Umbilical cord care: Do's and don'ts for parents

You can describe most bellybuttons as little nubs or crinkly indentations — but not at first. Your baby's bellybutton starts out as an umbilical cord stump about an inch long. Until the stump dries out and falls off, keep it clean and dry.

Why your baby has an umbilical cord stump

During pregnancy, the umbilical cord supplies nutrients and oxygen to your developing baby. After birth, the umbilical cord is no longer needed — so it's clamped and snipped. This leaves behind a short stump. The umbilical cord doesn't contain pain-sensitive nerve fibers, so your baby won't feel anything during this rite of passage.

Umbilical cord at birth

Umbilical cord at birth

After birth, the umbilical cord is clamped and snipped. If the umbilical cord has looped snugly around the baby's neck, the cord may be clamped and snipped before the baby's shoulders are delivered....

Taking care of the stump

Your baby's umbilical cord stump will change from yellowish green to brown to black as it dries out and eventually falls off — usually within about two weeks after birth. In the meantime, treat the area gently:

• Keep the stump clean. Parents were once instructed to swab the stump with rubbing alcohol after every diaper change. Researchers now say the stump may heal faster if left alone. If the stump becomes dirty or sticky, wash it with soap and water — then dry it by holding a clean, absorbent cloth around the stump or fanning it with a piece of paper.
• Keep the stump dry. Expose the stump to air to help dry out the base. Keep the front of your baby's diaper folded down to avoid covering the stump. Change wet or soiled diapers quickly to prevent irritation. In warm weather, dress your baby in a diaper and T-shirt to improve air circulation.
• Stick with sponge baths. Sponge baths may be most practical during the healing process. When the stump falls off, you can bathe your baby in a baby tub or sink.
• Let the stump fall off on its own. Resist the temptation to pull off the stump yourself, even if it's hanging on by only a thread.

Signs of infection

During the healing process, it's normal to see a little crust or dried blood near the stump. Contact your baby's doctor if your baby develops a fever or if the umbilical area:

• Appears red and swollen around the cord
• Continues to bleed
• Oozes yellowish pus
• Produces a foul-smelling discharge

If your baby has an umbilical cord infection, prompt treatment can stop the infection from spreading.

Related

• Baby sling: Is it safe?
• Baby sunscreen: What's recommended?
• Vaccination schedule: Why so many so fast?
• Slide show: Birthmarks
• Circumcision (male)
• Induced lactation: Can I breast-feed my adopted baby?
• Uncircumcised penis: Is special care needed?
• Baby poop: What's normal?
• Slide show: Baby baths
• Newborn care: Should I wake my baby for feedings?
• Slide show: What a newborn really looks like
• Slide show: Breast-feeding positions
• Slide show: How to swaddle a baby
• Infant jaundice
• Breast-feeding: 7 tips for pumping success
• Pacifiers: Are they good for your baby?
• Infant development: Birth to 3 months
• Breast-feeding vs. formula-feeding: What's best?
• Feeding your newborn: What you need to know
• Breast-feeding: What every mom needs to know
• Breast-feeding: Choosing a breast pump
• New parents: Getting the sleep you need
• Breast milk storage: Tips for storing breast milk
• Baby's head shape: What's normal?
• Breast-feeding: How to gauge success
• Newborn care: Common-sense strategies for stressed-out parents
• Baby bath basics: A parent's guide
• Crying baby: What to do when your newborn cries