Should I use iodine or alcohol to disinfect my baby's umbilical cord? What is the best way to disinfect my baby's umbilical cord?

The weather is hot in summer. Many babies born in summer must pay attention to the care of their umbilical cords. If the umbilical cord is not properly cared for in summer, it is very likely to cause inflammation and infection. Today, let's talk about what kind of medicine is better for disinfecting the baby's umbilical cord? Please see the detailed introduction below.

What is the best way to disinfect the baby's umbilical cord?

Generally, iodine is chosen. First, the volatility of iodine is not as high as that of alcohol, so it has a long working time and good disinfection effect. Secondly, iodine is not irritating. If you wipe with alcohol, it will cause pain and make the child cry and be restless, but iodine does not have this side effect. Another point worth noting is that alcohol causes allergies far more than iodine, so now surgery and nursing generally use iodine instead of alcohol.

Umbilical cord disinfection can be used with iodine tincture

When disinfecting the baby's umbilical cord, you can use alcohol and iodine together. Method: First disinfect the navel with iodine, then use an alcohol cotton ball to wipe in circles with the navel as the center. This can not only decolorize the iodine, but also promote the volatilization of the iodine water, so that the navel dries faster. When can't alcohol be used to disinfect the baby's umbilical cord? 3 Although alcohol disinfection of the umbilical cord has little effect on some babies, if the baby's umbilical cord has bleeding, it is not recommended to use alcohol, which can prevent alcohol from irritating the exuding wound of the navel and causing pain to the baby.

How to disinfect the navel of a newborn

First, prepare the supplies, several cotton swabs and a bottle of 75% alcohol. Then wash your hands thoroughly. Before you take care of your baby, you must rub your wrists to your fingertips with soap for about 20 seconds to achieve the sterilization effect. Take a cotton swab, wet it with 75% alcohol (it must be completely soaked for the best effect), pull up the baby's umbilical cord with your hand to expose the root (frequently pulling the baby's umbilical cord can accelerate the breakage), then wipe from the root of the umbilical cord to the top, and finally expand to the skin around the umbilical cord. Disinfect twice in the same way. If the baby's navel is dry and in good condition, you can put on a diaper after completing the first three steps. However, if the baby's navel is infected, smelly or has unknown secretions, you should consult a doctor.

Disinfection method of the umbilicus of newborns

First, keep it dry. The baby's umbilical cord should be kept dry before it falls off. Especially if the base of the umbilical cord is accidentally wet during bathing, it should be wiped clean with a clean cotton swab before performing umbilical cord care.

Second, avoid friction. The size of the diaper should be appropriate, and the waist of the diaper should not be placed just at the base of the umbilical cord, otherwise it will easily rub against the base of the umbilical cord when the baby moves, causing skin breakage, redness, and even bleeding.

Third, avoid heat and stuffiness. Do not apply creams, lotions or oils to the base of the umbilical cord, as this may cause the umbilical cord to dry out easily or even lead to infection.

Fourth, mothers must wash their hands when caring for the umbilical cord area to prevent bacteria on their hands from infecting the baby's navel.

Fifth, never use gentian violet. Some babies' belly buttons do not fall off for a long time, or pus forms after falling off. Some elderly people will wipe the baby's umbilical cord with gentian violet to dry it. This method was often used in the past, but it is not recommended in medicine now because the drying effect of gentian violet is limited to the surface, while the drying effect of iodine tincture dries from the inside out.

Sixth, wipe twice a day with an iodine cotton swab, once in the morning and once in the evening. When wiping, lift the small string at the ligation site of the umbilical cord with one hand, and use the iodine-soaked cotton swab to fully wipe the place where the umbilical cord connects to the flesh with the other hand. Wrap it with sterile gauze. Change the dressing regularly in the future. If the cotton swab is dirty, it should be replaced in time. Do not use a dirty cotton swab to wipe repeatedly, as this will cause infection and inflammation.