Guest Author - Allison Goines

As a parent of a newborn boy who makes the decision to keep your infant’s foreskin intact, you will need to be sure to care for the penis to ensure that it stays clean and healthy. The good news is that the intact penis requires very little worry. The most important thing to remember is that the foreskin must never be retracted by force.

The foreskin is a mucous membrane and keeps the glans moist and protects from friction. During the first few years of life, the foreskin is connected to the glans much in the same way a fingernail is connected to the nail bed. The connective tissue will dissolve naturally, over time. The foreskin usually separates by the age of 18.
Once the foreskin has separated and the boy has learned of this part of his normal development, he can usually care for the sensitive area by himself and with ease. Some tips for keeping the part clean and healthy include:
• Gently slide the foreskin back
• Rinse the area inside the foreskin and the glans with warm water.
• Put the foreskin back into place.
Always remember that it is very important to never force the foreskin to retract. When little boys pull on their foreskin (as they naturally will do) they tug outward and aren’t harming the delicate area.