Is it normal for a newborns umbilical cord to smell

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Top of the page. Topic Overview After the umbilical cord is cut at birth, a stump of tissue remains attached to your baby's belly button navel. Cleaning Keeping the area clean and dry You can help your baby's umbilical cord stump fall off and heal faster by keeping it dry. Keep your baby's diaper folded below the umbilical cord stump. If folding does not work well, try cutting out an area in the front of the diaper before you put it on your baby to keep the stump exposed to air.

It also helps prevent diaper contents, such as urine, from irritating the stump. Many baby baths are gently sloped. This helps you position your baby for a bath. Knowing what to expect Most umbilical cord stumps look worse than they really are. Right after birth, an umbilical cord stump usually looks white and shiny and may feel slightly damp. As the stump dries and heals, it may look brown, grey, or even black. This is normal.

Usually no problems will develop as long as you keep the area clean and dry. The umbilical cord stump usually falls off in 1 or 2 weeks. Sometimes the stump falls off before the first week. Once the draining stops, the gauze is removed and the wound will heal from the bottom up. Dry care involves keeping the cord dry and exposing it to air to help keep it free from infection. According to research published in the journal Medicine, dry cord care compared to using an antiseptic is a safe, easy, and effective way to help prevent cord infection in healthy babies born in hospitals in developed areas.

While not care tips per se, other strategies may also help reduce risk for umbilical cord infection, such as having skin-to-skin contact or breastfeeding your baby. By placing your bare-chested baby against your own bare chest, known as skin-to-skin contact, you can expose your baby to normal skin bacteria. Breastfeeding allows you to pass antibodies substances that can help fight disease to your baby, which can help their immune systems develop and strengthen.

In the United States, United Kingdom, and many other countries, umbilical cord infections are rare in healthy, full-term babies born in hospitals. But cord infections can happen, and when they do, they can become life-threatening if not caught and treated early. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice red, tender skin around the cord or pus draining from the stump.

You should also contact a doctor if your baby develops a fever or other signs of infection. Your baby has the best shot at a full recovery if treatment is started promptly. Though vaccines for younger children are now available, they may not be fully protected in time for holiday celebrations this year. Here are ways you…. Experts say there a number of ways to reduce children's screen time as the COVID pandemic subsides. They suggest outside activities and timers.

Toxic masculinity has proven consequences. Here's one dad's take on how to raise boys to be emotionally healthy. Parenting isn't easy, and parental burnout can make it even harder to take care of yourself and your kids. 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. 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.

Until the stump falls off and your baby's belly button heals, it's best to stick with sponge bathing so that you avoid soaking the stump in water.

You don't need to sponge bathe your baby every day; two or three times a week is usually enough. You may wish to use sponge bath time to gently clean the umbilical cord stump as well. Lay your baby down on a padded flat surface — like the changing pad on the changing table, or on the floor on a soft towel — with your supplies within reach.

Never leave your baby unattended during the sponge bath; if she's on a raised surface, such as the changing table, keep the safety strap fastened and a hand on her at all times. Keep your little one covered in a towel so she doesn't become chilled, exposing only the parts of the body that are being washed. Start with her face, using the damp washcloth but no soap so that you don't get soap in her eyes.