Circumcision care

If you have decided to have your son circumcised (here for making that decision), there are a few simple things that you can do to prevent infection and promote healing. The circumcision usually heals over about the first six days, so you have to do this special care for about that long. With each diaper change, you can use a little petroleum jelly over the tip and then put gauze over the top, like a tent. You don't have to ever handle or clean the tip. (And it's probably pretty sore.) You don't need gauze after the first few days. Just apply the jelly. And until the umbilical cord stump falls off and the circumcision is healed, just give sponge baths. Adhesions that form after the circumcision most often will separate spontaneously over time.

Intact penis care

Foreskin on the uncircumcised penis may not be fully retractable until several years after birth. Never forcefully retract the foreskin. In 90% of uncircumcised males the foreskin is retractable by the age of 5 years. However, small adhesions may persist even into adolescence. When retractable, wash under foreskin. Good hygiene is the most important factor in the care of the intact penis. Like you wouldn't do that anyway.