The layer of skin that wraps around the outside of the penis is called the foreskin. Proper care of the foreskin can effectively prevent many health problems, so here’s how to care for your baby boy’s foreskin.
Under normal circumstances, a baby boy’s foreskin will cover the glans. Especially at birth, the foreskin can look tight, and some parents worry that it will affect their child’s development.
Although it looks tight, it is natural and parents need not be too concerned as long as it does not interfere with the baby’s urination. As boys get older, the foreskin will become loose and be able to gradually retract backwards.
As boys become more aware of their bodies, they generally discover how to retract their foreskin. The vast majority of boys are able to retract their foreskin completely on their own by about age 16.
When babies are young, they don’t have the means to clean themselves, and that’s when parents need to pay attention to helping their children clean their private parts.
1. Gently pull up: gently pull the foreskin back, but be sure not to force it. If the foreskin is not ready to pull it back forcibly, it may damage the baby’s penis. Moreover, the baby’s skin is very tender and too much force may cause pain, bleeding or even tearing of the skin.
2, gentle care: use a mild bathing solution suitable for babies and water to clean the inside of the foreskin, but there is no need to use special cleansers or cotton swabs.
3.Thorough cleaning: Take care to clean the inside of the foreskin thoroughly and make sure it dries promptly.
4.Remember to flip it back: gently flip the foreskin back and cover the head of the penis. When the baby is older and can take a bath by himself, parents should actively guide the child to gently pull back the foreskin during bath time to clean the secretions. Make your child understand that cleaning the foreskin is as normal as washing the hair and face, and is part of hygiene and health.
Discomfort during urination; foreskin filled with urine or bubbles during urination; red, itchy or swollen foreskin; foreskin unable to retract. Sometimes, the doctor may find that the child is circumcised, meaning that the foreskin is too tight and attached to the head of the penis. If the child is still young, he or she can be observed for a while, but if the foreskin is still present near puberty, it may affect development and a doctor should be called to determine if surgery is needed.