Published - February 5 Last Updated: February 5, 2026
On day five, my daughter's umbilical cord stump smelled weird and had
yellowish oozing. My wife and I looked at each other in full panic mode.
Convinced it was infected, I called the pediatrician. She took one look and
said, "Perfectly normal healing." Nobody tells you that healing cord
stumps are gross. Here's what's normal—and what's truly concerning—when it
comes to umbilical cord care.
Umbilical cord care is one of the simplest parts of newborn care once you
know the rules. The cord stump dries, shrinks, and falls off on its own. Your
job is mostly to stay out of the way. But knowing what to watch for—and what
not to do—makes the difference between calm and panicked.
What to Expect After Birth
Understanding what happens with the cord after birth, including delayed
clamping benefits, helps you know what's normal from day one.
Cord Clamping and Cutting
At birth, the cord is clamped in two places and cut between them. A small
plastic clamp stays on the baby's end. This clamp is usually removed within 24
hours, leaving behind a cord stump roughly the size of your thumbnail.
Delayed cord clamping (waiting 1-3 minutes before cutting) is increasingly
common and recommended. It allows more blood to flow to the baby. Your hospital
will handle this—just know it's beneficial if offered.
What the Cord Stump Looks Like
Right after cutting, the stump is -
- Greenish-yellow
or bluish white
- Moist and
slightly ru
- About 1-2 centimetres long
Over the next 1-3 weeks, it will gradually dry, shrivel, and darken to
brown or black. This is exactly what umbilical cord care is designed to
support.
Normal Heaery
- Days 1-3 - Stump is
moist, yellowish green. Clamp removed.
- Days 3-7 - Stump begins
drying. Colour darkens brown.
- Days 7-14 - Stump is dry,
dark brown or black, shrivelling.
- Days 14-21 - Stump falls
off (sometimes up to 4 weeks).
- Days after
falling off -A small raw spot heals within a few days.
Daily Cord Care
Proper umbilical cord care is genuinely simple. The main rule:
keep it clean and dry.
Keep It Clean and Dry
Modern recommendation - dry cord care. No alcohol swabs, no ointments, no
powders. Just air.
Why does dry care work better -
- Alcohol was
used historically, but it slows healing
- Keeping it dry
promotes faster drying and separation
- Less
intervention = less risk of irritation
If the stump gets dirty (spit-up, diaper leak), gently clean
with a cotton ball dampened with lukewarm water. Pat dries immediately. That's
it.
Fold Down Diapers
Proper diapering technique with a cord includes folding
the front down to keep urine away from the healing site.
How -
- Fold the
waistband of the diaper down below the cord stump
- Or use newborn
diapers with the pre-cut notch for the cord
- This prevents
urine from sitting on the stump and slowing healing
Air Exposure Benefits
Air helps the cord dry faster. Give the stump as much airtime as you can.
Easy ways -
- Roll the diaper
down during diaper-free time
- Leave baby's
belly exposed during tummy time (supervised)
- Don't cover
with clothing when not necessary
- Loose, cotton
clothing allows airflow
What NOT to Do
- Don't use
alcohol swabs (outdated advice—slows healing)
- Don't apply
petroleum jelly or ointment (traps moisture)
- Don't pull or
twist the stump, even if it looks ready to come off
- Don't cover
tightly with bandages or clothing
- Don't submerge
in water until the cord has fallen off and healed
- Don't use baby
powder anywhere near the cord
Bathing with Umbilical Cord
Umbilical cord care and bath time intersect in one simple rule: sponge
baths only until the cord is completely gone.
Master the sponge bath technique to keep your baby
clean while protecting the healing cord stump. Wipe baby down with a damp
washcloth, section by section—avoiding the belly button area entirely. Pat
everything dry before moving on to the next section.
When Tub Baths Are Safe
Wait until -
1. The cord stump has fallen off completely
2. The belly button area is dry and healed (usually 2-3 days after falling
off)
3. Any circumcision has also healed
Once both conditions are met, full tub baths are safe. There's no need to
rush—a few extra days of sponge baths won't hurt anyone.
When the Cord Falls Off
What You'll See
The cord stump doesn't snap off cleanly. It gradually loosens and hangs
by a thread before dropping off—sometimes in the baby's diaper, sometimes on the baby's
shirt. Don't worry about missing it. It's just a tiny dried piece of tissue.
Right where the cord was, you'll see a small, raw-looking spot.
It might be:
- Slightly red or
pink
- A tiny bit
moist
- Occasionally
spotted with a drop of blood
All of this is normal. The area heals within a few days.
A Small Amount of Bleeding Is Normal
When the cord falls off, a few drops of blood on the spot is completely
expected. Think of it like a scab coming off a small scrape.
