Help 11 mo. son tears at his privates & scratches them so bad that they sometimes bleed. Is he just curious?

Question

My son has been doing this for about 3 months now, every time we change his diaper or give a bath he wants to play with them. In bath we use swim shorts up until it's time to clean him down there. However he is so rough that we can't allow him to tug, pull, and grab at them for too long, since he sometimes acutally scrathes his genitals. We have tried powders, cremes, lotions, etc. Could it be that he has ezcema? I have asked that doctor and he says that it is normal and to keep his nails short, which I do but no matter how short they are, they are still sharp enough for him to scratch them. And we want him to be able to explore his body, but not hurt himself in the process. Please help....

Answer 1

My son does that too. He's almost a year, and he pulls on it and slaps it. He's never actually made himself bleed or anything, though. I don't allow him to carry on for more than a minute or so before I put a fresh diaper on, and he's too busy splashing in the bath to bother with it then.

Does he try to do this even though his diaper? I think that would be a sign that it's more than just natural exploring. Maybe the diaper is irritating him, or maybe he has something like a urinary tract infection.

I think if it was eczema, you'd be able to see some additional proof. Like maybe red spont or extra dry patches of skin. Not entirely sure on what it would look like. Maybe you could look it up on google or something.

Someone else suggested that maybe he's allergic to all the different powders and lotions, and that could be true, and it's also possible for him to be allergic to the brnd of diaper. Try changing the brand and laying off the lotions for a few days and see if it's any different. You can also try cloth diapers. Some baby's just need them, but I think at 11 months you would have already had to switch before now.

I would ask the pediatrition to test his urine for bacteria. I have had several urinary tract infections, and it is very irritating. Simple antibiotics can clear it up, if that would happen to be what the cause is.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Aside from curiosity, which is normal, did you ever consider he may be having an allergic reaction to the brand of diapers you use or the creams, powders and lotions? He could also, if you use cloth diapers, be allergic to the laundry detergent you use, speak to his doctor about these possibilities. Good Luck.

Answer 3

Exzema is very itchy, my son had it all over. It causes little pin-sized red bumps all over the area.
If it's to the point that they bleed that seems more like curiosity - I mean, little boys are facinated with "it" but there may be another issue. I would check with his doctor. He may also have some kind of infection.

Answer 4

I think you need to take him to a dermatologist, sounds to me like something else is going on. Does he scratch at himself while he has clothes on or just when he is naked? If your pediatrician isn't giving you any satisfaction or solutions to the problem, get a second opinion.... DO IT FAST BEFORE SOME KIND OF INFECTION SETS IN.

Answer 5

my 10 yr old did this too i agree with the doctor to keep his nails short i try to give him a small toy to play with at this time so he was occupied with something else he was still pulling at it when he was 3

Answer 6

It sounds like he is irritated down there. I think there is a difference between being curious, and trying to scratch....

Keep his nails short, but if your instincts are telling you he may have something else going on... trust your instincts!!

Answer 7

well,after u cut his fingernails,make sure to file the around the corners so that they dont remain as sharp as freshly cut nails.confirm if he has eczema.dont worry.many kids do it

Answer 8

CALL HIS DOCTOR!!