How to Care for a newborn' s umbilical cord

Having a baby is hard enough on it's own. Care for your newborn should be easy. This step-by-step on how to care for your newborn' s umbilical cord will take off some of the worry.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• isopropyl alcohol
• q-tip swabs
• a gentle touch

1. Your newborns cord should be slightly dry and dyed by the time you leave the hospital. It should extend one to two inches from your new babies tummy. Take your clean q-tip and dip it into the alcohol.

2. Gently push the cord stub back towards the babies chest, exposing the soft flesh beneath.

3. Holding the cord stub with one finger, gently wipe inside and around the dyed cord stub, making sure to remove any yellow mucus. Change Q-tips and re-dip swab.

4. Now, gently push the cord stub down towards the babies feet, repeat step 3. re-dip swab.

5. Now, do the sides, first push the cord stub to the left, swab clean. Push cord to the right and swab clean.

6. You're all done! Your babies cord should fall off in 2 to 3 weeks with thorough cleaning twice a day.

Tips & Warnings

• NEVER pull on babies cord stub
• Do NOT put unnecessary strain on cord stub
• Do NOT push too hard against the soft flesh beneath the cord stub.