The normal foreskin in the young child. The damage is most often done by clinic sisters, but I regret to say that it is sometimes caused by general practitioners who seem to be unaware of the normal development of the foreskin. The normal foreskin will in the normal course of events dilate sufficiently to slip over the head of the penis by 5 or 6 years of age. It does not require anyone's help to do this. The head of the penis does not require cleaning.
Nature does the job very efficiently by means of natural secretions.
Lastly, a lot of infants are diagnosed as having phimosis because of incorrect technique in examining the penis. The foreskin should not be pushed back over the penis in babies, as this makes the opening look smaller than it is. It should be lifted up as in Fig. If foreskin is pushed downward it makes the opening look smaller. If foreskin is grasped with both index fingers and thumbs and pulled upward the true size of the opening is apparent.