#AskAlynn: How do I care for my newborn's umbilical cord?

​The baby has been attached to you for 9 months and through this cord came the sustenance that baby needed for development. Now, baby is her own person with a name and mama has got her belly back. That cord is now a few inches of dying flesh attached to your baby's soon-to-be belly button. 

The cord will fall off generally within the first 7-14 days of life. 
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Cord Care

Clean

• Baby should be taking sponge baths until the cord falls off because the stump should not be soaked in water. 
• Isopropyl alcohol should NOT be used to clean the stump as it is too irritating to the skin around the stump.
• There is no need to put anything on the cord to speed healing.

Dry

• Keep baby in loose clothing or a t-shirt (weather permitting) so that the cord is exposed to the air.
• Have baby wear newborn diapers with a cutout for the cord, or fold down their diapers.

​Signs of Infection

• redness around the base 
• leaking yellow pus
• continues to bleed
• really foul smelling
• baby seems to be in pain

If your baby's cord stump has any of the above symptoms, call TeleHealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 or your healthcare provider.

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