Is this normal?

[kathywiehl]

My 28 month old son loves playing with his penis. I know that part is normal, however he plays with it so much that he is able to completely retract the foreskin and has been doing so for a few months now. At first the glans appeared red and sore looking which I know is normal, but now it's the same flesh color as the rest of his body. Is this normal? Isn't it always supposed to stay reddish looking and isn't he young to be completely retracting his foreskin?

He seems to really enjoy it, lol! What is the best way to handle it? He's always playing with it and will tell me "here it comes" as he pulls back the foreskin, tells me it tickles, and says that he has a "big pee pee" when he gets an erection. This is constant when he's not wearing a diaper.

[carriebft]

Think of the glans like the inside of your cheek...that red/bluish,purpleish look is completely healthy for that kind of tissue. ONly in circumcised men does the head of the penis turn regular flesh colored because it hardens over without the protection and mositure of the foreskin.

[kathywiehl]

I know that, but it's not red anymore, it's the same color as the rest of him. Is that because he exposes it so much?

[carriebft]

oh ok, i was confused, i thought it kinda went back and forth...I would say its fine as long as he is not leaving the foreskin retracted which can lead to problems-- at least that is what I think. maybe someone else with experience on that can chime in. I would think that it could get dry if out a lot, but that the foreskin would protect again and provide moisture once its back under.

[carriebft]

oh, also, I have heard that some men who restore don't get a very noticable change in color of the head of the penis. So it could just be normal for him...like with these men they are getting that protection and moisture but its not changing the color of their glans at all.

[kathywiehl]

Okay, that makes sense. The other day I took off his diaper and it was fully retracted. I pulled it back down but I wonder how long it was exposed like that in a wet diaper.

[Papai]

I think color can vary. It's probably just normal.

[carriebft]

Yeah i think leaving it retracted can cause it to get stuck behind the head of the penis. I know there is a name for that but it slips my mind. so yeah I would just make sure it gets replaced after retraction.

I know some boys are born retractable..so I wouldn't think he's too young to be doing it, especially if he likes it and its not causing any pain.

[Mrs-Mama]

I don't think he's too young...my DS was 16 months when I first saw him retract If I notice it retracted during a diaper change, I pull it forward again, just as you do.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

When the foreskin gets stuck behind the glans is it called paraphimosis and if it wont go back this is a emergency and needs to be fixed ASAP to prevent tissue death. There are ways to fix it without surgery but if they dont work surgery is required and sometimes cutting the foreskin to make it open up is necissary. Do not let them circ over it tho.