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how do I clean boys bits?

20 replies

pooka · 14/09/2005 21:24

DS born on Friday. Already have a dd (2 and 2 months). nappy changes with her were dead easy - just wipe outside and bobs your uncle. I'm finding changing ds rather more worrying - everything is so "out there" and I'm not sure quite what I should be doing in terms of sudocream application, what do I do with his willy? Do I wipe it? Under scrotum - cream there? Aaarrgh. His skin is flaking in the way that newborn's do at this stage, and I don't think he looks sore, but anxious new mum wouldn't mind any advice of seasoned boy bits manipulators
Thanks!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
pooka · 14/09/2005 21:25

And he isn't even doing the explosive poos yet. Gnawing fingernails as we speak....
Off to bed, but will log on again when can, so TIA for any advice

OP posts:
Roxswood · 14/09/2005 21:27

Just gently move everything out of the way and clean round, you do need to make sure you get under the willy and everything unfortunately, but you'll get more confident really quickly!

Roxswood · 14/09/2005 21:28

Oh and you don't need sudocrem unless it starts to look red and sore. Try smoothing olive oil from the chemist onto flaking skin, it will also give a little bit of protection from the wetness in the nappy too.

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hunkermunker · 14/09/2005 21:30

Clean what you see - lift things up to clean there and put cream on if he looks sore, but he won't need it every change, if at all. I tend to dry DS with a bit of kitchen roll after wiping him, but that's because he did get a bit sore at the start and it seemed strange to put a damp baby into a nappy to fester

Having only had a boy, I obviously think girls must be far harder to clean - you'll get used to it really quickly

vickiyumyum · 14/09/2005 21:30

you need to clean all around and under all of his 'bits' make sure you lift his willy when hes done a poo as there always seems to be a bit hiding in between that and his testicles!

i only used cotton wall and water when my 2 ds were young babies as was worried about nappy rash, particularly as they seem to have more crevices than girls. i just used to put sudocream under teh testicles, up to the anus and under the willy and only a tiny amount too.

hope that helps!

maisiemog · 14/09/2005 23:30

Clean it all except never pull back the foreskin. Cream on all the bits, just a thin layer.

I dunk my ds in the sink and use a teeny bit of baby wash (in pump dispenser next to sink) on a sponge if he poops. He has a shiny clean bum.

Miaou · 14/09/2005 23:47

lol re shiny bum, maisiemog!!

pooka, I'm the proud owner of a ds after two dds - he's 6 weeks now and I feel much more confident now, although I did kind of get a shock every time I opened up a dirty nappy(honestly, I forgot!!). I stick to water to clean him up too.

I don't think I've ever handled a willy so much in my life before - it takes some getting used to

maisiemog · 15/09/2005 00:51

I like that 'the proud owner of one ds'

jabberwocky · 15/09/2005 04:04

Definitely ignore anyone who says you need to clean under foreskin! I almost had to forcibly stop my mother from doing it. Just clean all around and put the cream on and he'll be fine.

SpikeMomma · 15/09/2005 18:15

with one eye on his water pipe!

lift his little plums and give a good wipe. i've found that his poo can travel under there if it's a corker.

the final touch is to give his little warm soft lovely bottom a little squeeze and tell him you made it! love it!!

Lua · 15/09/2005 21:42

LOL at this thread! I also had a DS after a DD and was shocked. I thought it was soo much hard too clean. But here I am 10 weeks later, and probably won't be able to tell if I am wiping a girl or a boy's bum!

sansouci · 15/09/2005 21:47

after 25 months, i still feel a bit shocked when i open up ds nappy. especially if he's got a bit of a... well... um. you know.

fisil · 15/09/2005 21:55

lol at this thread. I only produce boys, so I'd not have a clue how to cope with all a girls hidden bits! Boys it's all just there and you just wipe and go! Only ever put sudocrem on the red bits.

Oh, and watch their testicles, they are fascinating. They have a little life of their own and change shape, colour texture etc. as you look at them! And they seem to get little stiffies like there's no tomorrow! Boys are wonderful and strange little things!

pooka · 15/09/2005 22:16

No stiffies yet - something to look forward to
Seem to be getting the hang of it a bit - thanks for all the excellent advice. Feel better alsofor getting the midwife to give him the once over. Have just been royally peed on though - 2 towels and a spit cloth for one nappy change is normal, isn't it?

