaper. There are certain family members who have never changed DS's diaper, because I just don't want to risk them retracting him.

You don't have to make a huge deal about it, or even tell them that you're not letting them change his diaper....when he was a baby, I'd just whisk DS away when it was time for a diaper change (or have DH do it).

For me it's never been worth the risk of having someone retract him to get out of "diaper duty". Stand your ground and just do the diaper changing yourself, or let your DH do it.

As people on this list have learned in doctors office's, etc. retraction can happen in the blink of an eye - even when you think you're watching the person closely.

[Islay]

Originally Posted by Mama Poot

Islay I like your idea! I think I'll go with something cutesy but to-the-point like that. Thanks everyone!!!

Thank you! I tried to think of something that would catch my attention and make me smile, too. And I'm sure you will come up with something even better!

You could print it out on glossy paper in bright colours and laminate it.

The sampler idea, used as a picture, is fun! I remember my parents had a beautiful Victorian sampler which which hung on our lounge wall for years. It had been stitched by a little girl whose name I've forgotten, but her skill and attention to detail was a wonder. Framed by an intricate floral border were the words:

This I have done that you may see
What care my parents took of me.

Christopher

[coloradoalice]

I would not rely on a sign. It might not make sense to the person or they might not even notice it. Then they open his diaper and see a penis that looks different than any they have ever seen in their life, who knows what they might do!!

Personally I would never allow anyone to change my son's diaper that I hadn't spoken to and done a diaper changing demo with. So they know and understand and aren't confused.

No one besides me and my husband have changed the baby, and he's almost 7 months old. I don't want any chance of a mess up so I just don't even allow it. I have, however, changed him in front of people so they know he's intact!

[MommyBear]

How about instead of a sign, you write on Patrick's tummy with marker "JUST LEAVE IT ALONE!" I bet that would get the attention of the person changing him.

[Scrubsjm]

I think a sign is a great idea. Humor often goes a long way in getting the point across without offending.

[Mama Poot]

Originally Posted by MommyBear

How about instead of a sign, you write on Patrick's tummy with marker "JUST LEAVE IT ALONE!" I bet that would get the attention of the person changing him.

: :

That's a great idea- only problem is that my babes might never get changed if I wrote something like that!! I invited my mother over to meet our homebirth midwife, and she offered to change Paddy's diaper. So she takes him to his room to get him changed, sees he's wearing a cloth diaper, and says to DH "Oh well I'll let you take care of that". See what I'm up against?

[Nathan1097]

Originally Posted by Mama Poot

: :

That's a great idea- only problem is that my babes might never get changed if I wrote something like that!! I invited my mother over to meet our homebirth midwife, and she offered to change Paddy's diaper. So she takes him to his room to get him changed, sees he's wearing a cloth diaper, and says to DH "Oh well I'll let you take care of that". See what I'm up against?

My mom was the same way. She refused to change cloth diapers and always insisted we bring disposables when she would have to change any diapers.