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. You can use the corner of a washcloth to clean in the belly button, but you don’t need to use soap or to scrub too hard.
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. If the belly button has some ooze, you can wet a cotton bud with warm water to gently clean it, ensuring it doesn’t bleed.
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.
Gently wipe his navel with a wet washcloth that has a few drops of soap and rinse. This daily practice can prevent dirt from accumulating in your baby’s navel. Don’t forget to make sure the inside is thoroughly dry (use a cotton swab). A moist belly button can be a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.
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.
How long will it take for the belly button to heal? After the stump falls off there will be a small wound. It may take between seven days and 10 days for the area to heal completely . You may see a little blood spot on your baby’s nappy.
If your baby has a bulge around the bellybutton, they may have an umbilical hernia. Before the umbilical cord falls off, you may notice that the area seems to stick out a little more when the baby cries. Or maybe, once the cord is gone, you see that their navel sticks out (an “outie,” as it’s commonly called).
Antibiotic Ointment for Pus:
- If any pus is present, use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin).
- No prescription is needed.
- Put a tiny amount on the belly button.
- Do this 2 times per day after the area has been cleaned.
- Do this for 2 days. After that, use the antibiotic ointment only if you see more pus.
It’s normal for your baby’s belly button to have a little brown pigment inside it, even after the cord falls off completely. Umbilical cord stumps rarely become infected. However, if you notice swelling, pus, redness, or a strong odor around the navel, see your baby’s pediatrician.
The best way to care for an umbilical cord stump is to keep it clean and dry until it falls off on its own. To keep it clean, you don’t need to wash it regularly. Instead, you should avoid getting it dirty. Keeping the stump dry is the best way to promote healthy healing and a natural break off.
A newborn’s belly button may bleed while the cord is falling off or shortly after it does. Most often, newborn belly button bleeding is not a cause for concern but a regular part of the healing process. Occasionally though, it can signal a problem. The umbilical cord supplies a fetus with nutrients from the mother.
Does it hurt baby when umbilical cord stump falls off?
There are no nerve endings in your baby’s cord, so it doesn’t hurt when it is cut. What’s left attached to your baby is called the umbilical stump, and it will soon fall off to reveal an adorable belly button.