How to care for your boy's penis

If this is your first time caring for a boy, you may feel a little unsure about how to properly care for his genitals. But don't worry. Here's everything you need to know to keep the area clean and healthy.

If they are circumcised

If your son has been circumcised, it means that the loose skin covering the head of his penis has been removed, leaving his head exposed.

After the procedure, their treatment team covered the penis with Vaseline and wrapped it in gauze. Keep the cover on the area for 48 hours after the procedure.

For the first two days after surgery, your doctor may recommend covering the affected area with a ball of petroleum jelly over a square gauze pad. Change your tampon after a bowel movement to prevent infection.

After a few days, when the area begins to heal, you can stop using the bandage and simply apply Vaseline to the tip. This will prevent penis scars from sticking to the diaper.

Change his diaper frequently and use mild soap and water to clean up any poop that gets on his penis.

It is normal for the tip of the penis to turn red and have a hard white or yellow coating. This helps the area heal.

After the penis has healed, usually after 7-10 days, it can be washed with soap and water.

Problems are rare, but tell your doctor if:

• Your child does not pee for 6-8 hours after circumcision
• Bleeding does not stop
• Redness worsens after a few days
• You notice swelling, yellow crusts, or discharge from the penis.

Usually, nothing special needs to be done after the circumcision has healed. Just keep this place clean and dry so your son is healthy and comfortable.

If they are not circumcised

If your child has not been circumcised, meaning you choose not to skin the head of his penis, you do not need to do any special cleaning. Simply wipe the area dry during a diaper change and wash with warm soapy water while bathing.

Never try to lower the foreskin to clean it. At this age, it is fused to the glans penis and pushing back can cause pain or bleeding. Your doctor will let you know when the skin has come off, which won't happen until you're 3-5 years old. At this point, the foreskin will move back and forth easily, and you can teach your son to flush the area under it regularly.