Foreskin questions...I feel stupid!

[newmommyagain...]

Bear with me here, but I have a couple of questions about my 3 year old's foreskin. When he was a baby, it was easy...don't do anything to it. Now that he's 3 and starting to use the toilet (on a good day), I'm wondering....does he need to pull his foreskin back to expose the tip of his penis? Or, should his urine just make its way through the foreskin and find its way out? I'm asking this because I noticed tonight that his penis was a bit smelly...kind of like stale urine. He didn't get bathed tonight, but could it be because the urine kind of "sits" in his foreskin, never getting all the way out? I don't mean to sound so ignorant, but I really don't know. I wouldn't ask his ped because I know they won't know. My other question: Now that he can retract his own foreskin, should he be pulling his foreskin back and washing his penis with soap?
Thanks everybody. I hope someone can answer!

[mntnmom]

If it retracts easily, yes. From what I understand from intact adults, you slide the foreskin back to "pee" and when you clean your penis in the bath. My little boys haven't gotten to that point yet, I'm sure some of the more experienced mammas will know more.

[Sijae]

I would just continue to do nothing. I have heard that it is personal preference on whether men retract to pee or not. My boys are almost 11 and 12 and neither of them retract to pee. I doubt it's occured to them. My older son says that he is retractible but I haven't gotten around to asking my younger one because it doesn't really make a difference to me

As for washing he can swish it in the tub to clean it but soap would be irritating to the glans just like it is irritating to our vulvas so I would avoid it. I've honestly never worried much about my boys penis cleaning. I figure the area is self-cleaning like my vulva and the general cleaning it gets coming into contact with water during showers is enough. I think if they decide they aren't clean enough when they start using it for things other than peeing then the'll figure out they need to wash up. They've never had any foreskin issues.

Laura

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Retract, rince, replace NO SOAP NEEDED

Originally Posted by newmommyagain...

I'm wondering....does he need to pull his foreskin back to expose the tip of his penis?

Only if HE wants to many men prefer to do so but just as many don't. Either way is fine.

He didn't get bathed tonight, but could it be because the urine kind of "sits" in his foreskin, never getting all the way out?

Just like a little girl may have a stale urine smell so can a boy. Especially if they don't bath every day or so.

My other question: Now that he can retract his own foreskin, should he be pulling his foreskin back and washing his penis with soap?
Thanks everybody. I hope someone can answer!

If HE wants to pull the foreskin back in the bath and swish it around that is all that is needed now. As he gets older and hormones kick in he may choose to use soap. But soap can be very irritating and burn like a I know soap burns me badly if I get it to close to my urethra same goes for a man, the last thing you want is for washing of the genitals to be associated with pain if they are sensitive to the soap, so he should always be careful to rinse well under it after. Right now HE should retract swish with water only and replace is all that is needed.

If HE doesn't want to do it that is fine don't push it but during a bath it is fine to say ask him if he wants to retract and swish. It is good practice for later just like telling a little girl to be sure to wash her bits.

[trmpetplaya]

Pretty much what the pps said... My dh used to not retract to pee, but now he actually prefers to. He used to use soap on his glans and now he realises that it causes irritation to his glans when he uses soap. I have had no hygiene complaints since he stopped using soap either so it's not a problem! It's just personal preference

love and peace.