How To Care For Your Babys Umbilical Cord After It Falls Off. Your babys doctor will give you instructions on how to care for your babys umbilical cord which include keeping it dry and exposed to the air. 652019 During the 1 to 2 weeks after delivery when your babys umbilical stump dries out and falls off it will look quite different from day to day.
Normal range is 7 to 21 days. After the umbilical cord is cut at birth a stump of tissue remains attached to your babys belly button navel. You can begin to bathe your baby in a shallow baby tub of lukewarm water.
Keep the umbilical cord stump clean and dry.
After the umbilical cord stump comes off it may take about another 7 to 10 days for your babys belly button to heal completely. Keep the front of your babys diaper folded down or use diapers with an umbilical cord peephole so that the area is open to the air. In general it takes about 7 to 21 days for the stump to dry completely and fall off. After birth your baby does not need the umbilical cord anymore.