Baby care 101
- Always put baby to sleep on her back to avoid SIDS.
- Respond quickly to your crying baby, but don’t shake her.
- Give your baby some tummy time when she’s awake.
Caring for the umbilical cord stump
Your baby's umbilical cord stump will drop off in about 10 days. Until then, keep it clean and dry.
- Tuck the diaper below the cord so that the cord is exposed to the air.
- Be sure the area around the cord is clean and dry.If it gets dirty, clean the area with a baby wipe. Or dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol, and gently clean around the cord.
- Call the baby's provider if you see pus or redness or if the baby cries when you touch the area. These could be signs of infection.
To learn how to give your baby a sponge bath until his belly button heals, read Bathing Your Baby.
January 2008