Do you use cotton balls and rubbing alcohol? I'm trying to make a list of everything I need for him when my baby boy gets here. I don't know if you use rubbing alcohol or what. Any suggestions?
2007-06-07 05:18:40 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
And how long does it take to fall off?
2007-06-07 05:20:58 · update #1
Some doctors say to use alcohol, some don't. My daughter had to be transferred to a different hospital after she was born - the first hospital told us to use alcohol wipes on it every diaper change, the second told us to leave it alone. I left it alone for the most part, and it was pretty gross at her 2 week checkup. The nurse cleaned it out really good then, but it made her really angry to have it messed with, so it must have been a little sensitive. After that I started using Q-tips and alcohol around it at most diaper changes. It took over 3 weeks for it to fall off - I think if I had been using the alcohol the whole time it probably would've dried up and fallen off sooner.
I was worried about the alcohol hurting her, but I read since then that there are no nerve endings in the umbilical cord, so it won't burn like it would if you poured it on a cut. It will probably annoy the baby pretty good, but it isn't supposed to hurt.
Good luck with your little man!
2007-06-07 05:24:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Best things to use Is Cotton Swabs like Q-Tips and Hydrogen Peroxide Or Rubbing alcohol..The 2 best things nothing else. Because the cotton swab can get in there and around it better than a cotton ball. It cleans it better than a cotton ball can. That's all you need and don't worry.
(Mother & a Wife of a 3 year old boy and Another on the way..lol and I Work at Magee Women's doing Ultrasounds) Please anybody..feel free to ask any questions..Dont hesitate.
2007-06-09 14:37:14 · answer #2 · answered by peachcory12 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cotton balls and alcohol used to be the big thing to do. Nowadays they say leave it alone. The hosptial actually has take home instructions and they crossed out the alcohol thing.
My baby's fell off within about 7-10 days. Basically you just roll down the diaper a little bit so it doesn't rub the cord, and you leave it alone.
2007-06-07 06:18:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used Q-tips and rubbing alcohol. It took about 8 days for my sons cord to fall off. That is a little early, but he was fine. I used to just wipe the cord gently with a Q-tip that was soaked in the rubbing alcohol and then be careful not to let the diaper rub on it. I used to roll down the top of the diaper so that the cord was able to breathe and not get rubbed.
2007-06-07 05:28:06 · answer #4 · answered by zeus112999 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rubbing alcohol and Q-tips.
Q-tips work better at getting all the crud out.
It can take anywhere from 7-20 ish days for the cord to fall off.
2007-06-07 05:32:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are correct, you will need to clean the baby's cord stump two or three times per day with alcohol. At Babies R Us, they have these pre-moistened alcohol swabs just for that, or you can get them from any grocery store or Walmart in the diabetic supplies aisle. They are about $2 for a box of 100 (way more than you'll need, but it's so much easier than putting a bottle of alcohol and Qtips in the diaper bag.)
The cord stump will fall off usually after the first week to two weeks. Congratulations on the baby!
2007-06-07 05:35:11 · answer #6 · answered by Diaper Cakewalk 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You don't need to put ANYTHING on the cord and in fact, it will fall off faster.
Study done some years ago: 1000 babies with typical alcohol cord cleaning and 1000 babies with nothing done. No infections in either group and cord dried up and fell off faster on babies who didn't have alcohol. Alcohol kills the bacteria that helps to dry up the cord so that it will fall off. Many hospitals no longer recommend using alcohol.
The poster who says that the cord is like an open wound is way off base. The link below was the Canadian version of the study. Same results.
2007-06-07 05:31:59 · answer #7 · answered by TotalRecipeHound 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Two years ago when I had my son they said to use rubbing alcohol at the base of the cord, they even gave us alcohol pads. With my daughter 5 months ago they said just let it be. Keep it dry and be sure it doesn't get infected (just watch it). Both my babies were born in military hospitals. The cord fell off withing two weeks with both.
2007-06-07 05:27:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
cotten balls and rubbing alcohol, and if you change him when you are away from home, use a clean baby wipe to help keep it clean. It takes 5 - 14 days for it to come off. My granddaughter, who is now 21 days old, had hers almost off at 10 days. (It was just barely hanging on.)
2007-06-07 05:30:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For cord care you need alcohol,betadine,cotton tips or balls. After bathing, clean cord with betadine using inner to outer way and from bottom to top using only one stroke and rinse it with alcohol, let it dry first and put the diaper on.
2007-06-07 18:05:38 · answer #10 · answered by sheila l 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