Can a newborn baby's belly button touch water?

Generally speaking, a newborn baby has an umbilical cord, and the umbilical cord is connected to the baby's belly button. The umbilical cord will fall off after a period of time, but the baby also needs to take a bath before the umbilical cord falls off, so as to keep the body clean and reduce the growth of bacteria. At this time, it is best not to get the newborn's belly button wet, otherwise it will easily cause infection.

Can the baby's umbilical cord get wet?

Generally speaking, a newborn baby's navel should not be exposed to water immediately to avoid infection. The baby's umbilical cord can come into contact with water after it falls off, and it usually falls off in about 10 days. However, it is recommended that newborn babies whose umbilical cords have just fallen off should first be given a sponge bath without getting the navel wet. The baby should not go into the water. The mother should wring out half-dry gauze and gently wipe the baby's body. After the wound has healed completely, the baby can be given a water bath, but the baby should not be put directly into the water. Instead, a bath bed should be placed on the bathtub and the baby can sleep on it while being bathed. When the baby is 5 or 6 months old and can sit, you can put the baby directly in the water to wash.

How to care for your newborn's belly button

1. Keep the newborn's navel dry and clean

The umbilicus of a newborn must be kept dry. It is best not to let the umbilicus come into contact with water until it falls off completely. Therefore, you must be especially careful when bathing your baby to avoid getting the belly button wet and causing an infection. In addition, parents must keep their child's navel clean. If they find pus, discharge, or bleeding in their child's navel, they must go to the hospital for treatment in time.

2. Keep your newborn's navel disinfected

Parents should insist on disinfecting their children's belly buttons after bathing them every day, especially in the first week after delivery. There are blood clots around the belly button. It is best to disinfect it two or three times a day and bandage it well to prevent the belly button from being damaged by friction from clothing.

3. Seek medical attention promptly if there are any abnormalities

If the umbilical cord is not cared for properly, bacteria can grow and multiply locally, causing omphalitis in the neonate; they can even enter the blood through the umbilical cord and cause neonatal sepsis, so the umbilical cord care of the newborn must not be neglected. For example, when changing your baby's diaper, be careful not to cover the navel to prevent urine and feces from contaminating the navel. In addition, if you find that the newborn's umbilical secretions increase, the surrounding abdominal skin is red and swollen, and there is an odor, you should go to the hospital for treatment in time.

When the baby's umbilical cord has not fallen off or has just fallen off, you need to avoid it when bathing him, and try not to let water get in the belly button. Once it gets in contact with water, it is very easy to get infection and other problems, which will cause more trouble. The belly button of a newborn is very sensitive, so parents should protect it.