A baby’s penis should heal completely in a week to 10 days, at which time the scab should have fallen off. For the first few days, the penis may be sore and have a small amount of bleeding and/or yellowish mucus or crust. The scab should come off at the end of this period. If your doctor used a Plastibell ring, do not pull it off; it should fall off within 14 days.

Parents should:

• Follow the instructions from their doctor or mohel
• Change the bandage (or gauze or plastic wrap) with each diaper change
• Dab a small amount of petroleum jelly on the penis at each diaper change
• Keep diapers loose so they don’t stick to the penis
• Wash the penis gently and keep it clean
• Use a pediatrician-approved analgesic, such as infant Tylenol, if your baby is fussy and you think he’s experiencing discomfort

Infections occur in less than 1 in 200 infant circumcisions, but call your pediatrician if…

• Your baby isn’t urinating normally within 12 hours of the surgery
• A yellow (as opposed to pale yellowish) crust or pimple has formed on or near the wound
• The wound is getting redder as opposed to fading
• A red streak is spreading from the wound
• The penis becomes increasingly tender or swollen after 48 hours
• Your baby has a fever
• The wound hasn’t healed in 10 days
• There is foul-smelling fluid or cloudy liquid draining or crusted on the penis
• The Plastibell ring is still in place after 14 days