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How to care for baby especially the umbilical cord? This is the most crucial part that all parents MUST know. I came across this problem when one of my neighbors has his baby hospitalize for not properly nursing her baby umbilical code and I thought of sharing the tips with you. There you go, another important baby caring procedure…

After your newborn umbilical cord is cut, a small stump will remain that will need to be cleaned and cared for until it falls off. This usually takes place after 1 to 2 weeks.

Healing takes place quickly when the cord is kept clean and dry. You can clean the cord by gently rubbing a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol over the cord and surrounding area. Do this at every other diaper change, and be sure to fold your baby’s diaper down slightly to prevent rubbing and irritation. You can also buy special newborn diapers that have a crescent cut out of the top just for this purpose.

Don’t worry if you see a little bit of discharge or dried blood in the area. This is perfectly normal unless the area is consistently reddened or the discharge has a foul smell. In that case, call your doctor for an appointment so you can make sure there isn’t any infection.

Until the umbilical stump falls off, you will want to stick to sponge baths so that the cord doesn’t become too wet. After it has fallen off, you can begin taking regular baths in a baby tub or sink.

Please bear in mind that baby’s umbilical code is very sensitive and you have to be extra careful. Hygiene is very important, before you handle your baby, make sure you clean your hand with soap and warm water. This is to prevent germs from entering the umbilical code. Failure to do this, will see your baby fall sick.