when should i pull my childs foreskin down to wash it

mum · Newbie Joined: 04 May 2006 Posts: 1

I dont know what age i should encourage my sons to pull his foreskin down to wash it. Also my 3 year old can pull it all the way down where as my six year old cant seem to move it atall.is this normal?iIdont want to put him through the embarrassment of a vist to the doctors unnecessarily

Jane23 · Supporter Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 467

In some boys, foreskin may retract on its own immediately after birth but it may take a few years until it happens as well. Foreskin should be able to fully retract until the age of 18. Mothers should retract the foreskin of boys from time to time but not forcefully. If it is impossible and foreskin seems to be firmly attached to the glans (head), you should not force the retraction as it may hurt and bleed.

If not separated soon after the birth, foreskin may retract gradually. If it seems to be stuck without any ability to retract even when tried manually, you may want to see a doc and get some prescription corticosteroid to help release the foreskin ring (the opening) but a doc may decide to leave it like that and sees what happens.

Other doctors may suggest circumcision. Under no circumstances, should you accept this. This used to be the only method to get rid of the foreskin but today it seems to be the last option and personally I am against foreskin removal.

Try slowly retracting your son’s foreskin and if it is completely stuck, then you may want to see a doc. If it moves slightly, you should continue pulling it bit by bit every couple of days and see how it goes.

When boys are mature enough to wash on their own, you should show them how it is done. This means that you should show them how to fully retract the foreskin and wash under the foreskin regularly with warm water and mild soap, so that they could maintain good hygiene. Washing under the foreskin is very important.

Charles II · Silver Member Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 186

Jane's advice is mostly correct. Full retractability at birth is rare. Its development by age 3 - 5 is normal for 90 %, and by age 10 in all but 1 % of remaining boys. After that, it is time to take action to achieve full and easy retractability.
Teaching boys to do this on their own is preferable, because they know how hard and how far they can pull it back without hurting too much.
Here is a related story. I pulled this message from another forum:

Re: Asian Foreskin Story
I guess they don't see (circumcision) as necessary. For
them it is normal that the glans will be uncovered
after puberty, so what's the fuss? And if it's not,
that's when they think about circumcision.
A close acquaintance of mine is south-east asian
by origin and he told me that he retracted his
foreskin just once - about age 12 - and that's where
it stayed ever since. To him that's just the natural
thing to do. Is it paraphimosis? I don't know and
never will - we're both married family men.
--James

-------------------------------------------------

Note: My brother, cousin and I, and others we have met
or heard about later on, did the same thing. But some
of us think it would be better to start earlier, just
as soon as the foreskin is readily retractable.
Mothers, if for whatever reason you are going to delay
or avoid circumcision for your son, consider this cost-
less, painless and totally reversable alternative which
provides all of the same benefits.
Do him an important favor and help him get his foreskin
pulled back off the penis head at the earliest possible
age.
--Charles II

when should i pull my childs foreskin down to wash it

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