The first few weeks after your baby is born, you'll need to keep the stump of the umbilical cord clean and dry as it shrivels and eventually falls off.
There is no need to use alcohol on the cord; just keep it clean. Meanwhile, a quick submersion bath is fine before the cord falls off, just dry the stump afterward. Also, keep the diaper folded below the cord to keep urine from soaking it.
You may notice a few drops of blood on the diaper around the time the stump falls off; this is normal. But if the cord actively bleeds, call your baby's doctor immediately. If the stump becomes infected, it will require medical treatment.
The umbilical cord stump should dry and fall off by the time your baby is three weeks old. If it is still there beyond that time, a doctor's visit is needed.
Umbilical Granuloma
Sometimes instead of completely drying, the cord will form a granuloma or a small reddened mass of scar tissue that stays on the belly button after the umbilical cord has fallen off. This granuloma will drain a light-yellowish fluid. This condition will usually go away in about a week, but if not, your pediatrician may need to burn off (cauterize) the granulomatous tissue.
Umbilical Hernia
If your baby's umbilical cord area seems to push outward when she cries, she may have an
umbilical hernia—a small hole in the muscular part of the abdominal wall that allows the tissue to bulge out when there is increased abdominal pressure (i.e., crying). This is not a serious condition, and it usually heals by itself in the first twelve to eighteen months. (For unknown reasons it often takes longer to heal in African American babies.)
In the unlikely event it doesn't heal by three to five years of age, the hole may need
surgery. Don't put tape or a coin on the navel. It will not help the hernia, and it may cause a skin rash.
More Information
Bathing Your Newborn
Umbilical Hernia in Children