A wet diaper on the cord keeps the cord from drying and increases the risk of infection. Do not bathe your baby in a tub or sink until the cord falls off. You may give your baby a sponge bath until then. When the cord falls off, you might notice a small pink area in the bottom of the belly button.
While there's no harm in getting the stump wet, sponge baths might make it easier to keep the stump dry. Let the stump fall off on its own. Resist the temptation to pull off the stump yourself.
After birth, the cord is clamped and cut. Eventually between 1 to 3 weeks the cord will become dry and will naturally fall off. During the time the cord is healing it should be kept as clean and as dry as possible. A sponge bath is the best way to clean your baby until the umbilical cord falls off.
Only give your newborn sponge baths until the stump of the umbilical cord falls off, which usually happens by about one or two weeks of age. If it remains beyond that time, there may be other issues at play. See the baby's doctor if the cord has not dried up and fallen off by the time the baby is two months old.
The cord stump itself doesn't need cleaning unless it's contaminated with poo or urine. Even then, just use a little plain water to wash it off – there's no need for soap, creams or ointments.
It's best to sponge-bathe your infant until the umbilical cord falls off and is completely healed. After that, you can place your baby in the water, making sure to support the head and neck at all times.
When your baby is born the umbilical cord is cut and there is a stump left. The stump should dry and fall off by the time your baby is 5 to 15 days old. Keep the stump clean with gauze and water only. Sponge bathe the rest of your baby, as well.
The American Academy of Pediatrics stated that tub bathing performed before the separation of umbilical cord may leave the umbilical cord wet and predispose infection by delaying its separation; thus, it is required to make sponge bathing until the umbilical cord falls off (14).
Remember to avoid covering the cord with the diaper, because the cord area should be kept dry and clean at all times. If the diaper is too high, fold it down on your baby before securing. You can also buy special newborn diapers that have a space cut-out for the umbilical cord.
The cord can't fall off too early. The average cord falls off between 10 and 14 days. Normal range is 7 to 21 days. Even if it falls off before 7 days, you can follow this advice.
Bathing: After the cord falls off, continue sponge baths for a few more days. Help the belly button area dry up. Then, tub baths will be fine.
“Generally, it's best to leave the umbilical cord open to the air as much as possible,” says Karen Fratantoni, MD, medical director of the Complex Care Program at Children's National Health System in Washington, DC.
But for most families, bathing the baby two to three times a week is plenty after the first couple of weeks of life. In fact, we recommend delaying your newborn's first full bath for at least two weeks. Newborns shed about three layers of skin within their first week, which often surprises new parents.
Gently clean around the umbilical cord (the folds) every day until it drops off and the belly button is healed. Here are a few tips for cleaning the umbilical cord and keeping it dry: Gently clean the area with a cotton swab (Q-Tips®) soaked in warm water.
How long does it take for the belly button to heal after the umbilical cord falls off? The skin underneath the stump may be a little red when the dried stump first falls off, but it should soon heal—usually within two weeks. Speak to your healthcare provider if it doesn't heal in this timeframe.
What is a lotus birth? A lotus birth is the decision to leave your baby's umbilical cord attached after they are born. The umbilical cord remains attached to the placenta until it dries and falls off by itself.
The World Health Organization recommends that the umbilical cord not be clamped earlier than 1 minute after birth in term or preterm newborns. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also recommends deferring umbilical cord clamping for healthy term and preterm infants for at least 2 minutes after birth.
When dressing your newborn for bed, follow this rule of thumb: dress the infant in one additional layer than what you'd be comfortable wearing at night in that room. Consider a onesie, sleep sack, or lightweight swaddle in warmer months. In colder months, opt for a long-sleeved onesie or a heavier sleepsack or swaddle.
Most people who have an "outie" fall into one of two categories: either they were born with a tiny umbilical hernia, which is most likely, or had a small infection at the base of the umbilical cord that went unnoticed. This will cause unusual tissue called granulation tissue to form.
It is normal for the belly button to look a bit mucky or to have a red spot where the cord used to be. It can also be smelly and have some clear, sticky or brownish ooze that might leave a stain on your baby's nappy or clothes. This is part of the healing process, which may take up to seven days to mend completely.
The sebaceous glands release oil in the skin. If one of these glands in or near the belly button gets backed up or clogged with dirt and oil, a cyst may form under the skin. If the cyst is infected and leaking, a thick off-white to yellow discharge will often come from it.
You need to swab your navel with a cotton bud dipped in warm, soapy water or alcohol once a week. Make sure you dry the entire area thoroughly afterwards. Got an 'outie' belly button? Use a clean, soapy washcloth and make sure you get into all the folds.