Curious about lotioning baby after bath

[mommaDB921]

After giving my 5 month old son a bath I normally lotion his whole body except for his penis. Well my mother in law was watching my son today while I was at work and when I got to her house to pick him up she was giving him a bath. After his bath she used lotion on him and I noticed that she used it on his penis too. I questioned her about it and her response was "well does it say not to use on penis". She gets snippy with me when I question her about things that she does with my son but taking care of a child is new to me and she does certain things that I don't agree with.
Anyway..all I know is this is my first child so I guess I'm being a little cautious but I don't lotion my vagina so I didn't think of lotioning my sons penis. Just curious if anybody else does this and is it something that I should do?

[KelliansMom]

I have never lotions my son in that area but we do put vasaline there during the summer months

[heathermarie27]

I never Put lotion around his penis.

[ProudShammy3]

I don't lotion that place... don't see a need! I have rubbed diaper rash cream on his sack before because it was a little red. Never again have I touched it! Sorry to hear about your mom getting snippy. Soon she will learn YOU know YOUR baby best.

[arj767s]

No I don't use lotion there. I wouldn't want to risk any getting inside and starting an infection. Ouch.

[mommaDB921]

Ok thanks for the replies..it's good to know that it's not just me that thinks it isn't necessary. I hate to question her about things b/c she thinks she knows more than me but she does things that I never heard of and don't like.
A few things for example are: she gave my baby a pinch of icing a few weeks ago and after I found out I asked his pediatrician since she keeps telling me that he can and should eat food now. Well when I told her that my Dr told me not to give him food until he's 6 months, she said she doesn't like my Dr and doesn't care what he says but he's also seeing a GI specialist now b/c he has constipation issues that he's been hospitalized for. Another issue is she drives around with him and puts a dvd player that just sits on the edge of the seat in front of him not strapped to anything. I told her that it makes me nervous because god forbid she were to get in an accident it would go flying and hit him in the head but she of course doesn't think it's a problem. There's other little things she does that bother me but I don't always say something b/c I don't wanna start an argument. What would you do? Do you think I should address these issues with her or just keep quiet..does anybody have any ideas or advice for me??

[KelliansMom]

Your the MOM stand your ground set rules ad boundaries. What you say goes and she should follow them.

[arj767s]

Tell her that while you respect her opinions, she needs to let you make the final determination. You are the mother and she is the grandmother. That means she is there for guidance for you. You are there to decide how the baby is raised. She needs to understand that boundary. If you say your child can't wear red, for example, that's your call. She can think whatever she wants but it is your decision when it comes down to it.

I've had to have that convo with my mom. If she drove with a DVD player like that after I told her not to, she would no longer be allowed to drive him anywhere. That voids warranty and is very dangerous. My mom wanted to feed ds too early. I told her no. She didn't like it but she listened. She may nag. But she knows I'll do what I feel is right. You are the gatekeeper. ;)

[mommaDB921]

I think she acts this way b/c her son(my ex) had his first child when he was young and she took over as the mother of his daughter. Now his daughter is 4 1/2 years old and even though HE has custody of her, his mother is the one that takes care of her and she lives with her more than him. I think she has that need to take over as the parent instead of just being a grandparent.

Don't know if she'll ever stop trying to take over her grandchildren..her daughter is due any day now so she has another one on the way

[Courtney81181]

I lotion my son every night after his bath...I lotion his entire body EXCEPT for his penis. I don't see any need for lotion in that area. I do put diaper cream on his butt & the little area of skin btwn. his thigh & penis area, just because he sleeps straight through about 11hrs. each night in the same diaper so I don't want him getting a diaper rash... YOU are the mom. I hear what you are saying though...my mom is the same way. Always telling me what I should or shouldn't do, I just tell her what I know & what his pediatrician says & remind her that it has been 26yrs. since she has had a baby [my brother] so some things have changed. My son is almost 8 months old, happy as hell, he has never been sick & gotten one mild diaper rash so I tell her I must be doing something right :) Good luck!

[MomToovey]

 I don't have a son, so I can't say anything on that, but I have never lotioned my daughter's genitals. When she was in diapers, I did put buttpaste all over her diaper area after bath to help prevent rash, but that is specifically designed for that area. We never had a problem with that. I don't know that there's any danger of putting regular lotion on his penis, but I agree that I wouldn't do it anyway. I'm sorry your MIL isn't very supportive. She probably thinks that because she's been a mother before - and to a boy on top of that - that she has the right to do what she wants for her grandson. But fact is, he's YOUR son, not hers and she should respect your wishes. It's your turn to be momma now, not hers. You get to make the decisions.