Exact Answer: Two Weeks
Babies are one of the most beautiful things in the world. As soon as a baby is born then they are attached to their mother with the help of an umbilical cord. This umbilical cord is then supposed to be cut off by the doctors and then the baby is detached from its mother.
Summary
While cutting off the umbilical cord some portion or a stump of the umbilical cord remains attached to the belly of the baby. It takes some time for that stump to fall off from the baby’s belly and then everything becomes normal. However, it might take a few months for some babies for their remaining umbilical cord to fall off.
How Long Does It Take For Umbilical Cord To Fall Off?
| Normal time for the umbilical cord to fall off | One or two week |
| Rarely | It could take more than a month (Advised to see a doctor as soon as possible) |
It takes up a week or two before the umbilical cord falls off from the baby’s belly. However, this could not be the same for every child because their umbilical cord can take up some time to fall off. People whose child’s umbilical cord is taking more than a few weeks time should immediately show or take their child to a doctor.
Soon after the umbilical cord dries up and then it falls off you can start your baby to take baths. Remember to use a sponge while bathing your kids. The area will start to heal and there should be nothing to worry about the recently falling off the umbilical cord.
You can also give sponge baths even if the umbilical cord is still attached to your baby’s belly. It will take about one or two weeks before the umbilical cord falls off. Make sure you handle things with care and it is best to keep the doctor in touch that you are in contact with. There could be some kind of issues with the umbilical cord doesn’t fall off within a few weeks.
Why Does It Take That Long For Umbilical Cord To Fall Off?
One or two weeks is the normal time taken for the umbilical cord to dry up and fall off. The area will heal and then there would be no need to give sponge baths to your baby. However, it is best to give sponge baths for at least a month or two even after the umbilical cord has fallen off.
But, do not bathe your baby too often because that can dry out their skin. Take warm water because that is soothing for your baby’s skin. Once you bring your baby home this is the best and safest way to bathe your baby. Cleaning the baby’s head, body, and diaper area is the priority because those areas should be kept clean.
However, once the baby’s umbilical cord has fallen off and the area has healed then you have nothing to worry about. Now, you can begin to bathe your baby by submerging their body in shallow water. You can use your hands instead of using sponges but remember to do it carefully because you don’t want to use them harshly to clean your baby.
The skin under the umbilical cord can take up some time to heal. Even if the umbilical cord has fallen off the skin under it might be red but it should heal soon. There is nothing to worry about because you should give it some time to heal. But, if it is taking way too long for healing then it is best to consult with the doctor.
Conclusion
In the end, you want your baby healthy and to be normal. Most people’s baby faces different kinds of situations and it is best to talk or consult with a doctor about the things which the baby is facing. Things like that can happen to anyone but you should not panic because panicking will not help in such kinds of situations.
Maintain a proper health check-up of the mother and as well as the baby. It is important to know how their health is doing after the birth of the baby. Doctors will recommend some things that you should always keep in mind and follow accordingly.
References
- https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=64760
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/hs1101.098367
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