What to Expect: The belly button should be healed and dry by 7 days. Call Your Doctor If: Develops a red streak or redness around belly button.
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.
Once the stump falls off, feel free to bathe your baby in his pint-sized tub. Diaper delicately. Avoid covering the stump with the top of his diaper. Some newborn-size disposables feature a little notch at the waistband, or you can simply fold down the front of the diaper to keep it from rubbing the stump area.
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.
After the cord has fallen off, the navel will gradually heal. It's normal for the center to look red at the point of separation. It's not normal if the redness spreads on to the belly. It's normal for the navel to ooze some secretions.
Once the umbilical cord has fallen off and the belly button has healed, you can give your baby her first real bath. The basic principles of warmth and comfort still apply, and supplies should still be within reach. Aim for an every-other-day bath; a daily bath is more apt to dry your baby's delicate skin.
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.
The stump should dry and fall off by the time your baby is 5 to 15 days old.
There are no nerve endings in your baby's cord, so it doesn't hurt when it is cut.
If you spot pus, bleeding, swelling, or discoloration, call your doctor right away. When the belly button has totally healed, the stump will easily fall off on its own. Some parents save the stump as a nostalgic reminder of the baby's connection to mom.
While the stump is drying up and just after it falls off, you might notice some oozing around baby's belly button. This might be clear, sticky or brownish, and it might leave a mark on your baby's clothes or nappy. It might also smell a little. This is part of the healing process.
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.
Some parents bathe their babies daily as part of a bedtime routine or due to regular baby messes, from extra spit-up to diaper blowouts. But for most families, bathing the baby two to three times a week is plenty after the first couple of weeks of life.
6 to 12 months
Once baby becomes mobile and starts eating solids, you may decide you need to begin bathing them more frequently. While they still only really need one to two soapy baths per week, you can either give them a sponge bath or put them in the tub to soak and rinse off more frequently as messes arise.
You can bath your baby at any time of the day. It's a good idea to pick a time when you're relaxed and you won't be interrupted. And it's best to avoid bathing your baby when baby is hungry or straight after a feed. If bathing relaxes your baby, you can use it as a way to settle your baby for sleep in the evening.
When a piercing is new, it's normal to see some swelling, redness, or discoloration around the site. You may also have some clear discharge that dries and forms a crystal-like crust around the piercing. These symptoms should get better over time.
The stump of a newborn's umbilical cord is usually yellowish green at birth. As the stump dries out and eventually falls off — usually within two weeks after birth — it'll change to brown to black. In the meantime, keep the stump clean and dry.
Sometimes the belly button does not heal completely and moist red tissue forms over the stump site, often with a lump present. This is called a 'granuloma'. It is usually harmless, but you should ask your doctor or child and family nurse to have a look at it.
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.
Belly Button Piercing Aftercare. Unlike pierced ears, which take 4-6 weeks to heal, your belly button may not fully heal for up to 1 year. You'll go home with tips on how to keep your new piercing clean and prevent infection.
Most newborns spend most of their time asleep – they sleep 14-17 hours in every 24 hours. It's common for newborns to sleep in short bursts of 2-3 hours between feeds, both night and day. Also, newborns need to feed every 2-4 hours. And they need your attention during the day and night.
In general, I would say that by the age of 8 or 9 years-10 at the latest-most children have developed enough of a sense of personal boundaries and body space that they no longer want to shower with a parent or bathe with a sibling of the opposite sex.
Bathing before a feeding often works well. Many parents prefer to bathe their baby in the evening, as part of the bedtime ritual. This works well especially if bath time is relaxing and soothing for the baby. Sponge baths are needed at first.