The umbilical cord stump dries out during the first weeks after birth and falls off on its own. How long this takes varies from baby to baby. The basis of care comes down to a single sentence: keep it clean and dry.

How to care for it

  • Keep the umbilical area dry; if it gets wet, pat it dry with a clean cloth
  • Fold the waistband of the diaper so that it stays below the stump; do not cover it
  • Let air reach it and avoid tight clothing
  • Do not touch it without washing your hands

What should not be done

⚠ Coins, metal objects, oil, cream, powder, ash, coffee, toothpaste or herbal mixtures must not be applied to the umbilicus. Such practices carry a risk of infection and tetanus.

⚠ The stump must not be pulled off; wait for it to come away on its own.

⚠ The umbilical band must not be wrapped tightly; this delays healing and can make breathing difficult.

Signs of infection — seek care without delay

  • Redness and swelling around the umbilicus
  • Foul-smelling, yellow-green discharge
  • The baby crying when the area is touched
  • Fever, refusal to feed, listlessness
  • Bleeding from the umbilicus

Because infection can progress rapidly in a newborn, these findings should be evaluated immediately.

Umbilical hernia

After the stump falls off, a bulge that becomes more noticeable when the baby cries may appear in that area. The great majority of umbilical hernias close on their own. Tying a coin over it, taping it down or wrapping it tightly is of no benefit; evaluation by a doctor is sufficient.