Questioning Circumcision & Raising Intact Boys
BabyCenter may earn a commission from shopping links.

FTM how to clean uncircumcised newborn/infant?

Please, I don't want any debate my DH and I have decided we are not having a circumcision preformed on our son. I'm only 18+4 so we have time to understand and learn how to properly clean an intact baby boy. Any help would be appreciated. Everything I find online sort of contradicts previous things I have read. Also, if I'm in the wrong group, please let me know and I will try to find the right group. Thank you.

comments (20)

  • Once again, thank you ladies! I feel a little more comfortable now! I appreciate it so much and look forward to my baby boy!
  • I suppose I have another question. So is it ok to use baby wipes to clean while changing diapers and then bathe later? Or do you always just clean with warm water? Also, does too much soap around the penis pose threat to throwing pH balances off? Why have I read to use minimal soap? What if i put him in a shallow pool of water to bathe him when he can sit up? Will that cause issues? Why don't they have an infant hygiene class such as breastfeeding? I would totally sign up!
  • Don't retract, not even a little bit. Watch doctors and nurses like a hawk and let them know not to retract him for anything. Meddling mother-in-law must also be firmly instructed not to retract. When child is five or so you can explain to him to see if he can retract it himself for cleaning. (If it has separated by then.) Trust me, little boys think that is the coolest thing ever. ;-)
  • Hello, and congratulations on your son! You've been given good advice here.

    You might find it helpful to check out the sticky for the group. There is an entire section on normal anatomy and development, proper intact care, and protecting your son from well meaning, but poorly informed health care providers.

    Please don't overthing things too much. It's hard, I know, because we're socialized in this country to think of the foreskin as a ticking time bomb that's going to explode at any moment, but it really isn't. Think of all the males in Europe who go through their entire lives with intact penises, with no problems.

    With my sons, I always just used Target baby wipes. In the rare event of a blowout where there was poop at the tip, I would just place the baby's lower half in a bath and swish things around a little, after wiping off as much as possible.

    I always have, and still do, use Johnson's Baby Wash in the bath with no problems. Sitting in the bath with a little bit of mild soap shouldn't cause any problems.

    I agree with others about not using baby powder. I always used Desitin. You may find that the tip of your son's foreskin becomes a little red sometimes. This means that it's doing its job of protecting the delicate tissues underneath. A little dab of Desitin at the tip should clear it up.

    Also, the foreskin opening will probably look like a pinhole, or like it is completely closed. You may even encounter a doctor who will think this is a problem and suggest circumcision. However, if you watch your son, you will soon notice that the hole opens up a little bit just before he pees, and closes back up afterwards. This is the function of a muscle at the tip that keeps it tightly shut to prevent stuff getting in, and then relaxes to allow urine out.

    That's all I can think of right now, but please don't hesitate to ask anymore questions as they come up. Once your son gets here, I think you'll be surprised at how simple it really is.

  • Wow I did find an awesome group you women were so nice and helpful. Now I feel confident in sharing info with my husband. :)
  • I think everyone else pretty much covered everything. Just wanted to say congrats! :)

  • Crunchy Frog said:

    Hello, and congratulations on your son! You've been given good adv…


    And we instictively practise 'benign neglect' for our boys, as per the advice on the American website: Doctors Opposing Circumcision. No special 'cleaning' for intact boys is ever necessary. The penis is happily and wholesomely self-cleaning throughout their entire lives.

    Christopher (England)

  • Just want to chime in and add my congratulations :) My intact son is now 13 months and it is the easiest thing. I've never done anything special- he takes a bath or a shower every 2-3 days. We mostly ignore his penis. I use random brands of wipes- whatever.

    Don't be shy with others who may change his diaper. Just tell them in a friendly why what not to do AND why. Spread knowledge plus they won't forget if they know the reason. Once he is here you will be amazed how simple it is and (if you're like me) you will wonder what all the fuss was :)
  • Congratulations! kudos to both of you for leaving the little guy whole! If you would rather have something in print to educate other caregivers rather than a face to face conversation, I believe that NOCIRC has printable pamphlets on their website: .
End of comments