Dry skin and umbilical cord stump

[Code Name Mama]

I don't know if Kieran has dry skin b/c he was early or if there's another reason, but does anyone have any tips on how to safely moisturize him?

Also, he is 12 days old today and his cord stump is dry but firmly intact. I noticed today a little spot on his diaper cover and realized it was from the stump. It looks like there may be a tiny amount of fluid (it looks slightly like it could be pus but it doesn't smell foul and the area is not red or hot). He doesn't appear to have any discomfort, but I'm worried his diaper cover (BSWW for NB) is rubbing and will cause infection. Suggestions? Am I worrying for nothing?

[ohiomommy1122]

Its probably just drainage I wouldnt worry about it, as for dry skin Ds has it too I wonder if its cuz its winter, just use a mineral oil free lotion or apricot, or olive oil

[YummyYumYumMama]

i hear that if something's up with the stump, you can drip some breastmilk into it and it'll heal it up - someone else might have more info on that. BSWWs don't have a space for the umbilical stump? someone - maybe shebear? - suggested putting some sort of cloth over the stump so that clothes/dipes don't rub against it, but i can't remember what thread that was in.

m has WICKED dry skin too, just like both her parents. our apt is dry, and my mom said it's normal for newborns to be slightly peely. we have a humidifier on to help the dryness in the air, so it doesn't exacerbate her skin further. as for moisturizing, i usually put oil on her before her bath (she is stumpless and thus can be bathed, but you can oil him up before a sponge bath) and then lotion on afterwards. i do oil before the bath so that her skin doesn't dry out extra from the soap, and so that i don't get oil all over her clothes. that kind of helps her retain some moisture, and then the lotion seems to help a bit too. one or the other on its own doesn't do much, though. we use baby oil and baby lotion.

[VickV]

Olivia's stump fell off a couple days ago, and there was a little pus-like stuff on there when it did. I just put on a dab of Neosporin and that was it - haven't seen any since. I remember seeing that when Isabel's stump fell off, too.

For dry skin, I used Aquaphor the other day, but I think I'm gonna switch to my Avalon Organics baby stuff I use on Isabel. Newbie's due for a bath soon, so we'll slather her up good afterwards.

[Code Name Mama]

I'll try breastmilk on the stump, I should have thought of that!

We are using a humidifier, but I think I'll also try the olive oil/aquafor. I've tried a little baby lotion, but that's been worthless!

Thanks for the suggestions!

[minsca]

Both of my girls had a bit of pus on with their umbilical cord. I always just thought it was normal... don't know why I thought that, perhaps my mom told me. Anyways it cleared up when the cord fell off and they healed up nicely.
As for the dry skin, I was under the impression that all newborns have dry skin basically because they have been in water for the past 9/10 months. And water tends to dry skin out. Avye's skin is finally not peeling, and she turned one month today. (time flys by)
I have heard that oil works the best, but I think new born babies dry skin is not the same as our dry skin. At least not with Avye... I can tell that underneath the stuff that's peeling off that her skin is quite moist. It just looks really dry.

[SheBear]

NAK! for dry skin, i like coconut oil--smells yummy!

for the cord, you might try opening a capsule of goldenseal and sprinkling the powder on the stump, trying to get it right down in the base where it's still moist. it will help dry it out and speed the healing, as well as kill/prevent any infection.

and yeah, i like to put a small cloth (just a one-layer flannel wipe) over the stump to keep it from rubbing against the diaper cover,and to keep stump goo off the cute clothes! I put a spot of Golden Salve on the wipe so the cord doesn't try to stick.

[wife&mommy]

For the dry skin our pedi said to use olive oil, but coconut oil certainly would smell better!!