The best way to care for a newborn's navel is to help it dry. After it has dried, expect the cord to fall off around 10-14 days of life, but occasionally the process takes up to 3-4 weeks. To help the drying process, expose the cord to air. It is no longer recommended to apply rubbing alcohol to the cord since studies show the cord separates sooner without alcohol. Sponge-bathe rather than sink- or tub-bathe your baby until the cord falls off. After the cord falls off, you may give your baby a full bath. It is common to see a small amount of bloody drainage from the cord for several days around the time when it is separating. It is also common to see a greenish-grey discharge at the base of the cord as part of the drying out process. Call us if there is a large volume of blood, discharge, odor or if the skin around the cord becomes red and seems sore to the touch.