Tight foreskin

[Tia]

Hi I have been "hovering" on mumsnet for quite a while, but have not posted yet. I would like compare notes on little boys willies! My son is 21 months and has a very tight foreskin, while on holiday I noticed that his penis bulged when he urinated. I asked my GP about it, and he didn't examine him, but said, just try pushing it back everyday, or else get him circumcised! Not very helpful. I have tried pushing it back in the bath, but my son pushes my hand away and says "don't touch, mummy". It seems disrespectful to continue, so I have stopped trying. Any advice on what age the foreskin is supposed to retract?

Hi Tia my son is 6,when he was 18 mnths old i was worried about his willie as it looked very tight at the end and also quite red i took him to the doctors they seemed uninterested and said i should wait.i left rather cross but took their advice,and sure enough it worked,by the time he was 2 12 it looked normal.Im not saying ignore it,if you are worried go back and see a doctor again,perhaps ask to see a different doctor.ive learnt that genrelly a mothers instinct is nearly always right.

There have been other postings on this topic (because I have had this worry as well and discussed here - I recommend you do a search). DS is 2 years old and has a tight foreskin. I have been told to wait and see, now that DS is potty training he is playing with his willy quite a bit and I think it is helping. My HV told me that he would push it back himself. On this topic you will find "pro" pushback and "anti" pushback...

My mom's stepson had a tight foreskin and he was NOT circumcised but the end bit was cut off and it looks completely normal (I have seen him). I don't know how old he was when this was done but after 3 and before 6.

If I were you I'd keep an eye on things and wait a bit longer unless it becomes infected or painful, I'd leave it for the time being.

Many thanks for the advice, I asked my friend (a GP)at the weekend, and she also said to wait.

My son had the same problem he also had 2 uti's which are uncommon in children.As a result circumcision was advised,when he was about 2.5 he had a "prepuaplasty" which basically surgically reconstructed his foreskin. This op was really successful and now at six he has a fully retractable foreskin.The risks of a tight foreskin are that infections can occur and can then travel up the urinary system to the kidneys causing more problems. My younger son at 3.5 also has the same problems and we also were told to wait but still there is no resolve so he too is now being put forward for the same op. If i were you i wouldnt leave it too long,maybe until three years then start asking more questions.