Worried and in need of some advice...

[mija y mijo]

For the last few days the end ds' foreskin has looked red and irritated. After doing some investigating, it looks like it's due to the fact that I used baking soda in the wash with his diapers and didn't add any vinegar to the rinse. So I'm guessing that caused it?

Well, today at his 1 year wbv I asked the dr to take a look at it to make sure it wasn't anything to be overly concerned about. As he was looking at his penis he retracted it!!! and said that it is just irritated and to put vaseline or aquaphor (sp?) on it to protect it from urine and feces in the diaper and to let him soak in a warm soapy tub and to make sure I'm cleaning underneath it now that he is retracting.

Now, I know that forcible retraction is a BAD thing. But according to the doctor ds is retracting already. When he retracted his penis ds didn't cry, there was no bleeding, or anything that seemed alarming. What should I do? Ds is obviously too young to be cleaning underneath the foreskin himself. What should I put on it while it is healing from the irritation from the diaper rash? I don't want to use vasoline... This is the same doctor who has told me to just wash ds' penis as if it is any other body part and not to retract it up until now, so I'm really confused. Is it normal for boys to retract naturally by 1 year of age?

thanks-

[Papai]

It is within the realm of normality for him to be retractable by 1, but I agree at 1 there's really no need ot be cleaning up there that often.

[mamasophy]

Plus I wouldn't be soaking him in soapy tubs for long - plain warm water is better.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Some boys do naturally retract that early but even so the Dr should never have done it. There is still nothing special you need to do for him leave it alone and never let the Dr. do that again.

This is what we warn parents about here. A dr will be great about not touching the penis till a certain age and make it a point to tell the parents to leave it alone. Then at a certain age wham they retract it sometimes causing damage, or worse recommending a circ because they are not retractable by X age :

Never take it for granted that your dr wont retract at each and every visit if the diaper comes off tell them over and over again. (OP not aimed at you specifically this is for any lurkers or newbies)

You can work on getting your diapers stripped in the mean time nice soaks in clean water, NO soap that stuff is irritating, and nekkey time is always good. You can use a barrier cream of your choosing if you want as well.

The foreskin is very vascular like the lips and like the lips can get chapped and red pretty easy. It is usually nothing to worry about unless it starts to swell up get very red and cause pain.

You need to watch your ds for these signs since the Dr. by retracting introduced a inside organ to outside germs but odds are good he will be fine if you leave it alone.


I honestly am wondering about your dr he gave you lots of bad advice most of it potentually very damaging to your ds's foreskin.

[mija y mijo]

Thank you for the advice. I'm stripping the diapers (I can't believe how much detergent residue is in them!) and I'm trying to let him air out so the redness will clear up. It's starting to look better already!

Thanks for the replies!