Your baby’s umbilical cord finally fell off, everyone cheered… and then you notice a tiny, pinkish, moist bump in the belly button that just won’t dry up.
Before you spiral down a search-engine rabbit hole: chances are good you’re looking at an umbilical granuloma a very common and usually minor newborn issue.
In this guide, we’ll walk through what an umbilical granuloma is, how to spot the symptoms, what causes it, and which treatments your baby’s doctor may recommend.
We’ll also cover home care tips, red-flag signs that need urgent care, and real-life experiences from other parents so you know you’re not alone in wondering,
“Is my baby’s belly button supposed to look like that?”
What is an umbilical granuloma?
After birth, your baby’s umbilical cord is clamped and cut, leaving a short stump. Over the next 1–3 weeks, that stump dries out, shrivels, and eventually falls off.
In most babies, the skin underneath heals and seals up smoothly.
Sometimes, though, a small area of tissue at the base of the stump doesn’t quite finish healing. Instead of closing and drying, a little bit of extra tissue stays moist and overactive.
This overgrown healing tissue is called granulation tissue, and when it forms a small pink or red, velvety-looking bump in the belly button after the cord stump falls off,
it’s known as an umbilical granuloma.
Umbilical granulomas are:
- Usually small (often 3–10 millimeters across)
- Pinkish-red or reddish in color, sometimes with a “raw” or velvety surface
- Often a little moist or shiny
- Sometimes attached by a short “stalk” (pedunculated)
The good news: they’re benign. An umbilical granuloma is not a tumor, not cancer, and not a sign you did something wrong. It’s simply healing tissue
that didn’t get the memo to stop growing.
Symptoms of an umbilical granuloma
The main symptom is visible: a small bump inside or just at the edge of the belly button after the cord stump has fallen off. Parents often describe it as a “little pink bubble” or “wet lump.”
Common signs
- A small, soft, pink or red nodule in the belly button
- Persistent clear or yellowish moisture or light discharge from the navel
- The area may look “raw” or shiny but usually is not very painful to the baby
- The bump may slowly increase in size or just not seem to go away
What you usually don’t see with a simple granuloma
A plain umbilical granuloma by itself typically does not cause:
- Significant redness spreading onto the surrounding skin
- Swelling or warmth of the entire belly button area
- Foul-smelling pus
- Fever, poor feeding, unusual fussiness, or lethargy
If those symptoms are present, your baby’s doctor will be thinking less about a simple granuloma and more about infection (omphalitis) or another underlying problem.
That’s a “call the pediatrician right now” situation, which we’ll come back to below.
What causes an umbilical granuloma?
The short answer: it’s a healing glitch.
After the cord stump falls off, the area is still healing. New tissue grows in to close the surface and seal blood vessels. In some babies, this granulation tissue:
- Grows a little too enthusiastically
- Doesn’t fully dry out
- Stays moist from a bit of ongoing fluid or slight irritation
Instead of flattening and turning into normal skin, it forms a tiny moist lump. Why some babies develop umbilical granulomas and others don’t isn’t fully understood, but a few factors may contribute:
- Delayed or slower cord stump drying
- Minor irritation from diapers, clothing, or friction
- Occasional mild infection or inflammation around the stump as it separates
- Individual differences in how babies’ skin and tissues heal
Importantly, umbilical granulomas are not caused by poor hygiene or “bad cord care.” Even parents who follow all the rules can end up with a baby who has one.
Sometimes biology just has a quirky sense of humor.
How doctors diagnose an umbilical granuloma
In most cases, your pediatrician or family doctor can diagnose an umbilical granuloma with a simple physical exam. They’ll look at:
- The size, color, and texture of the bump
- Whether there’s any stalk or “neck” of tissue
- Amount and type of drainage (clear, yellowish, bloody, or pus-like)
- Signs of infection on the surrounding skin
- How your baby looks overall (comfortable vs. sick)
Occasionally, if something doesn’t look typical, the doctor may consider other possibilities like a umbilical polyp, a small cyst, or a rare connection to the bowel or urinary tract.
In those less common cases, they might recommend imaging or a referral to a pediatric surgeon. But for the majority of babies, the diagnosis of umbilical granuloma is straightforward.
Treatment options for umbilical granuloma
The main goal of treatment is to stop the granuloma from staying moist and overgrowing so that the area can finally heal and close. Several evidence-based options exist, and your baby’s doctor will choose
what’s safest and most appropriate based on your child’s age, the size of the granuloma, and any skin sensitivity or infection risk.
1. Watchful waiting (in selected cases)
If the bump is very small, the discharge is minimal, and there are no signs of infection, some doctors may suggest short-term observation along with good cord and skin care.
The granuloma may dry up and shrink on its own, especially if it was only recently noticed.
However, persistent granulomas usually need a little more help. That’s where simple office treatments come in.
2. Silver nitrate cauterization
The most traditional and widely used treatment is topical silver nitrate. In the clinic, the doctor:
- Dries the area gently
- Applies silver nitrate to the granuloma using a small applicator stick
- Carefully protects the surrounding skin to avoid irritation
Silver nitrate works by chemically cauterizing (burning and drying) the overgrown tissue so it shrinks, scabs, and eventually disappears.
Because the granuloma itself does not have typical nerve endings, the procedure is usually described as uncomfortable at most, but not very painful for the baby.
Depending on size, the granuloma may need more than one treatment, spaced a few days apart. Parents are usually given instructions on what to watch for afterward,
such as any dark staining of the skin, mild irritation, or signs of infection that should be checked promptly.
