[kisagotami]

My 16 mo old recently discovered his penis and he is very intrigued by it. So I decided it was time for him to learn his new found body parts name. When ever I change his diaper and he goes for it I say "that's your penis" then we put his new diaper on and go about our day. But today I was wondering if I should give him more time to check out his penis. What do you guys think? Is a few seconds during diaper changes enough or should I give him more time? Or am I weird for even making an issue out of it? I just want him to feel really comfortable with his body, I don't want him to think his penis is "dirty" or "bad" to touch.

 

[dawncayden]

If you give him diaper free time, he will have more access. My ds loves diaper changes just so he can explore

and we part time EC so if he goes pee on the potty I'll leave him nakey bum for a while. He loves it.
I'm glad you don't find it 'dirty', that's all I can say about it

:

Dawn

 

[kisagotami]

We EC'd for a while, but I didn't get any support from dh so I gave up, I really regret it now.

 

[Mom'n it]

I was just going to post something about this. Mine is 7 months old, and whenever we let him nekkid around the house he likes to grab onto his and stop whatever he's doing and smile at me. He likes it. I think it's fine to let him explore (and give him some extra diaper-free time). I don't think it's dirty or wrong at all. He'll do it eventually while yelling at you to leave him alone while in the bathroom-- so might as well let him do it now when he's comfy enough to be around you!

 

[kisagotami]

I probably shouldn't post this, but I think it's good for a chuckle, the other night ds got his diaper off and I looked over and he was trying to get his penis in his mouth. LOL. What a little freak. He wasn't sucessful. I guess it was bound to happen, since he puts every thing in his mouth.

 

[mumgnap]

i have a month old son and i was just reading what you all have said about your boys. i am so glad that found this site. i have got some really good advice.
i think that when he gets older i would do the same as all of you and give him time to explore and find out about himself. that way he has a better understanding of his little boy aparts. quick question though. when it would come to potty training. with a little boy would you rather let daddy show him more then mommy because he is a boy? i feel that when it comes to that the father would be better because he knows how all that works. and when it would come to having a little girl i would show her what to do. would any of you agree or do you think that both parent should take equal part in both?

 

[momma of monkeys]

When my ds was little, I gave him daily 'nakie time' and he for sure messed with his penis. I never made an issue of it bcuz @ that age (under 3) it's nothing unless adults make it 'something'.
Now that he is 6.5 (and for the last year or so) I have noticed that when ds is anxious, upset, etc. he grabs himself (through clothes) and rubs. He doesn't seem to be aware that he is touching himself. I have told him multiple times (never in front of other people) that touching himself is okay...in private, in his room with the door closed for example.
As far as who teaches toilet use...I was a single mom (ex only saw ds on 3 weekends per month)...I HAD to try to teach my son to 'go like a boy'...just a fwiw to others...the mistake I made was letting ds pull his pants down to his ankles to teach him...now he is in school and still lets his bum hang out when he pottys. Since I am an 'innie' I didn't know all the quirks of toilet training an 'outie'.

Anyway, that is my 02. c

 

[millionmom]

I wondered this same thing when Max first found his penis. I felt like I should give him all the time in the world to play! But I'm over that pretty quickly. I tell him that's his penis, then I continue with the diaper change as normal. I sometimes have to move his hand gently, and just say we need to put the diaper on now.

I'm sure he will find heaps of time to play with it soon enough on his own! Diaper or no!

 

[chiro_kristin]

Yeah, I'm surprised it took your son that long to discover it (OP). Sometimes ds yanks on his so hard that dh and I cringe. One time he actually yanked on it so hard that he started crying!

Men love their penises. Every man I know puts his hand in his pants for comfort. So I can imagine that getting the thing out of a compressing hot diaper makes it especially fascinating. It is so sensitive and getting it into the cooler air will draw his attention.

I too was telling him the name of it (penis) until I suddenly realized that it could possibly be his first word!

