As I've posted before, we tub bath our newborns in hosp. and no longer use alcohol for cleaning.  We  ensure the cord is dry cleaned with a Q-tip, and keep the diaper folded down off the cord to allow air to circulate and keep the stump dry.  Handwashing is the best way to prevent infection and we encourage/teach all parents to wash well before and after handling the umb.cord. Mild redness and some discharge is normal.  Excessive redness, discharge and/or a foul odor are usually signs of cord infection.  We based the change in our cord protocol on a study done at McMaster site in Hamilton Ont. The study was published in JOGNN, Nov/Dec 1998.  There is also a good article Cord Care:  Is It Necessary?  published in the Mother Baby Journal Vol.3 No.2 March, 1998.  Bonnie RN, IBCLC in Wpg. Mb Can.

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