A nurse is providing discharge teaching about circumcision care to a parent of a newborn. Which of the following statements by the parent indicates an understanding of the teaching?
Explanation & Rationale
Rationale: A. "I will change my baby's diaper at least every 4 hours.": Frequent diaper changes help keep the circumcision site clean and dry, reducing the risk of infection and irritation from urine or stool. Keeping the area free from moisture allows proper healing and minimizes discomfort for the newborn. This reflects correct home care following a circumcision. B. "I will wash the penis with soap and warm water until the circumcision has healed.": Using soap on the circumcision site can cause irritation and delay healing. The area should be gently cleansed with warm water only, allowing the natural healing process to occur without additional chemical irritation from soaps or wipes containing alcohol or fragrances. C. "I will apply topical lidocaine following each diaper change.": Topical anesthetics such as lidocaine are not recommended for routine circumcision care because they may cause toxicity or be absorbed unpredictably in newborns. Pain is managed through comfort measures such as swaddling, breastfeeding, or using petroleum jelly, not through anesthetic application. D. "I will apply an ice pack to my baby's penis twice daily to decrease swelling.": Applying ice to a newborn’s circumcision site is unsafe and can cause tissue injury due to extreme temperature sensitivity. Mild swelling is expected and resolves naturally; the recommended care involves gentle cleansing and protecting the site with petroleum jelly not cold therapy.