How long does it take for a newborn’s belly button to heal?

How do I know if my baby’s belly button is healing properly?

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After your baby’s birth, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut. The part of the umbilical cord that’s still attached to your baby is the umbilical stump. Often the clamp is still attached to the stump. A midwife will remove the clamp before you and your baby leave hospital or at your home soon after birth.

During the first few days after birth, the stump gets darker, shrivels and eventually falls off to become your baby’s belly button. Sometimes this takes 1-2 weeks. While the stump is drying up and just after it falls off, you might notice some oozing around your 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 bit. This is part of the healing process.

Check with your GP or child and family health nurse if:

• you have any concerns about the umbilical stump or belly button area.

Wash your hands before cleaning the umbilical stump. Gently wash your baby’s umbilical stump and belly button area using water and a soft washcloth. Or you can use your hands to apply water, but avoid touching the umbilical stump as much as possible.

If the umbilical stump and belly button area gets wee or poo on it, wash off the wee or poo using clean water and a mild baby cleanser. You can ask your pharmacist or child and family health nurse to recommend a product if you’re not sure.

Make sure the stump dries properly after bathing. Also, the stump will dry and heal much faster if you expose it to air as much as possible. Try not to cover it with plastic pants and nappies. Fold nappies down and away from the stump if you can.

Never try to pull the stump off yourself, even if it looks like it’s ready to fall off.

After the stump has fallen off, keep the area clean and dry until the area heals completely. It helps to fold down the top of your baby’s nappy so that the belly button is exposed to air.

See your GP as soon as possible if you’re still seeing sticky liquid several days after the stump has fallen off, if your baby’s belly button area gets hot, red, discoloured or swollen, or if your baby has a fever or is otherwise unwell.

Once the umbilical stump has fallen off, some babies can develop an umbilical granuloma. This looks like a small pink, red or discoloured lump in the belly button area. Sometimes the lump might be oozing.

An umbilical granuloma might get better on its own, so keep the belly button area clean and dry. It’s also good to have your GP or child and family nurse look at the lump.

If your baby develops a bulge or swelling near the belly button, it might be an umbilical hernia. An umbilical hernia is often more noticeable when your baby cries or strains to do a poo. This usually isn’t dangerous, and it doesn’t hurt your baby.

An umbilical hernia will often go away between the ages of 3 and 5 years. It’s a good to have your GP or child and family health nurse look at the bulge.

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How long does a belly button take to heal a newborn?

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As the parent of a newborn, you’ll want to know about umbilical cord care, including how to keep your baby’s umbilical cord stump dry until it falls off, how to identify the signs of infection, and when to call your healthcare provider. Read on to learn about all this, and more.

The umbilical cord delivered nutrients and oxygen to your baby in the uterus. Soon after your baby is born, the cord is clamped and cut. Your baby won’t feel this as the umbilical cord has no nerves in it. The clamp is usually kept in place for 24 to 48 hours. It’s taken off once the leftover cord is dry and not bleeding anymore.

Once the clamp is removed, what will remain on your little one’s belly is a small stump. As the umbilical cord stump dries, shrivels, and hardens, it will go from a yellow color to a brownish-black. The umbilical cord stump usually falls off within a few weeks of your baby’s birth. Contact your baby’s healthcare provider if it hasn’t fallen off by the time your little one is 2 months old. In some cases, there may be an underlying cause for the umbilical cord stump not falling off, such as an infection or an immune system disorder, which your provider will investigate.

After the stump falls off, the skin underneath should be healed. Sometimes, the skin may be a little raw, and a little fluid may seep out. Continue to keep your little one’s belly button dry and clean, including if it’s an outie belly button and it should soon heal completely. Contact your healthcare provider if it hasn’t healed within two weeks of the stump falling off. The key is to keep the stump area clean and dry. It might be most convenient to clean your little one’s stump when you change her diaper or when you bathe her.

Aqui estão algumas umbilical cord care tips para seguir:

• Keep the umbilical cord stump clean and dry. Experts recommend “dry cord care,” which means allowing air to reach the cord stump and not covering it in water or ointments. You may have heard of dabbing rubbing alcohol on the stump, but nowadays experts tend to recommend just letting it be. Ask your healthcare provider for advice if you’re not sure what to do.
• Prevent irritation. Try to prevent your newborn’s diapers from rubbing against the stump by folding the top of the diaper down under the cord stump, or choosing a disposable diaper with a cutout notch at the top. Pampers Swaddlers have this feature, for example.
• Check for signs of infection. Clear liquid oozing from the stump, drops of blood, and scabbing can be normal, but if you notice any signs of an infected umbilical cord stump or if your baby has a fever, let your healthcare provider know right away.
• Don’t pick at the stump. Let the umbilical cord stump fall off on its own rather than picking or pulling it, even if it’s hanging off. It will fall off in due course.
• Keep an eye out for bleeding. A few drops of blood when the stump falls off is normal. If it bleeds any more than this, contact your baby’s healthcare provider.
• Don’t tape or cover the umbilical area.

