Best Tips On Toddler Foreskin Care

The foreskin is a sheath of skin attached to the head of the penis. At birth, this skin is attached to the head or glans. As time goes by, the skin becomes retractable, which means that it can be pulled back from the head of the penis. Usually, this happens when the child is around 2 or 3 years old. There are cases where the foreskin becomes completely retractable by the puberty. Usually, these problems resolve on their own without medical intervention.

Circumcision is the process of removing this foreskin. It is the practice in some culture and religions to remove the foreskin when boys reach a certain age, usually at the start of puberty. Sometimes, it is recommended in older men because of infections and other medical reasons.

GENITAL HEALTHCARE TIPS FOR TODDLERS

You need to give proper attention to foreskin care of toddlers and later teach him to take care of it himself when he becomes older. Without proper hygiene of the foreskin, the toddler runs a high risk of catching infections in his genital area.

Here are some tips on toddler care and foreskin hygiene.

No special care: The thing to be noted in toddler care regarding cleaning of the foreskin and genital area is that no special attention is needed here. The foreskin is attached to the penis and so no foreign material can enter through.

Another body part: Toddler care tips for cleaning the foreskin includes treating it like just another body part. This means to wash the foreskin thoroughly during bath time like how you would clean other body parts of your son.

No forcible retraction: The foreskin of toddlers is generally attached to their penis and will start to retract normally as he grows. In toddler care, you should never forcibly retract the foreskin as this can cause infections.

Cleaning the underside: Unless the foreskin is circumcised or retracted, there is no need to clean the underside of it. Once it has been retracted, foreskin care of toddlers includes cleaning the underside of the skin with warm water daily.

Washing with soap: Whenever we think of cleaning something, we immediately think of using soap. The same goes for foreskin care for toddlers. While there is no harm in cleaning the foreskin with soap, make sure that it is completely rinsed off.

Dirty nappies: To ensure foreskin care for toddlers, change nappies as soon as they are soiled. Do not leave on dirty nappies as these can cause the development of infections on the foreskin and genital area of your son.

Cleaning after nappy change: In order to have a proper foreskin care for toddlers, wipe off the foreskin and penis with a warm cloth every time you change a nappy. If necessary, wash the area clean before putting on a new nappy.

Teach your son to clean: To provide complete foreskin care for toddlers, it is not enough that you know how to clean the foreskin. You should teach your son to clean his foreskin, especially once it has retracted.

Regular check: While washing well with warm water on a daily basis would be sufficient for foreskin care, it will be a better idea to have a regular check for the presence of any redness or signs of infections.

Try these tips and help your toddler stay healthy.