The penis!

[Babadooba]

Hi there - at what age do you start retracting a boys foreskin to clean the penis? My ds is 2 next week

my DS is 3.5 and got an infection, Docs should i should pull it back gently but not with any force so to keep it clean. I thgouhgt you shouldn't but thats why he got the infection i guess (also he pokes and prodes it about and said he was putting food down it the other day!!!) I find it hard to get it to move at all tho so not really sure. Will follow this with interest tho

I don't think you're supposed to try - I thought that the foreskin doesn't retract until they are much older. I certainly never have and ds is 7.

Inever have either, ds is 7.

havent done anything with DS1 (4) Dr said it will sort itself out.

I'm glad it will sort itself out, as my wee man is a bugger to keep still for a nappy change, can't imagine him having much patience if I start rummaging about trying to get it properly clean!

Never - they should always do it themselves! The foreskin is attached at birth & gradually becomes detached as they get older, start fiddling with it, have erections etc. The age that it can be fully pulled back varies widly from approx age 2 to puberty. Just clean it like you would any other body part until he shows that it can be retracted fully (& he will - very proudly! ) & then when he is about 5 or 6 minimum talk him through how to retract & wash (or get your DH to!).

Thanks girls - he already takes great pride in showing me his errections!!

Please tell me that's a joke? I don't think I'll be able to keep a straight face if and when that happens to me