Circumcision for Newborn Boy?

Question

Having a hard time deciding on what to do when my baby boy is born. Please, no dramatics..just the facts, if you will, on why or why not you decided to have your son circumcised at birth.

Answer 1

My husband is circumcised. We did not circumcise our son. We didn't see any reason for it.

The AAP actually recommends AGAINST routine infant circumcision. When we researched circumcision prior to our son's birth, we found that there is no strong medical reason for it.

The "potential problems" that circumcision seeks to solve can be avoided by teaching your son good hygeine and safe sex practices. And did you know how circumcision became common in the USA? I was surprised to learn that it was an attempt to curb masterbation! Didn't work, did it? And did you know that most of the rest of the world is left intact?

An intact penis requires NO special care as a newborn. Once the child becomes school aged the foreskin will be retractable and all he really has to do is rinse there at bathtime. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RETRACT A BABY'S INTACT PENIS....you will hurt him! It would be like ripping off one of your fingernails. It is still attached to the head of the penis!

If you wouldn't circumcise a baby girl, why should you cut off part of your son's body?

Check out the links below for reasons circumcision is not a good idea and to watch a video of an infant circumcision.

BACK TO ADD:
I also think the "look like Dad" or "look like others in the locker room" argument is so dumb!

First off - what boy is gonna admit he looked at another boy's penis in the locker room?

Second - Kids are SMART! They know that people don't all look the same. Kids may have a different eye color or hair color or skin color than mom and dad. Mom and dad have pubic hair and they don't. Mothers have breasts and their daughters haven't developed them yet. It is NOT confusing to a boy for his dad to be circ'd and him to be intact. As a matter of fact, I don't think my 7.5 yo son has ever even asked his dad about the difference yet! The kids I have heard of who did notice the difference just said, "WOW! Dad, thanks for not letting them do that to me!"

Answer 2

we decided to get our son circumsiced right after birth for several reasons:
1. it's easier to keep clean and there's less risk of infection
2. there is a condition that can occur in uncircumcised men where the foreskin won't retract and gets tighter and must be corrected with surgery (not a possiblity if you're circumcised)
3.it does NOT affect sensitivity, i don't care what people say, it was a myth that circumcision would reduce sensitivity.
4. it is a very small procedure for a newborn, it takes only a few days to heal, and while yes it does hurt which was upsetting to me, most hospitals will use anesthetic and it doesn't even compare to the pain and recovery time if you have to get circumcised as an adult.
5. Frankly, I just think it looks better (this is a personal opinion of course) but my husband is circumcised and most children I know are and I certainly wouldn't want it to be an object of ridicule or embarrassment
...oh, and as a CNA who works with the elderly, believe me, circumcised penises age much better, the older you get the farther down the foreskin hangs and, well, it's not pretty.

But ultimately it isn't actually a medical necessity so whatever you feel is best is what works for you.
Good luck with your new baby boy!

Answer 3

the locker room argument doesn't hold water...statistics for newborns are running about half circumcised, half uncircumcised.

It's NOT that difficult to care for the uncircumcised penis of a baby or a small boy.

why LOP OFF part of your child's body unnecessarily? why do something that will decrease his sensitivity and sexual pleasure?

do some research, don't just rely on opinions here. google "circumcision pro and con"

Answer 4

People post like it is a simple choice like "should I put a blue outfit on my daughter?" It is cutting off a part of your child. Would you cut off your daughters breasts because it will reduce the risk of her getting breast cancer?

My hubby is not cut. So don't speak in such generalized terms like "women prefer sex with circumcised men" or "it looks better" I am one who would choose an intact man over one that is cut. And I think a cut penis looks sad. An intact ones looks pretty good to me.

I think it is pretty shallow for a woman to have her child go though all the pain (emotional and psychical) just for cosmetic reasons. Selfish and shallow.

The locker-room argument is way old. As people become more educated there is less and less babies being cut. Pretty soon it will be 50/50. Even if an uncut boy was the only one...odds are, he won't get teased. I asked my hubby about this (him being un-cut and in school in the 80's) He said that if anyone did make a comment on the size, shape, cut or un-cut status, of a boys penis then the person making the comment would be the one getting teased. "why are you checking out his package? You gay or something?" except with some expletives I am sure.

PLUS...what a lesson to teach your children..."no matter what pain you have to deal with you do it. you always want to look like everyone else no matter what the cost. Remember, being like they guy next door is the most important thing" Um...not the lesson I want to teach my kids.

Please go to mothering.com and click on the discussion. There is a page about discussing circumcision. Also...please read this...http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/circumcision/cutting-kids.html
It will help you understand all about circumcision. People seem to know very very Little about foreskin. If they did know why men have it and what it is for then cutting baby boys would not be so common.

Answer 5

Most of the world does not circumcise. America does because we have the idea that it is cleaner and more healthy and to make him look like the other boys. There really is no reason to do it other than cosmetic. If he is taught the correct way to clean himself, there is no reason for circumcision. He will enjoy more sensations from sex later if he is not circumcised. He can always have it done for himself later if he wishes. It is a painful experience for babies. Why put them through it?

Answer 6

Well, all depending on your beliefs, religion, and up bringing. I believe that circumcision is something that should be done. Not only that, but think of the today's trends. When your little boy is in the shower room with his friends at school and he is the only one with foreskin on his penis and all of his friends look at him they will wonder what is wrong with him. Foreskin also tends to led to a greater number of urinary tract infections for men with uncircumcised penis', and also later life problems. It will hurt him more in the future when he is a grown man to have it cut off, then it will now when he is a baby. There is no real reason to keep it unless your beliefs tell you otherwise. Remember that foreskins real purpose is to help shield the penis from harm and injury, but in today's world no one runs around naked/with a leaf covering just the main parts. Contrary to belief also the foreskin also does not have any ultra pleasure mode for the men when having intercourse-if anything it is just in the way.

I just read an article on this in my boyfriend's Playboy magazine, and there were some really excellent answers. I would suggest though that you do what you think is best.

Answer 7

I had my baby done before we even left the hospital... he was 2 days old and had no problem what so ever... was anle to pee fine, no fever, no side effects...

I decided to have him circumsized because it helps keep the area clean and you minimize the chances of infections.

Also if this procedure has to be done at a later age it far much painful than at birth or newborn stage.

Answer 8

I had my 5 week old done because his father had his done. for our son we thought it best to do it now when hes young so he won't remember. my husband had it done when he was 3 after he got infected and he still remembers the pain. he always said if we had a son that we would circumcise him when he is still a small baby. i also have 6 younger brothers that were not circumcised and i remember how many times they got infected , boys don't really clean as well as they should even when they get older. one of my brothers was 12 when he got infected and he was so humiliated when he had to call my dad in to the bathroom. they wish they would have been circumcised when they were baby's , it hurts a lot more when your older.

Answer 9

Well, on my thought, they is right. It does help him to get clean, but, when his sex drive comes in, then, by him bein circumcised, he won't feel as much pleasure bein circumcised. Bein "cut or uncut" is up to you. You can also get it cut at a later age but it hurts. This may sounds nasty, but, its the truth. He just gotta clean the forskin when he washes up.

Answer 10

just had a baby boy and didn't have him curcumcised. went on the web and read they did to do it. talked about strapping down the kid to a board and having his arms and legs pinned. how much it causes stress on the baby. there is no medical reasoning to do it. infection can happen wiether they are cercumcised or not. just a matter of keeping it clean.