This question is for mothers... I've read and heard that it's good to clean the stump with alcohol but then I've read and heard that it's better to just let the stump be and it'll dry up faster and fall off on its own. I just want to know what did you do with your newborn and how long did it take for the stump to fall off?
2006-12-13 11:40:24 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
When you clean it with alcohol, dries it up faster. When you clean it, use an alcohol pad and saturate it around a cotton swab. Clean the outer part of the belly button, then lift the umbilical cord stump up (this does not hurt the baby, they cry because they don't like the cold of the alcohol) and clean all around the umbilicus. My daughter's cord stump fell off in front of the doctor when I took her for her 3 week check up! She said that I could give her a full bath now!
2006-12-13 12:49:44 · answer #1 · answered by eMMa's MoM 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order to fall off, the stump must dry out. Because of this, alcohol is a good choice for gently cleaning around the cord. Be sure it stays dry by keeping the diaper turned down below it, or use the special newborn diapers that have the front scooped out below the navel.
Don't pull or try to force the cord to fall off; it will drop off when it is ready. With my children it took 8-10 days, but this can vary. If you get concerned that it's taking too long, or if the stump starts to have an odor, call your pediatrician.
2006-12-13 12:38:02 · answer #2 · answered by PolishedToes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I learned this new trick from another smart mother. She used a BLOW DRYER set on low or no heat at diaper changes. I tried the same thing in combination with rubbing alcohol and it made a big difference in the speed of the cord drying up. I found the most important thing about applying the alcohol was to gently pull the stump up to get underneath it where it may be moist. I did not know that with my first baby, so it took the cord a long time to drop off.
2006-12-13 15:21:59 · answer #3 · answered by momof7today 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It took mine about a week to fall off. I did use the alcohol but only every other day. Just made sure it was clean and not alot dried up on/around it. Good Luck and Congrats!
2006-12-13 11:51:02 · answer #4 · answered by Nae 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used alcohol b/c her stump started to smell. It worked really good and fell off in about a week.
2006-12-13 11:48:38 · answer #5 · answered by ashleighharder 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have three children and with each I was told to leave it alone and keep it dry- watch for signs of infection but don't mess with it. Took on average 2 weeks for it to go but I've heard people taking longer. My friend's son's took 4 weeks to fall off but she used alcohol and I think that was why.
2006-12-13 13:11:09 · answer #6 · answered by momofthreemiracles 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I didn't clean my newborn's stump at all since the hospital told me not to. When he was 4 days old, his stump fell off!
2006-12-13 13:05:23 · answer #7 · answered by nenya_of_adamant 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just left it alone, didn't bother cleaning it with alcohol because the doctor said that it doesn't harm it, doesn't help it. and only 8 days after she was born the stump fell off. its up to you and what you want to do though.
2006-12-13 12:46:11 · answer #8 · answered by Tessa and Trinity's Mom 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our baby was born this last summer and the pediatrician told us that they recommend using plain water now, because they found the alcohol was making it stay on longer, but with my first I was instructed to use alcohol to clean it. I followed the doctors directions both times, with the first (alcohol) it took 2 weeks, and with my most recent one, using water, it fell off at about 10 days.
2006-12-13 11:48:28 · answer #9 · answered by Armywife 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
with both my kids i used alcohol on the stump. the first one fell off after 21 days and the second one fell off after 7 days. it really all depends on the child and how fast they heal.
2006-12-13 11:50:11 · answer #10 · answered by beb27 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