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By the Peanutbean parent · checked against CDC, NHS and AAP guidance · how we fact-check

Umbilical cord care: when the stump falls off and what to watch for

Last verified: July 18, 2026

The short answer: keep the stump clean and dry, fold the nappy down so it stays out of the way, and let it fall off on its own, which should happen by 3 weeks. No alcohol, no picking, no coins on the belly button. Call your doctor for active bleeding, foul-smelling discharge, red skin around the base, or crying when the area is touched.

The job description: clean and dry

For the first few weeks, your only task is to keep the stump of the umbilical cord clean and dry as it shrivels and eventually falls off (AAP: Umbilical Cord Care in Newborns).

Two practical rules do most of the work:

• No alcohol needed. There is no need to use alcohol on the stump, just keep it clean (AAP). Older generations were told to dab it with surgical spirit at every change, so expect this advice from grandparents, kindly delivered and now outdated.
• Fold the nappy below the cord. This keeps urine from soaking the stump (AAP).

The NHS adds the washing rule: you only need to wash around the cord if it gets dirty with pee or poo. If that happens, clean the area with cotton wool and warm water, then gently pat it dry with a towel (NHS: Washing and bathing your baby). While the stump is still attached, a full daily bath is not necessary anyway. A quick wash of the face, neck, hands and bottom, which the NHS calls topping and tailing, covers it (NHS).

When it falls off

The stump should dry up and fall off by the time your baby is 3 weeks old. If it is still there past 3 weeks, a doctor’s visit is needed (AAP).

Around the time it comes off, you may notice a few drops of blood on the nappy. That is normal. Active bleeding is not: if the cord actively bleeds, call your baby’s doctor immediately (AAP).

Whatever you do, do not pull the stump off, even when it is hanging by a thread. It leaves on its own schedule.

Infection signs: rare, but worth knowing cold

Umbilical cord infections (the medical name is omphalitis) are uncommon, but they need medical treatment, so the AAP’s three signs are worth memorising (AAP):

• foul-smelling yellowish discharge from the cord
• red skin around the base of the cord
• crying when you touch the cord or the skin next to it

A slightly odd look as the stump dries, a bit of crusting, even a mild whiff as it separates can all be within normal. The combination of smell plus redness plus tenderness is the pattern that says call today. A newborn with a fever needs a call regardless (see baby fever: under 3 months and 38C means ring now).

After the stump: two lumps that sound scarier than they are

Umbilical granuloma. Sometimes, instead of drying completely, a small reddened or brownish lump of scar tissue stays on the belly button after the cord has fallen off, and it can leak a light yellowish fluid. It usually goes away in about a week. If it does not, your pediatrician can dry it out or treat it in the office (AAP).

Umbilical hernia. If the belly button area pushes outward when your baby cries, there may be a small hole in the muscle wall that lets tissue bulge through under pressure. It is not a serious condition and usually heals by itself in the first 12 to 18 months. If it has not closed by age 3 to 5, a small operation can fix it. One firm piece of advice from the AAP: do not tape a coin over the navel. It does not help and can cause a rash (AAP).

When to call your doctor

Call promptly if:

• the cord actively bleeds (more than a few spots on the nappy)
• you see foul-smelling discharge, redness around the base, or your baby cries when the area is touched
• the stump has not fallen off by 3 weeks
• a granuloma is still there after a week or so
• your baby has a fever or seems unwell in themselves

And the house rule: your own concern is reason enough to call.

Keep reading

• How often should you bathe a baby?
• Weeks 0 to 8: settling in
• Newborn skin: baby acne, milk spots and birthmarks
• Newborn jaundice: when it actually matters
• All the first-year windows

Sources

• AAP: Umbilical Cord Care in Newborns (last updated July 2025)
• NHS: Washing and bathing your baby (page last reviewed July 2024)

Peanutbean provides general information for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Every baby develops at their own pace. Always talk to your pediatrician about your child’s health.