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How long does a baby’s belly button bleed?

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A newborn’s belly button may bleed while the cord is falling off or shortly after it does. The umbilical cord supplies a fetus with nutrients from the mother. Once the baby is born, it no longer needs the umbilical cord to provide its nutrients, and so doctors cut the cord. Eventually, the cord dries out and falls off, leaving behind a belly button in its place.

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. Read on to find out why a newborn’s belly button may bleed, how to take care of the area, and when bleeding from a newborn’s belly button may need medical attention.

Most cases of belly button bleeding are natural. Many parents and caregivers may notice a small area of bleeding at the point where the newborn’s umbilical cord begins to separate from the body. Sometimes a newborn’s diaper or even a piece of clothing may rub against the umbilical cord. This can irritate the area and cause bleeding as well.

To stop a newborn baby’s belly button bleeding, hold a piece of clean gauze gently but firmly over the belly button area. A doctor should evaluate any bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure.

Caring for the umbilical cord stump properly can help prevent or reduce belly button bleeding. A new parent or caregiver can care for a newborn’s umbilical cord stump by:

• Keeping the area clean and dry
• Avoiding the use of alcohol on the stump
• Preventing clothing from rubbing against the area

While the stump is healing, avoid:

• Submerging the baby in water until the stump falls off
• Using tight clothing that may irritate the stump

However, it is not unusual for a baby’s umbilical cord to fall off as early as 1 week after birth or as late as 3 weeks after birth. It is typical for a baby’s umbilical cord to fall off before or after this time frame as well.

Most of the time, newborn belly button bleeding is normal. However, if the bleeding is hard to stop or if there is more than just a few drops of blood, take the baby to see a pediatrician. Also, a doctor needs to examine a newborn’s belly button if there are any signs of infection, including:

• Redness around the belly button
• Foul-smelling discharge
• Swelling or warmth

While a bleeding belly button can cause alarm to new parents, some newborn belly button bleeding is nothing to worry about. Slight bleeding from the umbilical cord stump is generally not serious and usually resolves within the first few weeks after birth.

In rare cases, newborn belly button bleeding can indicate the baby has an infection at the site of the umbilical cord stump. If a newborn shows any signs of infection, take the baby to the pediatrician immediately.

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How can I help my newborn’s belly button heal?

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After your baby is born, your midwife or doctor will clamp and then cut their umbilical cord. A small amount of the cord, about 2 to 3 cm long, will stay attached to your baby’s belly button. This is known as the cord stump. Over the next 7 to 14 days, the stump will get darker, dry out, shrivel and eventually fall off. A small wound will remain, which will heal and become your baby’s belly button.

Keep your baby’s cord stump clean and dry while it heals. When the cord stump falls off, you can throw it in the bin. Continue to wash your hands before you touch your baby’s belly button area, and keep the wound clean, dry and airy.

It’s normal for the belly button wound to look a bit mucky or to have a red spot where the cord used to be. It might smell or have a clear, sticky brownish ooze. This is part of the healing process and won’t cause your baby any pain.

To clean any ooze, wet a cotton bud with warm water and gently dab, making sure it doesn’t bleed. Use a new cotton bud each time and throw it away. It may take up to 7 days to heal completely.

See your GP if you notice:

• If you’re not sure whether to go to an emergency department, call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) and speak to a registered nurse.

Disclaimer: This information has been produced by healthcare professionals as a guideline only and is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your child’s doctor or healthcare professionals. Information is updated regularly, so please check you are referring to the most recent version. Seek medical advice, as appropriate, for concerns regarding your child’s health.

Last updated: December 2023

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What to put on baby belly button after cord falls off?

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Typically, your baby’s umbilical cord will detach by two weeks after birth. However, there are natural variations and this can happen earlier or later.

You’ve been peeping at your baby’s umbilical cord at every diaper change with a mixture of fascination and, well, a little disgust. After all, the little stump is a souvenir of the 9 months you spent with a special connection, even if it’s looking a little gross these days. Now that umbilical cord is about to fall off. You may wonder when it should happen and whether the blood or discharge you see is normal. Learn more about what to expect below.

