Cord & Circumcision Care

Cord Care

• Always keep the cord clean and dry. Fold diapers below the cord.
• Water on a cotton swab may be used to clean the cord. Gently wipe around the base of the cord.
• Some doctors want the cord cleaned with alcohol. Talk to your baby's doctor if you have any concerns.
• If cord bleeds, seeps blood, becomes red and swollen, or has a bad odor call the baby's doctor.

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Circumcision Care

• Always keep the circumcision clean and dry. Be sure to change diapers often.
• Use petroleum on the penis for the first 24 hours to keep urine off and keep the diaper from sticking to the penis (unless otherwise instructed by the nurse or doctor).
• If the circumcision becomes red, swollen, feels warm, bleeds or has a bad smell call baby's doctor.
• It is normal for the baby to be fussy for the first few days after circumcision.
• It will take about a week for the penis to heal.
• If you have questions call your baby's doctor.

Care of the Uncircumcised penis

• Once a day, during a diaper change, clean the head of the penis with warm water. Never force the foreskin back. This could cause pain, bleeding or it could hurt the penis.
• The foreskin will take six months to several years before it will be freely moveable back and forth over the head of the penis.