How can you tell if someone retracted your DS?

[Raelynn]

My DS is almost 14 mos and is not retractable. My MIL watches him quite a bit, but rarely ever gets a dirty diaper when she's watching him. Tonight before bed, I noticed that DS's foreskin looks "open" at the end, usually it's just all wrinkled up and you can't see anything. But tonight the opening was distinctly round and I could see the meatus. It didn't look inflamed or sore though.

I started thinking and wondering - how would I be able to tell if someone retracted him, without actually seeing it happen? Would it be red and sore looking? Would it look like it did tonight? Would my DS seem in discomfort?

I know I've told MIL never to retract, but maybe in the morning I'll ask her if she had to "pull back just a bit" to clean him up - and just reiterate what retracting means.

[glongley]

At some point foreskins do start to become retractable, even at your son's age, and looking looser on the end is one of the ways you might notice this. If it's not red, swollen, bleeding, etc. I wouldn't worry about it.

Yes, I'd just ask MIL about it, and go over intact care instructions again if it seems warranted.

Gillian

[Frankly Speaking]

Usually if a child has been retracted, the foreskin will be red and swollen. There may even be some blood coming from the tip. Usually it will also be tender and there may even be some pain on urinating. If none of these symptoms are present, he probably wasn't retracted.

The opening to the foreskin can vary from very tight to somewhat loose from day to day. It being loose does not indicate anything out of the norm.

.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

What the others have said and also if he had just urinated or was needing to the opening of the foreskin releases to allow the urine to come out so it looks a lot bigger.

I have seen ds's in every stage I think and it sometimes will look like there is no hole at all or pin sized or much larger. It varies greatly.

[Raelynn]

Thanks for the replies!

I asked MIL this morning if she pulled the skin back at all to wipe and she replied "yes well I had to work with it" - so I told her in the future just to wipe like a finger. She said "well what if there's poop up in there, isn't that bad?" and I said "it'll come out the next time he pees.

So she did pull back on the skin, but I don't think she did it hard because it isn't red, swollen or bleeding.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I am glad you got that cleared up with her. Sounds like no harm done thank goodness but now she knows better.

[phatchristy]

Originally Posted by Raelynn

Thanks for the replies!

I asked MIL this morning if she pulled the skin back at all to wipe and she replied "yes well I had to work with it" - so I told her in the future just to wipe like a finger. She said "well what if there's poop up in there, isn't that bad?" and I said "it'll come out the next time he pees.

So she did pull back on the skin, but I don't think she did it hard because it isn't red, swollen or bleeding.

Well, you know the foreskin is fused to the glans...and honestly poop can't get "up in there". You could have some on the tip maybe though. Of course, you just wipe it off. You don't have to manipulate or pull back on anything.