When your baby was born, the baby had the umbilical cord cut. The umbilical cord will dry up and drop off to make your child's navel (belly button).

At first, the cord will be clear or have a blue color, and will be moist. Within 10 - 14 days, it will become hard and darker, and will fall off.

Until two weeks after the cord falls off, you should:

• Put alcohol on the stump after each diaper change.
• Use a cotton swab to clean well around the stump.

You should call or see the doctor if:

• You smell a foul odor coming from the cord.
• You see drainage that looks like pus. Clear or light yellow drainage or a few spots of blood are normal.
• Your child runs a fever.
• Your child has a weak cry.
• Your child will not take a bottle or has a weak suck.

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