Diapers & daily care

Umbilical cord care

In the first days, the cord stump needs simple care: keep it clean, dry, and outside the diaper, then let it fall off on its own. Infection is uncommon, but spreading redness, foul drainage, fever, or an unwell newborn needs quick medical attention.

Full guide

The dated summary changes with the card you choose. The complete reference below stays available for context and safety.

What it may look like right now

A fresh stump may look shiny and yellowish. As it dries, it becomes smaller, firmer, and brown, gray, or nearly black. That color change is part of normal drying—not a reason to clean it off.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says routine rubbing alcohol is not needed, and the World Health Organization recommends keeping the cord dry without applying products such as ointment. Do not add peroxide, ointment, powder, oil, or another home product unless baby’s clinician gave a specific plan. See the AAP’s umbilical cord care guidance and the WHO newborn-care guidance.

What changes next

Over the next several days: the stump should become darker, drier, and more shriveled.
Over the first few weeks: it loosens and drops off. Let it separate naturally, even if it is hanging by a thread; the calendar is a guide, not a reason to pull.
After it falls: the center may look a little raw or red, form a small scab, or leave a few drops of blood. It should then become drier over the next several days; keep the diaper edge below it while it heals.

The AAP advises a doctor’s visit if the stump is still attached beyond 3 weeks. That follow-up does not by itself mean an emergency when baby otherwise seems well, but redness, tenderness, foul drainage, fever, or an unwell baby changes the urgency.

Reassuring signs

The stump is getting drier and smaller rather than wetter or swollen.
The surrounding belly skin keeps its usual color, with no redness spreading outward.
There is no foul smell, pus-like drainage, or tenderness around the base.
After separation, a tiny blood spot or scab dries instead of repeatedly refilling with blood.
Baby feeds and wakes in their usual newborn pattern and does not seem ill.

When to call or get help

Call the pediatrician

The stump is still attached at about 3 weeks.
After it falls off, there is a moist red or brown bump, or light-yellow drainage continues. This may be an umbilical granuloma, which a clinician can check.
You are unsure whether a hospital or discharge instruction changes routine dry care.

Get prompt medical advice

Redness spreads from the belly button, or the nearby skin is swollen or tender.
There is foul-smelling yellow drainage, pus, or pain that makes baby cry when the area is touched.
Bleeding is active—another drop appears each time one is wiped away.
There is a large amount of fluid, or drainage looks like urine.

These can be signs of infection or another cord problem. Cord infection can spread quickly, so do not wait for a routine visit. The AAP lists redness, foul yellow drainage, and tenderness as infection signs; its umbilical cord symptom checker says spreading redness needs care now and lots of drainage needs medical advice within 24 hours.

Get urgent help now

Seek urgent medical care now if a cord concern comes with a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, poor feeding, unusual difficulty waking, weakness, or a floppy body. MedlinePlus advises immediate contact for these signs because a newborn cord infection can become serious quickly. Read its newborn umbilical cord warning signs. A webpage cannot assess an unwell newborn.

Usually not a worry

A dark, hard stump: brown, gray, or black usually means it is drying.
Hanging by a thread: leave it alone; pulling can restart bleeding.
A few drops of blood: a small spot around separation can be normal if it stops and dries.
A small scab or briefly raw center: this can appear as the navel closes.

Spreading redness, foul odor, pus, repeated bleeding, or a baby who seems unwell changes the advice—contact a clinician rather than giving the area more time.

Useful today

At one diaper change, notice whether the stump is dry and whether the nearby skin has its usual color.
Fold the clean diaper below the stump and choose loose clothing that does not rub it.
Set up a sponge bath instead of putting baby in a tub; gently clean and dry the stump only if it gets soiled.
If you call, describe the redness, odor, drainage, bleeding, temperature, feeding, and alertness; a photo in good light may help the care team.