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Parenting

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Original poster

Little boys' willies

45 replies

IWillOnlyEatBeans · 08/08/2013 20:22

Wasn't sure where to post this for the best!

I have two boys - DS1 is 3.6 and DS2 is 7 months. Their willies behave in quite different ways and I was wondering whether there is any cause for concern....

When DS1 wees, his willy blows up like a balloon. He then has to stand by the toilet for ages after he has finished weeing while it drips. DH and I assumed this was fairly normal (DH is circumcised) - until we had DS2.

When DS2 wees, the hole at the end of willy gets bigger and the wee comes out without any swelling or drama! Which I assume is the 'normal' way? I have never seen DS1's urethra opening get any wider.

Also, DS2's willy is constantly standing to attention. This has never happened with DS1.

Does any/all of this sound normal? Or do I need to take DS1 to the Dr to get checked out? Does it sound like there might be an issue with this foreskin? He assures me there is no pain when he wees!

Thanks!

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CreatureRetorts · 08/08/2013 20:27

How do you know ds2's willy is constantly standing to attention? You only see it when nappy changing and baths which might explain why.

Re the ballon thing - i would speak to a GP as doesn't sound right to me. Does he have a chance to fiddle alot? They should do that as it helps stretch the foreskin.

Tee2072 · 08/08/2013 20:30

My son is four. His balloons.

I think it's perfectly normal. Talk to a GP if you're concerned.

CreatureRetorts · 08/08/2013 20:33

I'm not sure it is normal - I thought it meant the foreskin was tight (which might cause an issue when they're older)

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Tee2072 · 08/08/2013 20:34

He's got a GP appointment tomorrow, I'll ask!

squalorvictoria · 08/08/2013 20:40

Sounds like there's an issue with the foreskin not letting urine out, which doesn't sound ideal. Could be normal for a young boy I suppose (I don't own a small boy myself!) so you should definitely get it checked out.

VegPatchLurker · 08/08/2013 20:42

I have 2 small boys.
No ballooning here.

Original poster

IWillOnlyEatBeans · 08/08/2013 20:45

Hmm. Sounds like a trip to the GP is in order.

I'm sure DS2's willy isn't constantly standing to attention, that was a bad choice of words. But it sticks up most nappy changes, which was a shock after DS1...

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Original poster

IWillOnlyEatBeans · 08/08/2013 20:47

With regards to fiddling - he has plenty of opportunity, but it doesn't seem to occur to him to do it. Feel a bit odd about suggesting it!

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YoniBottsBumgina · 08/08/2013 20:56

The ballooning thing happens when it's starting to get loose enough to retract but they haven't figured out how to do it yet (or it isn't actually all the way retracted)

You can tell him that he can slide the foreskin gently back/up on his penis while he wees and this will help him direct the flow better. A good time to get him to do this is in the bath - it's a good habit to get into anyway, pull the foreskin back, bit of a swish in the water, takes care of any dead skin which might get trapped inside and become smelly.

If he can't pull it back yet then don't worry, as long as it doesn't seem to be causing any discomfort. He will grow out of it.

Normal IME too for baby boys to get erections seemingly ALL the time - apparently they can get them in the womb! DS is nearly 5 and balloons when weeing sometimes. He probably still gets erections regularly but he's more private about them now, I've only noticed probably about once in the last year or so, but that's when I noticed that his foreskin retracts now whereas it didn't when he was younger.

bigkidsdidit · 08/08/2013 20:58

No ballooning with my two boys.

Madamecastafiore · 08/08/2013 21:00

Should not balloon at all. You need to go to the doctors or could end up with infections under foreskin and that really not nice.

DS had this and was quite poorly with it.

Tee2072 · 08/08/2013 21:10

Totally conflicting information...

I'll let you know what the GP says tomorrow afternoon. His appointment, about something totally different, is at 1510.

Original poster

IWillOnlyEatBeans · 08/08/2013 21:12

Thanks Tee2072, that would be really helpful!

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3birthdaybunnies · 08/08/2013 21:14

Often ballooning at this age is a sign that it might need a partial circumcision although think there is a cream you can try first. Was your dh's for medical reasons? (You don't need to answer) it can be genetic. We looked into it for ds as family history of needing them, but he fiddles more than Nero and has grown out of it.

Original poster

IWillOnlyEatBeans · 08/08/2013 21:20

I asked my MIL last time I saw her, but she was quite vague and said something about an undescended testicle!

DH is very anti-circumcision, so would only get it done as a last resort.

