By the time the baby goes home from the hospital, the cord is beginning to dry and wither. The clamp can be removed when the cord is completely dry. The cord falls off by itself in about two to three weeks. Because the umbilical cord may be a place for infection to enter the baby's body, it is important to care for it properly.

Keep the cord on the outside of the baby's diaper. Some newborn-size diapers have special cut-outs for the cord area, but you can also fold down the top edge of the diaper. Call your baby's physician if there is:

Parents are often concerned about a baby's navel being an "innie" or an "outie." There is no way to predict this or make the navel look one way or another. Contrary to popular traditions, taping a coin or other flat object over the navel does not help. It is common in some babies for there to be a small protrusion of the baby's abdomen around the navel, especially when the baby cries. This is part of the baby's development and usually goes away on its own.

Some babies may have a weakness in the abdominal muscles called an umbilical hernia. This can be checked by your baby's physician to see if treatment is necessary.