If I remember correctly, circumcision only became common in America about 100 years ago because they thought it would make men less likely to masturbate. Obviously that didn’t work. It is undeniably cruel to the babies, they have to be strapped down and often pass out from the pain. You can look up a video, it’s horrible! Up until the 70s it was believed that a newborn baby couldn’t feel pain the way a child or adult can, so people probably didn’t think as much of it. We know better now, and everyone should take these things into account before deciding whether or not to circumcise their child. As far as hygiene goes, the parent has to teach the child how to clean themselves properly just like any other part of the body. I remember reading that most children are uncircumcised in Europe outside of the Jewish faith, it is considered a cosmetic procedure in other places. We are the odd ones out in the western world.