If the stump gets poo or wee on it, wash it off with clean water, or soap as needed. Make sure you gently pat it dry and allow some time to air dry it. Don't pull on the cord; it will fall off by itself.
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.
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).
Keep your baby's healing umbilical cord clean and dry by dipping a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and applying it to the base of the cord two to three times a day. You can lift the cord to make sure you're thoroughly cleaning the base properly.
Signs of an Infected Umbilical Cord Stump
A smelly yellow discharge from the stump area. A reddening of the skin around the stump. Swelling of the navel area. Your baby crying when you touch the stump, indicating it is tender or sore.
World Health Organization advocates for dry umbilical cord care and application of topical antiseptics in situations where hygienic conditions are poor or infection rates are high (3, 6). However the Nigerian government recommends the use of Methylated spirit or chlorhexidine solution for cord care (7, 8).
You can safely tub bathe your baby after birth and before the cord falls off. Your baby may be bathed every two to three days with mild baby bathing products. Bathing often can dry your baby's skin. Spot clean areas such as baby's chin and mouth, neck folds, diaper area and creases of the groin each day.
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. Do not put your baby in a tub of water until the stump has fallen off.
It does not cause your baby any pain. Continue to keep your baby's belly button area clean and dry by washing with plain water when in the bath and patting it dry. Keep folding your baby's nappy down and allow some time to air dry it.
Use a cotton swab or washcloth dampened with water (and soap if you must) to wipe away any blood or secretions. Don't worry — a few drops of blood and clear secretions are totally fine. The area is healing. Dab the area dry.
After the cord stump has fallen off, keep the area clean and dry until the area heals completely. It helps to fold the top of your baby's nappy down so that the belly button is exposed to air.
Once the stump falls off, you can give your baby a proper bath. You don't have to clean the belly button any more or less than the rest of baby's body.
During your baby's first few weeks, while the umbilical cord stump is still attached, you should only give sponge baths. A sponge bath is as simple as wrapping your baby in a towel, and wiping her with a damp washcloth and soapy water. You'll want to do this on a comfortable surface such as a changing table.
Don't use salt treatment or any other home treatment on your baby's umbilical stump before seeking professional advice, though. Your health visitor will want to take a good look at your baby's umbilical stump, to see how it's healing.
Don't put your baby in the tub for a few weeks after he or she is born. 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.
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.
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.
Povidone-iodine (Betadine) is another common topical antimicrobial used for umbilical cord care.
On the basis of a Cochrane review1 and other several studies,8–12 WHO recommends daily chlorhexidine (7.1% chlorhexidine digluconate aqueous solution or gel, delivering 4% chlorhexidine) application to the UC stump during the 1st week of life for newborns who are born at home in settings with high neonatal mortality ( ...
Dip a cotton swab in warm water. Squeeze the tip to remove the excess water. Gently clean around the base of the cord and then the surrounding skin, then hold the stump with a clean absorbent cloth to dry it completely. It is important that the umbilical cord remain clean and dry until it falls off naturally.
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.
At first, the stump might look shiny and yellow. But as it dries out, it may turn brown or gray or even purplish or blue. It'll shrivel and turn black before it falls off on its own. Usually, it comes off between 10 and 14 days after your baby is born, but can take as long as 21 days.
A jelly-like substance surrounds the cord. After childbirth, your provider will clamp the cord and then cut it, leaving a stump (umbilicus) behind. Between one to three weeks, the stump dries up and falls off. As the stump dries, it shrinks and changes in color from yellowish-green to brown to black before falling off.
Your baby should do it often each day. Start tummy time soon after birth. In the first few weeks, try tummy time for 1-2 minutes, 2-3 times a day. Your baby can build up to 10-15 minutes, several times a day.