grabbing their bits

[Jethers]

My son is very prone to a sore bottom when wearing his nappies - we've tried all sorts (changing nappy types, creams etc) but one of the things that works is letting him play for long periods without a nappy. However, he has started obsessively grabbing and playing with his privates, sometimes so hard he gets scratches that bleed and since I don't know how to stop him I've had to stop letting him play without the nappy and his bottom is getting worse. Does anyone have any ideas how to stop this behaviour?

You can't and shouldn't try to stop him. It's perfectly normal - after all, he's found a friend that is going to be with him for life.

Keep his nails trimmed and/or filed down, and put Sudocreme on teh scratches when you re-nappy him.

Why don't you want him to play with his penis? If it's because he scratches then keep his nails short.

No reason to stop him, IMO - it's just another body part, but because it's normally covered up it's a novelty to be able to play with it. Nothing wrong with that.

totally agree with PrettyCandles. I remember when my DS "discovered" his genitals asking my MIL if this was a phase, and she laughed and said "yes, a phase that lasts the rest of their life".

Totally normally, and the odd scratch won't do him any harm.

sorry - totally NORMAL - should have read.

agree with tyv once they've found it it doesn't stop! lol.

also wait till he finds the baby wipes - my DS grabs them, and trys to clean his winkle!

Of course its entirely normal - I have absolutely no problem with him doing it whatsoever and wouldn't try to prevent it at all if he wasn't physically harming himself. The problem is that he's actually drawing blood - despite the fact that I keep his nails nice and short anyway. He's done it for some time without causing a problem but lately I think its the force and length of time that he does it that's doing the damage.

i have no experience of this whatsoever yet as I have 2DDs and DS is safely tucked up in my bump but (and you've probably already thought of this one) what about scratch mits? I'm guessing he is too old for them and will take them off in a split second.

Is he in cloth nappies or disposables?

I say I have no experience but I have to mention that on my last scan DS was holding his willy throughout most of the scan - and I was in there a long time. Consultant and I thought it was very funny

Well, DS has got considerably less violent after a few months - I must admit I did used to wince sometimes at the way he pulled his bits about at first, though he never seemed to feel any pain. So I think the extreme yanking/scratching stage is something they grow out of fairly fast.

I don't think he's likely to do himself any serious damage - but if you're concerned what about putting him in a clean cotton vest during his nappy free time and poppering it under the crotch? Won't prevent air circulation (or him having a feel) but will hopefully stop the scratches.

Obviously there's a strong likelihood of him peeing on the vest but I'm guessing you can live with that?

how old is he?id say hes just found new toy!
pmsl at your post coby!

my ds is the same, he is 8 mo and grabs his willy every time I change him, and does make it sore sometimees. He goes mad when I put his nappy on !

It does wear off slightly though. When DS was potty trained he couldn't keep his hands off it, eventually we realised it would always be there and has more or less dropped the habit.
(with the occasional relapse when he calls me to come and look at how big his willy is )

Thanks to Coby and theyoungvisitor (I thought I was the only one who'd read that!) for scratch mitts and vest poppering ideas - will try these asap and hope that sorts it until he's grasped the concept of having permanent body parts!