At a glance
- The cord stump dries, shrivels and usually falls off between 1 and 3 weeks of age.
- Keep it clean and dry; there is no need to put alcohol on it.
- Fold the diaper down below the stump so urine does not soak it.
- Give sponge baths, not tub baths, until the stump has fallen off.
- A few drops of blood as it separates are normal; bleeding that keeps going needs a call now.
- Red skin at the base, yellow smelly discharge or crying when touched can mean infection.
- See the doctor if the stump is still attached after 3 weeks.
What normal healing looks like
After birth the clamped cord leaves a short stump. Over the next days it dries out, shrinks and hardens until it drops off.
Most stumps fall off by 1 to 2 weeks, and nearly all by about 3 weeks. Let it come off by itself, even when it hangs by a thread.
A few spots of blood on the diaper around the time it separates are expected. Pulling it off early can make it bleed more.
Daily cord care
- Leave the stump open to the air so it can dry.
- If it gets dirty, wipe it with plain water and clean gauze, then pat it dry.
- Alcohol, powders and creams are not needed.
- Fold the top of the diaper down so the stump stays outside it.
- Use sponge baths until the stump falls off, and never leave a baby alone near bath water.
- Do not tape a coin or band over the navel; it does not help and can cause a rash.
The cord stump, from birth to healed
- Birth until it falls offKeep it dry, fold the diaper down, sponge baths only.
- 1 to 3 weeksThe stump falls off; a few drops of blood are normal.
- About 1 week laterAny moist lump (granuloma) should be gone; if not, see the doctor.
- After 3 weeksStump still attached: book a visit.
- 12 to 18 monthsMost bulging navels (hernias) have closed on their own.
Bleeding, oozing and umbilical granuloma
If the stump or navel bleeds actively, or keeps bleeding, call the doctor straight away.
Sometimes a small, moist pink or reddish lump stays in the navel after the stump falls off. This granuloma may ooze light-yellow fluid and usually goes away in about a week.
If it is still there after that, the doctor can dry it out with a quick, painless chemical treatment in the office.
Normal healing, granuloma or infection?
- Dry, shrinking stump
- A few drops of blood at separation
- Keep it clean and dry
- Small moist pink lump after the stump falls
- Light-yellow ooze, no fever
- See the doctor if not gone in a week
- Redness spreading around the base
- Smelly yellow pus, pain when touched
- Needs a doctor the same day
Signs of infection and when to get help
- Call 911 or your local emergency number if your baby is very hard to wake, limp, struggling to breathe, or turning blue or gray.
- A baby under 3 months with a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher needs a doctor right away.
- Poor feeding, unusual sleepiness or a floppy baby together with a red or oozing cord needs care now.
- Call the doctor the same day for redness at the base or spreading onto the belly, swelling, or crying when the area is touched.
- Yellow, cloudy or foul-smelling drainage from the cord also needs a call the same day.
- Book a visit if the stump is still attached after 3 weeks or a moist lump is still there after about a week.
Cord care: when to get help
- Call 911 nowVery hard to wake, limp, struggling to breathe, or blue or gray color.
- Get seen nowFever of 100.4°F (38°C), poor feeding or floppiness, or bleeding that will not stop.
- Call the same dayRed or swollen skin around the cord, smelly yellow drainage, or pain when touched.
- Book a visitStump on after 3 weeks, or a moist lump lasting more than a week.
- Care at homeDry stump, a few spots of blood as it separates, baby feeding well.
A bulging belly button (umbilical hernia)
Some navels push outward when the baby cries or strains. This is a small gap in the belly muscle, and it is not serious.
Most close on their own in the first 12 to 18 months. Surgery is only considered if the gap is still open at about 3 to 5 years.
Common questions
When does the umbilical cord stump fall off?
Usually between 1 and 3 weeks after birth. If it is still attached at 3 weeks, have the doctor take a look.
Should I clean the cord stump with alcohol?
No. The AAP advises plain dry care; only wipe off dirt with water and let the stump air-dry.
Can I bathe my newborn before the cord falls off?
Yes, with a sponge bath. Wait to put your baby in a tub of water until the stump has come off.
Is it normal for the belly button to bleed when the cord falls off?
A little spotting on the diaper is expected. Steady bleeding that does not stop is not, so call the doctor right away.
What does an infected umbilical cord look like?
The skin around it turns red and swollen, the area is tender, and there may be cloudy, bad-smelling discharge. Fever or poor feeding with these signs makes it urgent.
Why does my baby's belly button stick out when crying?
That is usually an umbilical hernia, a harmless gap in the belly wall. It most often closes by itself before age 2.
Sources
- AAP — Umbilical Cord Care in Newborns
- AAP — 11 Common Conditions in Newborns
- AAP — Bathing Your Baby
- NIH MedlinePlus — Umbilical cord care in newborns
Written for Pedemy in our own words from the sources above; checked October 2026. For education only, not medical advice. Pedemy is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the organizations cited.