When we put the diaper back on, if he's not done touching then I just fasten the diaper with his hand inside and then he generally pulls it out.

The only thing I truly hate is when he goes right for it when I'm changing a poopy diaper and I haven't gotten him wiped yet!

 

[ripcurlgirl26]

My DS found his right at 4.5 months. I wish he would have went that long! And I have to ditto the PP - sometimes he yanks so hard on it, we wince. Especially DH! As for letting him have naked time to explore, we figure he gets enough of that during his baths. Bathtime = penis time, the whole time.

So does every diaper change! But I don't think "exploration time" a bad idea, especially while they're young. They're babies, if something feels good, they're gonna do it (or grab at it).

 

[kisagotami]

Yeah the poopy diaper thing really is a challenge.

As far as potty training goes, I think both parents should help, but I also think that the fact that daddy stands up to pee might confuse a little boy that starts out sitting down. DS loves to watch his dad pee though, he thinks it's really funny.

We were on a hike not too long ago and I took ds out of the pack and then took his diaper off so he could enjoy the breeze, I guess the wind hit him just right and he pee'd right of the rock we were stting on, ds was so amazed he stuck his hand right in it! I couldn't get mad though 'cuz he had this really big grin on his face!

 

[hapi2help]

Our house Bath time = penis play time.....it never floats away!!!

 

[Mom'n it]

my son's dad sits down to pee, so I don't think it would be so confusing. He stands up if he's outside or at a urinal. I think it's really instinctual. We'd prolly stand up sometimes if we had that kind of equipment.

 

[JamieCatheryn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bredette my son's dad sits down to pee, so I don't think it would be so confusing. He stands up if he's outside or at a urinal. I think it's really instinctual. We'd prolly stand up sometimes if we had that kind of equipment.

Ditto with my DH, at home he always sits, outdoors or in a public bathroom he stands. I think guys sometimes miss the mark, I hear about public bathrooms being nasty like that. I suppose he's just making sure our own bathroom stays clean. So no worries for confusion potty training our little boy, but something tells me he'll love it the first time he gets to pee in the potty or on a tree standing up.

 

[grace's voice]

Yeah, my dh often sits to pee at home too.

In reference to the comments about boys touching their penises as a comfort thing... is THAT why dh always sleeps with his hand in his pants?!!

Also, for those of us with intact boys, I read that it is a boy playing with his penis that slowly, over years, detatches the foreskin from the head so it can retract. So the instinct serves a purpose and would still be there whether he was intact or not.

 

[Mom'n it]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grace's voice Also, for those of us with intact boys, I read that it is a boy playing with his penis that slowly, over years, detatches the foreskin from the head so it can retract. So the instinct serves a purpose and would still be there whether he was intact or not.

that's interesting. i was wondering if it would have a negative effect, but that's good!

 

[Maggi315]

My sons penises are of great interest in our family. My four year old seems to think he needs to hold onto it to steer himself. I keep telling him it's OK to let it go while walking

He's very private now about going to the bathroom and such around his sisters, doesn't want them to see him.

My one year likes his whenever his diaper is off. We have diaper free time and he likes to explore. Although sometimes it seems he's going to pull it off! And of course bathtime is also penis time! My 7 year old is full of wonder about them (penis envy maybe

) so she always wants to see what's going on down there!

We joke that maybe baby boys wonder why they have a third leg that didn't grow properly?

 

[mamanurse]

My dd "found herself" at 7 months. During diaper changes, she touches her clit. She also doesn't need any bath toys 'cause she's got hers attached at all times

 

[mezzaluna]

we EC and DS definitely went through a phase of intense fascination. we give him lots of nakey time every day, and it seems like he's out of the phase now. i wonder if there's more obsession with one's genitals if they're almost always covered?

oh, and i am glad he is stretching out his own foreskin... keeping things limber!

 

[alicia622]

G recently started reaching for his penis whenever it's uncovered. He totally cracks me up when he grabs ahold of it and giggles