If bleeding occurs -
- Press lightly using a sterile, dry piece of gauze
- Hold for 1-2
minutes
- Don't apply
ointment or bandage unless the doctor advises
Call your doctor if - Bleeding doesn't stop after 10 minutes of gentle
pressure, or if it's more than a few drops.
Signs of Infection
Around the cord site, distinguishing normal from concerning skin changes is
critical for catching infections early.
Normal vs. Concerning
Normal during healing -
- Mild oozing
(clear or slightly yellow)
- Mild musty
smell (cord is drying tissue)
- Slight redness
immediately around the stump base
- It’s normal to see a slight trace of bleeding
when the umbilical cord detaches.
Concerning—call pediatrician -
- Redness
spreading outward from the cord onto the surrounding skin
- Warmth in the
area
- Pus or thick
discharge
- Strong, foul
smell
- Stump that's
bleeding more than a few drops
- Baby has a
fever (100.4°F or higher)
Know when to seek immediate care for umbilical cord
concerns versus what can wait until office hours. Spreading redness with fever
is an emergency—don't wait.
Special Situations
Umbilical Granuloma
Sometimes after the cord falls off, a small, pink, moist bump of tissue
forms at the belly button. This is called an umbilical granuloma.
What it is - Extra tissue that formed during healing. Looks like a tiny pink or red
pebble. May ooze slightly.
Treatment - Usually harmless. The doctor may treat it with silver nitrate (a quick,
painless office procedure) or suggest applying petroleum jelly to protect it.
Most resolve within weeks.
Not an emergency, but worth mentioning at your next pediatrician visit.
Umbilical Hernia
A small, soft bulge around the belly button that gets bigger when the baby
cries or strains. It can feel like a tiny
pocket of air beneath the skin
The facts -
- Very common
(especially in premature babies)
- Harmless
- Usually closes
on its own by age 1-2
- No treatment is
needed unless it's still present after age 2
Call the doctor if - The bulge becomes hard, painful, or cannot be pushed back
gently.
Delayed Cord Separation (After 3 Weeks)
Most cords fall off within 1-3 weeks. Up to 4 weeks is still normal. If
the cord hasn't fallen off for 6 weeks, contact your pediatrician.
Delayed separation can occasionally indicate an immune system issue that needs
evaluation.
Circumcision and Cord Care Combined
If your son was circumcised, you're managing two healing sites at once.
Here's how to juggle both.
Cord stump - Keep dry, fold the diaper below it, air exposure.
Circumcision site - Apply petroleum jelly (or the gauze provided) to
prevent it from sticking to the diaper. Change diapers frequently. Don't bathe
until both sites are healed.
The good news - Both heal on similar timelines (1-3 weeks), so you're not in sponge-bath
mode forever. Umbilical cord care and circumcision care are both
hands-off once you understand the basics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I clean the cord with alcohol?
No. Current guidelines recommend dry cord care—just keep it clean and
dry. Alcohol was used historically, but it slows the drying and healing
process. If the stump gets dirty, clean gently with a damp cotton ball, and pat
dry immediately.
When should the umbilical cord fall off?
Typically, 1-3 weeks after birth, though up to 4 weeks is still
normal. Every baby heals at their own pace. If it hasn't fallen off by 6 weeks,
contact your pediatrician for evaluation.
Is it normal for the cord to smell?
A mild musty smell is normal as the cord dries—it is, after all,
drying tissue. A strong, foul smell combined with redness, warmth, or discharge
indicates possible infection. Call your doctor to say if that combination
appears.
What if the cord is bleeding after it falls off?
A small amount of blood (a few drops) is completely normal—like a scab
coming off. Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze for 1-2 minutes. If bleeding
is heavy or doesn't stop after 10 minutes, call your pediatrician.
Can I give my baby a real bath before the cord falls off?
No. Stick to sponge baths until the cord has fallen off AND the belly
button area is completely dry and healed—usually a few days after separation.
Submerging the cord in water increases infection risk.
You're Overthinking It
The cord stump looks alarming. It smells a little. It oozes sometimes. It turns colours you didn't know skin could turn. All of this is normal.
Simple rules for successful umbilical cord care -
- Keep it clean and dry
- Don't touch it more than necessary
- Fold the diaper below it
- Let it fall off on its own
- Watching for spreading redness or fever
- Everything else is normal
Cord care is one small but important part of newborn care—explore our complete newborn health guide for all aspects of baby health.
Ready to move to regular baths? Learn our step-by-step guide to bathingyour newborn safely once the cord has healed.
Medical Disclaimer: This article provides general information and is not
a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician
with cord care or healing concerns.
Sources:
1. World Health Organization –
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/newborn-care/
2. Umbilical Cord Location, Care
& Appearance
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/umbilical-cord/
