I recently became preganant and if we have a boy my husband and I are leaning toward not circumcising. Being that my husband is circumcised my question was how do you clean an uncircumcised penis. How did you teach your son how to clean his penis? At what age are you supposed to teach them? Did you explain to them the topic of circumcision or have they ever asked why they were diffrent from the other boys? Thanks sorry so long but its a touch subject.
2007-08-24 08:05:03 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
Until the foreskin retracts, you just wipe the outside of the foreskin whenever you would normally clean it. Diaper changes, baths, etc.
Once the foreskin starts retracting on it's own, which happens at different times for every kid (my son didn't retract until he was 4 - some don't until they are in their teens - some when they are still babies), you pull it back & wipe it with plain water at the same times that *you* would normally clean yourself off down there - basically, at bath time.
How did I teach him to clean his penis? We'd talk about it at bath time, just conversationally, the same way we talked about cleaning all of his other body parts. That's when I'd talk to him, too, about how some boys are different in that way (including daddy). And, that's when I'd talk to him, before he retracted, about what will be different once he does retract.
The most important thing to remember, I think, is that it's not complicated at all. Don't try to retract it until it does it on it's own. Then, when it does, keep it clean just the same as you do any other part of your body.
2007-08-24 11:16:10 · answer #1 · answered by Maureen 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This is a big decision. Neither of my 2 boys are circumcised, even though their dad is. I kind of felt that this was the way God made them, so why mess with it. I found that with both of them, the foreskin did not fully retract until they were about 2 1/2 or 3 yrs old.
Now they are older they have been taught to wash their genitals by pulling back the foreskin. They have never mentioned anything about feeling or looking different, but they have never really seen a lot of other boys naked.
I know that getting circumcised when you are an adult is a big deal, but I figure that if they really, really want to, then then can make that choice when they are older. If I had circumcised them as babies, they would never have the choice.
2007-08-24 09:27:50 · answer #2 · answered by bugged to death 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Though my son is circumcized, that doesn't change how you care for the penis. You still have to keep it clean, and there is some skin that covers the tip, just not as much.
I have had problems with my son with the skin adhering back and causing irritation. I don't know if there is a specific age to explain how to keep it clean, but when they are old enough to wash themselves you show them. Also if there is irritation my pediatrician reccomends washing the area well then after bath using vaseline and it really works!
I didn't explain to my son that he was circumcized, I suppose that is a conversation for another day (he is 6).
Good luck!
2007-08-24 16:42:04 · answer #3 · answered by Reba 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of people will try to tell you that circumsizion is the only way and they are wrong. My boys aren't circumized. They have never had any problems. My son who is 17 gets undressed at school and a lot of the other boys are just like him.
Teaching your son to clean it is easy. You just pull back the foreskin and gently clean it. Start teaching your son to clean it when you teach him to clean himself. It's all a part of cleaning his body. There isn't any age that you start it's just when ever you teach him. Your doctor will show you how to clean it. It's very easy.
I wouldn't circumsize my boys. My sister did to her son and then it got infected or something and her son had a bunch of problems.
2007-08-24 09:21:31 · answer #4 · answered by musicpanther67 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