Infant Gear

• After birth, the umbilical cord is no longer needed, so it’s clamped and snipped. This leaves behind a short stump of tissue that is attached to your baby’s navel. The umbilical cord stump gradually dries and shrivels, changing color from yellowish green to brown to black, until it falls off, usually between 1 and 2 weeks after birth.
• During the healing process, it’s important to treat the navel area gently and to keep the umbilical cord stump and surrounding skin clean and dry.
• To keep the area clean, gently clean your baby’s umbilical cord stump and the surrounding skin at least once a day or as needed during diaper changes or baths. Soak a cotton swab in warm water and mild soap. Squeeze out the excess water, then gently wipe around the sides of the stump and the surrounding skin. Wipe away any wet, sticky, or dirty substances. Gently pat the area dry with a soft cloth. After the umbilical cord stump falls off, continue cleaning around the navel at least once a day until the navel has completely healed.
• To keep the area dry, keep your baby’s diaper folded below the umbilical cord stump to keep the stump exposed to air. Bathe your baby carefully, preferably using sponge baths. In a regular bath, keep the umbilical cord stump above the water level until it falls off and heals.
• Let the umbilical cord stump fall off naturally. Don’t try to pull the cord stump off, even if it is hanging on by only a thread.

Excerpted with permission from “Canada’s Pregnancy Care Book” by Dr. Michèle Farrugia, Dr. Jacqueline Thomas and Dr. Paul Bernstein (Robert Rose Inc, 2009)

Image: Courtesy Benjamin Earwicker, stock.xchng.hu