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Ericblack · 15/09/2005 22:33

Horrible experience today when my 5 year old said he had a really sore willy and there was very yucky stuff there. My husband is Muslim and wanted him to be circumsised which I said NO, NO, NO to but now I wonder if I was wrong. I used cotton wool but he said it was very sore. Was told ages ago not to pull the foreskin back when they are very little but how do you keep them properly clean? Would love a definitive answer.

Mytwopenceworth · 15/09/2005 22:39

Does this help?

"Structurally, the penis consists of two main parts, the shaft and the head (which is called the glans). Urine and semen exit the body through a tiny opening at the tip of the glans. At birth, the shaft and the glans are covered by a single continuous layer of skin. If circumcision is performed, the part of this skin that covers the glans is cut off. Immediately after circumcision the glans appears swollen, tender, and vivid red, since the foreskin was firmly attached to the glans before it was forcibly separated and then cut off.

In uncircumcised boys, the foreskin at first remains firmly attached to the glans, but gradually over time the attachments are broken (mostly by the stretching resulting from repeated normal erections). In 90% of boys the foreskin is loose and mobile by age 2, but the process can sometimes take five or more years. When the foreskin has separated from the glans, the foreskin can easily be retracted, or pulled back, to leave the glans exposed. Throughout life, a cheesy white material called smegma, consisting primarily of dead skin cells and secretions from sebaceous glands, will accumulate under the foreskin.

In uncircumcised boys, forcibly ripping the foreskin from the glans in the name of hygiene can lead to pain, scarring and adhesions. Do not try to forcibly retract the foreskin or to clean under an adherent foreskin with swabs, antiseptics, or even water. On the other hand, even though doing nothing at all may be considered natural, similar reasoning would lead to not cutting the hair, trimming the nails, washing the hands, or cleaning the bottom after a poop. Gentle hygiene enhances health.

Only the outside of the foreskin needs to be cleaned during the first year. It should be cleaned and bathed with soap and water just like the rest of the diaper area. After his first birthday, you might want to very gently pull back on the skin of the shaft to see if the foreskin retracts. If it doesn't at all, don't worry and don't force it! There is certainly no rush. If urine can flow freely, the hole in the foreskin is big enough. As long as the foreskin doesn't easily retract (even in a ten year old), only the outside needs to be washed. If the foreskin retracts a little, it would be okay to gently clean the exposed part of the glans with water (but don't use soap while the foreskin is still partially attached to the glans, since this can irritate this tender area). After cleaning, always pull the foreskin forward to its usual position. This is very important otherwise it can get stuck and lead to serious damage.

Once the foreskin has completely separated and retracts freely, begin to teach your son to retract his own foreskin and clean underneath it when he bathes, or at least once a week. For most little boys this personal cleaning will not become a habit unless you encourage it. Mentioning it positively and frequently throughout the years can instill an important sense of responsibility, prevention, and health that will benefit him for years to come.

Your bathtimes together are precious now, but the habits you help your son develop might also reduce sexually transmitted diseases and cancer of the penis (and cervix in his partner) when your little boy becomes a man."

Source - DrGreene.com

Miaou · 15/09/2005 22:40

Thank god someone else mentioned stiffies. I thought I was seeing things

I didn't know about them!!!!You don't see that mentioned in the baby books, do you????!!??

Ericblack · 15/09/2005 22:48

Tuppence - That really does help. Thank you.

SpikeMomma · 16/09/2005 20:53

My lord Mytwopenceworth - i feel a bit queasy. I've changed my mind. I'm leaving it to his dad to sort out...

ps. I won the 'dodge the water pipe' game all day - and there were several close calls! That is until bath time, when i picked him up in the buff and felt a warm glow down my belly... doh! 3-nil to the kid.

pps. LOL at the irony of the 'tupence' spelling... or is that just me?

Kirstie76 · 16/09/2005 21:53

I have a little boy and leaving him with no nappy on occasionally is grea fun as we take bets to see when we're going to get p'd on!!!!

He did a number 2 on his grandma last night though - so glad that wasn't me!

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