Читать книгу The Complete Parenting Collection - Steve Biddulph, Steve Biddulph - Страница 86

Penises and testicles are a bit of a mystery to mothers. Here are a doctor’s answers to some questions mothers commonly ask:

Q: Should my son have two testicles visible?

A: By the time of the ‘six-week check’ that all babies should get from the Child Health sister or doctor, both testicles should be able to be seen.

Q: Is it okay to touch his penis to wash it?

A: Of course! You have to wash around the penis and testicles when changing nappies and in the bath. Once out of nappies, a little boy can wash his own penis while you supervise.

Q: Should I pull back the foreskin to keep his penis really clean?

A: This is not necessary, in fact it’s not a good idea at all. At this age the foreskin is adhered to the end of the penis. Toddlers naturally pull back their foreskin little by little, and at about three or four years of age you will notice that it retracts. At the age of four, you can tell him from time to time in the bath to pull it back and wash around the end of the penis. Show him how to leave the foreskin back until he is dry after a shower, and how to pull the foreskin back when having a wee so as to keep urine from staying underneath it.

Q: My son pulls and stretches his penis or pushes his finger inside it. Is this okay?

A: Basically children won’t damage themselves, because if it hurts they’ll soon stop! Penises are a little fascinating to their owners, feel comforting to hold, and this is fine. Don’t make a fuss about it.

Q: My son often holds onto his penis to stop himself weeing. Is that harmful?

A: Most boys do this. Girls have strong pelvic muscles that can hold back their wee without anyone knowing they’re doing it. Boys are made differently, and can’t do this. So if they need to do a wee but are too engrossed in playing, they will often ‘hang on’. Encourage them to take a toilet break!

Q: What name should we call our child’s penis?

A: Call a penis a penis. Don’t make up silly names for it.

Q: When boys are a little older, they sometimes get hit in the testicles during games. What should I do?

A: Testicles are very sensitive – that’s why all the men crouch over in sympathy if someone gets hit in the crotch during a cricket match. But usually there is no lasting damage. Go with your boy to a private spot and check him out gently. If there is severe pain, swelling, bleeding, bruising, or if pain continues to make him cry for a long time, or if he vomits, then get him straight to a doctor. Otherwise just let him sit quietly and recover. If tenderness continues after a few hours, have him checked by a doctor.

If you are in any doubt on these questions, talk to your doctor. It’s always best to be on the safe side.

Always encourage children to be careful of each other’s bodies. Challenge your son or daughter strongly if they think harming other kids is funny or trivial. Come down hard on games that involve grabbing or hitting people in the genitals. Some TV shows treat these injuries as a joke, which they are not. Being hit in the genitals is about as funny as being hit in the breasts, and testicles are far more sensitive.

(Our thanks to Dr Nick Cooling for this information.)