Baths before umbilical cord falls off?

Question

When did you start bathin your newborn? 
My baby is 8 days old and I want to give him a bath but he still has his umbilical cord. I’ve been giving him sponge baths where I just wipe him down with a warm cloth. Should I continue just doing sponge baths until his umbilical cord is gone?

Answer

Just a sponge bath or the drying process is prolonged. 
I put a dry washcloth over the cord and really soap up the diaper area with a washcloth and then have my husband rinse the area with a cup of water. I protect the cord from being wet the entire time. I feel like that area really needs a good wash with all the pee/poop. The rest of the body I just wipe down as recommended.

Answer

In Brazil (and other countries) I’ve heard they just bathe baby and get it wet and just dab it dry. But in the USA we are weird about it.

Answer

If you get it wet it will get stinky and take longer to fall off. You want to dry it out all the way until it falls off. Wetting it will prolong the process. 
Just sponge baths for now like you’ve been doing. It should be falling off in the next few days if Baby is 8 days old

Answer

No don't get it wet.

Answer

Our daughter had her first sponge bath in the hospital and we were instructed to do sponge baths at home as well. We just had to be careful with her umbilical cord and dab it dry. It never smelled and it didn’t take longer to fall off. It was off within a week of bringing her home.

Answer

I've gotten conflicting answers on this with my son. The hospital said I can give him a bath and just dab dry the umbilical cord. And that's exactly what they did during the week duration of our stay in the hospital. But it's always been to my understanding that a sponge bath 2-3 times a week until the cord falls off is more than sufficient.

Baths before umbilical cord falls off?

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