How to Care for the Cord – 2 Weeks until…

If you are an expectant parent, you will be anticipating carrying home your new born baby. Your first few weeks with your baby will be great, as the experience will be filled with awe and wonder. There is just so much joy that you will get from cuddling, holding and feeding your new born baby. However, you should be mindful that you will have to deal with the unsightly view of the umbilical cord stump that will still be attached to your new born baby. In dealing with your newborn’s umbilical cord stump, you will have to give special care and attention to the cord, so that it heals correctly and quickly. The cord will shrivel and dry up until it gradually falls off between one to two weeks. However, caring for your baby’s cord is not usually a difficult procedure, once you are aware of some simple techniques.

Let’s look at some simple techniques in caring for your baby’s umbilical cord. Firstly, you should try to keep the cord stump and surrounding skin dry and clean. The idea here is to prevent the area from being infected, as well as encourage the cord to fall off, so that the navel can heal quicker. You should try to gently clean your baby’s umbilical cord stump and the surrounding skin at least once per day. Also, you should ensure that the area is thoroughly cleaned during diaper changes or baths.

To effectively clean your baby’s cord and the surrounding skin, you can soak a cotton swab in mild soap and warm water, then squeeze out all the excess water and then proceed to gently wipe around the sides of the stump, as well as the surrounding skin. A good idea is to use some rubbing alcohol instead of mild soap and water. Do ensure that you apply a gentle lotion to the sensitive skin surrounding the stump. The use of alcohol as a cleaning agent for your baby’s cord is also recommended by doctors. By consistently wiping away any sticky, wet or dirty substance can do wonders too. Additionally, you should gently pat dry the area with a soft cloth and in a matter of two weeks the cord will fall off, but you should continue cleaning the area at least once per day until the navel is completely healed.

Another way to care for your baby’s cord so that it falls off and heal faster, is keeping the area nice and dry between cleanings. You can keep the area dry by folding your baby’s diaper below the umbilical cord stump or by cutting out a nice area directly in the front of the diaper, so that the cord stump is exposed to the air. This will also prevent the diaper contents like urine from infecting the stump. When you bathe your baby, you should exercise caution, so as not to let the water seep into or on the area where the cord is located. Therefore, it is a wise idea to give your baby sponge baths until the cord falls off and the area is healed. If you see any signs of infection, or any other problems like swelling, too much moistness or bulging tissue around the navel you should contact you baby’s doctor immediately, for monitoring of the situation.