foreskins

[ChoudeBruxelles]

What age is it normal for boys to be able to completely retract their foreskins. DS is nearly 7 and cant pull his back properly. He has a urine infection at the minute and I wonder if it's anything to do with it not retracting.

My ds suffered from urine infections quite often when
Younger ( or at least suspected ones). I sympathise with you.
We were told by the paediatrician we saw that it can be any time from being young child to about 13. So at 7 your ds is long way off that. No need to clean the foreskin specifically. Just the normal nightly bubble bath will clean it. Do not retract it as it might cause scarring. Speak to your gp and they can reassure you and check all is well.
You probably know this-if your child has a temp with no other symptoms then you need to get urine tested ( urine caught mid flow).
If child under three an untreated urine infection can cause kidney scarring that can lead to high blood pressure in later life and therefore shorter life expectancy.

friendlyface12 (above) has given you excellent advice.

GPs vary but some will recommend circumcision at an early stage if infections persist. Others suggest 'wait and see' until as late as puberty. The advantage of early circumcision is that it is simpler, less painful and embarrassing so younger boys recover much quicker from the experience. It also ensures that personal hygiene can't be skipped (as some boys do) because the penis is automatically washed in a bath or shower and there is no moist dark cavity to harbour and generate infections. These can of course lead to kidney scarring mentioned above.

You are left to choose and your son is about at the half way mark for upset from the procedure and it's potential to sort itself out as the foreskin loosens and becomes stretchable as naturally intended. It's a gamble and a choice you have to make.

FWIW I opted for the certain reassurance of early prophylactic circumcision.

Best wishes