Is it normal for a 22-month-old boy to have the tip of his penis be purple?

Question

I am a babysitter, but this was actually my first time babysitting a boy.

When I went to change his diaper I noticed that the tip of his penis was a light purple/brown color.... kind of like a bruise.

I asked my friend if it was normal (she works at a daycare) and she said that it's only normal if he was recently circumcised.

But, why would a 22-month-old be recently circumcised? Doesn't circumcision happen closer to birth?

She also asked if it hurt him when I cleaned him, but it didn't.

He was fine.

No crying, nothing.

He just laid they playing with his toy and watching his movie.

Is there something that could have caused this other than abuse?

I don't want to report it to CPS unless I'm pretty sure that something is going on.

Answer 1

several things. as a man, I can reassure you that it is very much common for the boy's penis to be this way.

also, I want to mention out to you that if you take the baby away from the legal parents and call the CPS then and only then are you looking for legal trouble not only as a babysitter but also as human being.

in short my response is: it is normal and good luck!!!!!!!

Answer 2

Okay. For the glans of his penis to be purple is only normal when, 1) he's been recently circumcised, 2) he hasn't been circumcised and a) he had a tiny erection (which is normal) or b) his foreskin retracted and is now stuck behind his glans (not normal. this is called 'paraphimosis' which is extremely dangerous. if he has this condition, an emergency circumcision is required).

But if he was circumcised as a baby, then it is not normal for the glans should be that color. The purpleness of circumcision goes away after a month, tops. More like 2-3 weeks.

So, answer a few questions. Is he circumcised? If not, was his foreskin retracted? I assume he is circumcised since you could see his head. In which case, find out if he was recently so or as a baby.

If he was as a baby, instruct the parents to take him to the doc, asap.

Answer 3

This is normal coloration. Well as normal as a circumcised penis can ever be.

The purple-brown part you see is his glans, it is not normal skin, it is supposed to be covered by the foreskin, it is an internal organ. That is why it is not flesh colored. Circumcision removes the protective foreskin which contains more than half of the sensory nerves of the penis and allows the glans to dry out become desensitized and callused.

The abuse here is the circumcision and nobody seems to care about that as long as it is only a boy.

Answer 4

Well, he could have had a little tiny erection, and that would make the color change too. I would look at his foreskin, was he circumcised? If not the foreskin may be strangling the head of the penis or there may be a little of the foreskin left that could be causing the circulation to be cut off too.

I can't see where abuse would cause symptoms like that, especially if he isn't hurting. It could also be natural for him to be this color. Don't jump to conclusions. Ask his mother when she gets home if she has ever asked his pediatrician about the discoloration of his penis. There may be a simple answer for it.

Answer 5

When mine is hard the head is purple, this is normal for any age of penis this is where are the nerves are. In a girl they are in the clitoris.

Answer 6

Dont make his parents fire you. Just simply tell the mom "Hey just thought i would let you know that it looks like something is wrong with his thing" Tell them because what if they dont know about it and they blame it on you. To his parents dont make a big deal out of it, just say it in a calm way. Goodluck! =)

Answer 7

go to the parents and tell them what is going on rather than taking legal matters into your own hands.