Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

How can I discourage my toddler from constantly fiddling in his nappy?

4 replies

Unsure4589 · 04/07/2026 19:37

DS (18 months) is a prolific fiddler. He’s always gone for his penis the second his nappy comes off, but now every time I turn around he’s digging about inside his nappy. He doesn’t have any noticeable rashes, and this started before the recent heatwave. He obviously has better access now he’s in shorts but I’m not sure how to handle it! I wouldn’t be too concerned if it wasn’t happening literally all the time, including after he’s done a poo 💩 🫠

Any ideas as to what’s behind it (curiosity? Feels nice?) and how to discourage or prevent it? He’s relentless but it doesn’t seem quite right to put him in long trousers in this weather and I worry that will cause heat rash. 😵‍💫

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
User573359 · 04/07/2026 19:45

Apart from the poo issue, my son did the same at that age (and up to about age 4 tbh), developmentally it's normal, a doctor friend told me it loosens the foreskin, and preventing them doing so can lead to balanitis and other tight foreskin issues. Just find some outfits like sleeveless rompers for in public.

ohyesido · 04/07/2026 21:47

They grow out of it. All boys do this when they discover their penis and its wonders. Just say no, that’s yucky if he starts fiddling while there is poo in his nappy, but ignore otherwise

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

shaleand · 05/07/2026 10:02

I went with ‘hands out of your nappy please’ and removed hands every time. He soon got the hang of it not being acceptable when around other people.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page