Umbilical Cord Care

When you imagine snuggling your sweet, brand new baby, you probably don’t envision a hard, dried, blackish thing stuck right in the middle of their adorable little tummy. Yet, that’s exactly what will be there for the first week or two. Yep, I’m talking about the umbilical cord stump - what is left attached to your baby’s belly button after the umbilical cord is cut following birth.

For the first few hours after delivery, the remaining cord will still feel soft and almost squishy. But it dries and hardens quickly. And then it’s just the waiting time before it shrivels and falls off entirely. So how do you care for that umbilical cord stump until then? Read on to learn more.

Keep it Clean and Dry

Over a decade ago it was still the prevailing advice to apply a q-tip or cotton ball with rubbing alcohol on it to the umbilical cord stump in the belief that this would keep the site “clean” and encourage healing faster. But not anymore. This advice is considered out of date today. Currently, the American Academy of Pediatricians recommends that parents keep the umbilical cord stump clean and dry. Do not apply alcohol.

Instead, parents don’t need to do anything. Although the AAP currently states that a quick submersion bath should be fine as long as the cord site is dried off afterwards, some families may prefer to give their baby a sponge bath until the cord has shriveled and fallen off.

Avoid Irritants

Another thing to keep in mind is making sure that there is nothing rubbing against or irritating the umbilical cord stump, especially if it pulls the cord off before it is fully healed. Parents should fold the top of the diaper down below the stump site to keep it from rubbing but also also to keep urine away from the belly button site.

If you notice the dried umbilical cord beginning to come off or hanging from the belly button, do not pick at it. The umbilical cord should never be pulled off before it is ready. Instead, always allow the dried stump to fall off on its own. During this process, you may notice a little bit of blood around the edges (or even some dried blood on your baby’s onesie); this is normal and is not cause for concern.

Watch for Red Flags

There are however a few things to watch out for that are red flags when it comes to the healing of your baby’s umbilical cord site. If you notice any of the following, call your child’s pediatrician right away:

  • Redness or swelling at the site area

  • Profuse or continuous bleeding

  • Yellow/greenish pus

  • Foul smelling discharge

  • Baby is running a fever over 100.4 degrees Farenheit or higher

It might take a few weeks for the cord to fall off entirely. On average it is normally off and healed between 10-14 days. However, if your baby’s umbilical cord stump is still attached after three weeks, it is worth calling your doctor to ask if they have any concerns.

The dried up, black, crusty little umbilical stump is certainly not the cutest part of the newborn period. But it’s something every new parent encounters. And once that little stump is gone, be prepared to gaze upon the cutest little belly button you’ve probably ever seen. Because it’s your baby’s belly button!

Kelly Rutan