Cleanliness of the Umbilical Cord

Did You Know?

Your baby will have a stump in their belly button where their umbilical cord was cut after birth. It starts to dry and eventually shrivel and separate from the baby's tummy between 7 to 10 days.

When caring for a baby's belly button:

☆ Wash your hands, use water to wash- no need for soaps or creams- best to keep dry.

☆Inspect for any redness around the site

☆Try not to cover stump with nappy as it can make it moist/hot. To do this, place nappy on baby then fold down the top of the front of the nappy so that the belly button area is uncovered.

☆Never try to pull off the stump yourself, even if it looks like it is about to fall off itself.

Plunket.

For more information check out Plunket or with your maternal child and health nurse.

https://www.plunket.org.nz/caring-for-your-child/hygiene-and-daily-care/skin-cleaning-and-bathing/umbilical-cord-belly-button