Interested in Opinions on Whether to Circumcise or Not

well Well Well...this is an ongoing debate between my husband and I. I think that it is cruel and unusual punishment. There are not health related reasons to have it done. I believe it is only cosmetic. We have an 11 year old son who is not (from a previous relationship) and when are son who is 8 came along he respected my feelings. So neither of them are...we are now pregnant again and if we have a boy my husband would like to have him circumcised. I dont think it is fair to have him done with the other brothers not done...so my husband is trying to get the older boys to do it. My husband is circumsized and would like his boys to look the same as him.

Well I am a single mom so i figured that it would be easier and less uncomfortable for my son to be circumsizied instead of having me while he is getting older making sure and asking him if he cleaned it properly.. But If i was married or had a significant other i would probably only circumsize my son if my husband or significant other was so as my son got older he didn't look different from his dad. or wonder why he looks one way and his dad looks another... that is just how i feel.

Teaching childbirth education at a local hospital puts me in the positin to answer this question all the time. Its such a personal decision but there are a few things to consider outside the religious, emotional part.

The American Academy of Pediatrics no longer recomends circumsision as a routine procedure. This alone has really started parents thinking more about it and doing the research.

As with any medical procedure, you must decide if the risks outweigh the benefits. Your pediatrican can be a great source of information here. If you haven't chosen one, now is the time to do so.

Will your insurance cover the procedure? Several are no longer covering the procedure since the AAP no longer recomends it.

Ask if your pediatrician will do the procedure at the hospital or at their office later. Most now do the circumcision in thier own office at about 2 weeks of age instead of at the hospital as was done in the past.

If you decide to have the procedure done, be aware baby will need your comfort. Find other care for your other children for that appointment.

Remember, you are the parent. Decide what is best for you and your family and you'll make the right choice. Best wishes.

I have a son who I'm adopting and he wasn't circumcised. I have found that I don't like this because his fat makes it hard to clean him well and he gets upset because we have to push the fat up to clean him. Because of these things I would prefer to have my next son circumcised.