Does Not Being Circumcised Affect Toddlers?

The attitude toward routine circumcision has changed significantly in recent years. In 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement that does not recommend universal newborn circumcision. In making the decision about whether to circumcise a baby, you might wonder how an absence of circumcision will affect a toddler.

  1. Foreskin Retraction

    • During the toddler years, a little boy̵7;s foreskin probably does not yet retract from the tip of the penis, according to HealthyChildren.org. Generally, the foreskin will retract by the time a boy reaches 5 years of age. Never try to force your child̵7;s foreskin to retract. Forced retraction usually causes pain, bleeding and injury. As long as parents do not interfere by unnecessarily retracting the foreskin, lack of circumcision will not affect a toddler.

    Routine Washing

    • The routine washing of an uncircumcised penis should not affect a toddler. Care should consist of gentle washing with soap and water during baths, advises Mayo Clinic.com. Do not use any special cleaners or tools for washing and never try to retract the boy̵7;s foreskin for cleaning. It̵7;s normal to see a sticky, white substance under or around the foreskin. Do not attempt to wash away this substance, called smegma.

    Foreskin Infections

    • Foreskin infections sometimes occur in the uncircumcised penis. If you notice minor irritation and redness around the tip of your child̵7;s penis, wash it gently without retracting the foreskin. Applying a barrier diaper rash cream or 1 percent hydrocortisone cream might help resolve the irritation, advises the Royal Children̵7;s Hospital Melbourne. If symptoms seem more severe, seek medical care. A physician might advise treatment with a topical antibiotic cream or topical hydrocortisone cream. More serious infections might require antibiotic treatment.

    Urinary Tract Infections

    • Uncircumcised boys under age 5 have slightly higher incidences of urinary tract infections than boys who were circumcised, according to the University of Michigan Department of Pediatrics. The overall risk of developing a UTI is low, whether a boy is or is not circumcised. However, the presence of foreskin might enable uropathogens to colonize, which could cause illness. Other factors might contribute to the development of or minimize the development of a UTI, including race, breastfeeding, socioeconomic status and gestation at birth.

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