You can expect the cord to fall off between 5 and 15 days after your baby is born. Around 2 weeks is the average amount of time, but sometimes the cord may fall off a little earlier or later. This is perfectly normal.

As you watch the shiny yellow cord turn gray-black, you may be tempted to wiggle the cord a little just to hurry things along, especially when it seems loose. Resist the temptation and let nature take the lead.

Until recently, parents were instructed to gently swab the umbilical cord area with 70% alcohol. And that’s still OK, particularly in areas with fewer resources and higher infection risk. But the winds of change have blown, and there’s good news for those who cringe about swabbing: Alcohol swabs are passé. Alcohol swabs may actually kill the industrious bacteria that help the cord to dry and detach. A 2016 study showed that best practice is to keep the area clean and dry. Here’s how to do that:

One fine diaper change, you’ll find out that the dried out umbilical cord has detached. Celebrate one of your baby’s first milestones and that adorable little belly button! Caring for the navel area is easy:

• Slight bleeding is perfectly normal. This is part of the healing process.
• You may also notice some pink scar tissue or a bit of clear yellow discharge. This is also perfectly normal.

Fortunately, the chances of an infected umbilical cord are very low. Only 1 out of 200 infants experience omphalitis (an infection of the umbilical stump and surrounding area). But doctors do suggest keeping a careful watch on your baby’s navel area anyway for the first few weeks after birth. This is especially true if your baby is a preemie or has low birth weight or the cord fell off early.

You may see a red lump where the cord fell off that could be covered in clear or yellow discharge. This is known as an umbilical granuloma. If you notice this, keep the area clean and dry and let your pediatrician know. Addressing the granuloma can help to prevent infection.

Also contact your pediatrician if you see any of the following symptoms:

Dry care for speedy umbilical cord detachment wins, hands down! The hands-off approach to cord care should give you a little more time to spend enjoying your time with your new arrival.

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How do you take care of a belly button after it falls off?

Keep the navel (belly button) clean and dry. If there are any secretions, clean them away. Use a wet cotton swab. Then, dry carefully.

How long should I wait to bathe my baby after the umbilical cord falls off?

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If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a new or expectant new parent and have questions about giving your baby their first bath. You may wonder:

• When is it safe to give my baby a bath?
• How old should my baby be for their first bath?
• Can I bathe with my newborn?
• Can I bathe my baby with their umbilical cord still intact?

These are just a few questions that I encounter while coaching new and expectant parents. The good news is that you’re in the right place! I’m here to help answer these questions and make your baby bathing experience more enjoyable.

As a Newborn Care Specialist, I’m honored to have worked with families from all over the world. Additionally, I have colleagues all over the world. Both of these things have taught me that what is conventional practice in the United States is not always conventional practice in other parts of the world.

In the US, the majority of newborn caregivers, nurses and pediatricians will teach new parents that the most optimal time to give a newborn their first bath is after the umbilical cord has fallen off. The theory here is that the umbilical cord could potentially become infected from the water or something in the bathing area. Being that the umbilical cord once provided nourishment directly from the mother to the infant, it’s possibly a direct route to the bloodstream. IF, it did become infected.

The other thing to consider is that an umbilical cord needs to dry up and be exposed to oxygen in order to fall off. Submerging it in water delays this process. Think of what happens with a scab or after surgery.

If you would like to research the possibility of bathing your baby with their umbilical cord still intact, research a “womb bath”. Just know that you need to be comfortable with your decision to bath your baby with their cord still intact. The risk of infection is there. At the same time, many parents bathe their baby’s in the first days with the umbilical cord still intact, with no problems.

When counseling my clients, I always encourage them to do their own research. I also explain the risks. The majority of families choose to wait until the cord has fallen off and utilize sponge baths.

There is no set age for bathing your newborn. Baby’s first bath is truly based more off of when their umbilical cord falls off. If you have a very low birth weight baby, your pediatrician may want you to wait to bathe them until they are a little bigger to help with temperature regulation. I have cared for many premature infants and never experienced this, but we are also very cognizant of the temperature in the bathing area and of the bath water with all infants.

Absolutely! Bathing with your baby is a wonderful experience for most new moms and dads. It is a great way to bond with your baby and another way you can encourage some additional ‘skin to skin’ time with them.

Just remember that babies are slippery when wet. It’s safest to have someone (partner or spouse) waiting outside of the…

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How to know if belly button is healed after umbilical cord falls off?

You may notice a red, raw-looking spot right after the stump falls off. A small amount of fluid sometimes tinged with blood may ooze out of the navel area. It is normal for this to last up to 2 weeks after the stump falls off. If it doesn’t heal or dry completely within 2 weeks, call your doctor.