Quote:
| Alcohol prep pads for the umbilical cord stump. You have to clean it with alcohol with each diaper change. |
Not always true. More and more hospitals are going to 'dry cord care' where you leave it completely alone, don't get it wet, don't use alcohol, nothing. They are saying that is better for the baby now, and what the hospital I'm giving birth at teaches its moms.
Here is info from the mayo clinic website:
Keep the stump clean. Parents were once instructed to swab the stump with rubbing alcohol after every diaper change. Researchers now say the stump may heal faster if left alone. If the stump becomes dirty or sticky, wash it with soap and water and dry it well. Hold a clean, absorbent cloth around the stump or use the low setting on a hair dryer, being careful to hold the dryer a safe distance from the baby.