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SoulTrain · 08/08/2013 21:24

It really depends on the extent of ballooning - DS had extreme ballooning and was eventually diagnosed with a condition which needed an operation to correct.

Some ballooning is normal, some isn't, be sure you're getting the right info and take a video if you need to to show the GP.

sleepcrisis · 08/08/2013 21:29

I am worried about the same thing with DS. He's just 2 and has already had 2 infections under the foreskin. He balloons when he wees and drips after (we are potty training!) I have seen 2 GPs about this, one of them twice. The one I trust the least (and he's a bit old school) told me that they don't liketo routinely circumcise but that I must try and push the foreskin back and help it loosen and retract, or he'll keep getting sore. I was not happy at all with this as have read never to forcefully retract (when the doc showed me DS squirmed and it didn't look pleasant. I was furious)

2nd gp at same practise said NEVER force it and that if will open in his own time maybe not til he's 5or 6. He also said no to circumcision despite ballooning issue and said some boys are just like that, it's within the realms of normal and that we just have to clean as best we can.

I'm not 100% convinced by either of them as DS is complaining again of 'sore willy' and there's obv something going on. Would love to hear what your doctor says tommorrow.

YoniBottsBumgina · 08/08/2013 21:29

Yes I agree it does depend on the extent. DS' only inflates a little bit, I assume because the wee comes out faster than the hole allows and so it builds up a little in the end of the foreskin. It wouldn't if he pulled it back - it only needs to be pulled back just past the end, not exposed completely (he might not like the unfamiliar feeling of the air on it or something). This is how adult uncircumcised males wee, they just pull the foreskin back enough to expose the very tip and the wee hole.

I just asked DP and he confirmed that healthy adult male foreskins will balloon if held closed or stuck closed for some reason (he cited "not cleaning properly"!) as I was sure I'd seen him do it on purpose at some point. So it could be due to the way he holds his penis while he wees, if he doesn't like the feeling of pulling it back or hasn't realised that you can.

blueberryupsidedown · 08/08/2013 21:34

DS1 ballooned, and couldn´t pull the foreskin back at all foreskin very long and couldn´t see the end of the penis at all. He also complained of pain but never had an infection. Was circumsised at 4. DS2 normal foreskin, no ballooning, now at 6 the skin retracts well.

Original poster

IWillOnlyEatBeans · 08/08/2013 21:35

DS1 has never had any infections and has never mentioned soreness (we do ask).

He has never attempted to pull the foreskin back (as far as I know!) but neither DH or I have suggested this to him (as neither of us know how uncircumcised males wee!)

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sleepcrisis · 08/08/2013 21:39

Blueberry, DS foreskin is also very long. Hadn't really thought about that. Should you always beagle to see the glans under the foreskin at the end even when soft?!

3boys3dogshelp · 08/08/2013 21:47

Hi op, my ds (now 5) was referred to consultant due to his foreskin being very tight and ballooning when he wees. I think the gp partly referred him because he also has unrelated kidney problems and didn't want to risk urinary infections. There is an increased chance of balanitis - infection under the foreskin if it balloons as urine can get trapped under it. I was advised to never force the foreskin back and that he may be 6 before it retracts. However we were told to encourage him to stretch it (side to side) when he was in the bath every night. The consultant gave him steroid cream to use for a few weeks too, to help the skin to stretch. He has a check up next month and if it was still as tight as last time they said they would advise circumcision but it looks to be better than it was (still not fully retracting but not ballooning anymore).

3birthdaybunnies · 08/08/2013 21:58

Undescended testicle doesn't sound like a reason to circumcise. Ds had the reverse - an inginal hernia where the bowel follows the testicle down and that was an incision around where your appendix would be. If it was for medical not religious reasons then it might be relevant to mention family history to GP.

YoniBottsBumgina · 08/08/2013 22:03

sleepcrisis No you shouldn't. An adult's uncircumcised penis end looks like a hula hoop (the crisp!)

It has to be long to accommodate the size of the penis when erect - think about it, they about double in size.

YoniBottsBumgina · 08/08/2013 22:09

Link to picture of uncircumcised penis an adult one obv, but IME a child's one looks pretty much the same but scaled down! You should be able to see the head when the foreskin is pulled back, but the age that they become able to pull it back varies hugely, between about 4 and 12. Before the foreskin retracts it is very long and loose because they still get erections sort of inside it. You can see the outline but not the penis head itself.

Please be happy I have spared you all the trauma of googling it

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