As you can see, it says that if a baby is intact (not uncircumcised, that's like saying the editor of this magazine was unintelligent for not fact checking, no, just call her stupid) you should tug on the foreskin and cleanse thoroughly. This isn't about intact vs circumcised, this is about facts. When called to task on this, Parents magazine came back with an utterly disgusting response:
A Note from the Editors of Babytalk on "The Supermom Transformation"
By The editors of Parenting.com on Wednesday, February 24, 5:41 pm EST
We have received a number of emails in regard to the care and cleansing of baby boys’ penises as cited in the story, “The Supermom Transformation,” in the March 2010 issue of Babytalk. We apologize for any confusion related to the subject. For first-time moms, this is a tricky issue, and it is always our goal to provide you with the most clear and accurate information possible because when it comes to caring for your babies, nothing could be more important.
Our story states that “If [the penis] is uncircumcised, it is important to gently tug back his foreskin and cleanse thoroughly.” According to Nancy Silva, M.D., board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), who we used as a resource for this article, “Gently tugging is not the same as retracting. Retraction is forceful pulling back of the foreskin to the base of the glans, which results in unnecessary pain, bleeding, and further adhesions. Gently tugging is the equivalent of sliding it back as far as it can naturally go. In newborn males (birth to 30 days old), this is approximately 1-5 millimeters. Gently tugging/sliding back of the foreskin allows for cleansing of the penis and foreskin and removal of smegma [the normal, white skin cells under the penis].”
We recognize the confusion lies with the word “tug,” which can be interpreted in different ways. We will make every effort to clarify these statements further in the future. According to the Office of the Executive Director of the AAP, gently pushing back the foreskin to clean is OK.
The official statement from the AAP regarding the care of an uncircumcised, or otherwise intact, penis – which underscores Dr. Silva’s warning not to retract the foreskin forcefully – can be found on the AAP’s web site, healthychildren.org. We also encourage readers to discuss this subject with their pediatricians.
Wow, way to pass the buck. It's not my fault, the doctor WE contacted said so. Did you not get a second opinion? It's not a question of subjective words, it's just WRONG!
Here's what the AAP actually says:
In the first several years your son's foreskin will separate from the tip of the penis. Some foreskins separate soon after birth or even before birth, but this is rare. When it happens is different for every child. It may take a few weeks, months, or years. Once this happens, the foreskin can be pulled back away from the tip of the penis. This is called foreskin retraction.
Most boys will be able to retract their foreskins by the time they are 5 years old, yet others will not be able to until the teen years. As a boy becomes more aware of his body, he will most likely discover how to retract his own foreskin. But foreskin retraction should never be forced. Until the foreskin fully separates, do not try to pull it back. Forcing the foreskin to retract before it is ready can cause severe pain, bleeding, and tears in the skin.
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/bathing-skin-care/pages/Care-for-an-Uncircumcised-Penis.aspx
But yeah, don't issue a retraction, blame the doctor that gave you the advice and move on. Don't correct it, let people know that you made an error, instead compound it by risking babies being hurt at the hands of an unknowing, well meaning mother.
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