3. Topical salt application (under medical guidance)
Over the last several years, research has shown that simple table salt can be an effective, low-cost alternative to silver nitrate for many umbilical granulomas.
In these studies, families were instructed by healthcare professionals on how to place a small amount of salt directly on the granuloma and cover it briefly before rinsing it away.
This creates a high-salt environment that draws moisture out of the tissue and encourages it to shrink and dry.
While the idea of “just using kitchen salt” sounds very DIY, it’s still important to:
- Get a clear diagnosis from a clinician first (not every belly-button bump is a granuloma)
- Follow specific instructions from your baby’s doctor about how often and how long to apply the salt
- Stop and seek care if the skin looks very irritated, your baby seems in pain, or the granuloma worsens or starts to bleed
Please don’t start any treatment salt, ointments, or otherwise on your own without talking to a healthcare professional who has actually seen your baby’s umbilical area.
4. Ligation (tying off the granuloma)
If the granuloma is on a little stalk, a doctor may use a double-ligature technique. This involves tying a sterile suture very tightly around the base of the granuloma.
Cutting off its blood supply causes the tissue to dry out, turn dark, and drop off over a week or two.
Ligation is usually quick, doesn’t require needles or cutting, and is especially helpful for “mushroom-shaped” or pedunculated granulomas.
5. Other treatments (less common)
In some cases, doctors may consider other options, such as:
- Topical steroid creams (for example, a prescribed corticosteroid) applied under medical supervision
- Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen to freeze the granuloma
- Minor surgical removal if the lesion doesn’t respond to standard treatments or if the diagnosis is uncertain
These approaches are more specialized and are typically handled by pediatricians, pediatric surgeons, or dermatologists.
Home care for babies with umbilical granuloma
Regardless of which treatment your baby’s doctor chooses, you’ll usually be asked to keep the belly button area:
- Clean – Gently clean as directed by your pediatrician (often with just water and soft gauze or cotton).
- Dry – Fold the top of the diaper down so it doesn’t rub against or cover the umbilicus, giving the area more air exposure.
- Free of irritants – Avoid home remedies like alcohol swabs, powders, or creams unless your doctor specifically recommends them.
Many pediatric guidelines today favor “dry cord care” in healthy newborns: keeping the stump clean and dry, rather than applying multiple antiseptics or alcohol routinely.
Your healthcare provider may adjust recommendations based on where you live and your baby’s overall health.
When to call the pediatrician or seek urgent care
Umbilical granulomas themselves are rarely an emergency, but the belly button area is close to major blood vessels and internal organs, so infections in this region are taken seriously.
Call your baby’s doctor right away or seek urgent medical care if you notice:
- Redness spreading outward from the umbilicus onto the belly skin
- Warmth, swelling, or hardening of the area
- Foul-smelling yellow or green pus
- Significant or continuous bleeding (more than a few small spots)
- Fever, poor feeding, unusual sleepiness, or extreme fussiness
- Any fluid that looks like urine or stool leaking from the belly button
Those signs can indicate infection, a deeper connection inside the abdomen, or another condition that needs prompt evaluation. Trust your instincts: if the belly button looks worrisome or your baby seems “off,”
it’s always better to call.
Possible complications (and why treatment matters)
A simple umbilical granuloma that gets appropriate treatment and follow-up usually heals completely and does not cause long-term problems. But leaving a granuloma untreated can lead to:
- Ongoing moisture and discharge that irritate the surrounding skin
- Higher risk of skin infection around the umbilicus
- Rarely, confusion with other serious conditions that go unrecognized
That’s why most pediatricians recommend actively managing persistent granulomas instead of adopting a “wait for months and see” approach.
Can umbilical granulomas be prevented?
You can’t totally guarantee that your baby won’t develop an umbilical granuloma, but you can help create a healing-friendly environment:
- Follow your healthcare provider’s cord care instructions (clean and dry, or antiseptic if recommended).
- Keep the diaper below the stump so it doesn’t rub or trap moisture.
- Avoid tight waistbands and rough fabrics over the belly during the healing period.
- Don’t pull on a partially attached cord stump, even if it looks “almost ready” to fall off.
Even with perfect cord care, some babies still develop granulomas. If that happens, it’s not a failure it’s just a common detour on the road to a fully healed belly button.
Frequently asked questions about umbilical granuloma
Is an umbilical granuloma painful for my baby?
Most babies with umbilical granulomas act completely normal. The granuloma itself generally doesn’t have typical pain nerves, so gentle touch or cleaning may not bother them.
Babies may fuss if the area is rubbed, if the surrounding skin is irritated, or if there’s an infection. If your baby cries intensely when the area is touched, or seems unwell overall, call your pediatrician.
How long does it take to go away?
Once treatment starts, many granulomas begin to shrink within a few days and can disappear over 1–2 weeks. If silver nitrate or ligation is used, you might see the tissue get darker and smaller before it falls off or flattens.
Your doctor will usually schedule a follow-up visit to make sure everything is healing as expected.
Will my baby’s belly button look normal later?
In the vast majority of cases, yes. After the granuloma heals, most babies end up with a normal-looking “innie” or “outie” belly button whichever their genetics had in mind.
Significant scarring or cosmetic issues are uncommon when the area is treated promptly and properly.
Can I treat an umbilical granuloma at home without seeing a doctor?
It’s understandable to want to fix things quickly, but it’s not a good idea to self-diagnose or start treatment on your own. Other, more serious conditions can look similar to a granuloma.
Always let a healthcare professional confirm the diagnosis first. If a simple home-based salt protocol or topical medication is appropriate, they’ll teach you exactly how to do it safely and tell you when to come back for follow-up.
Think of it this way: the belly button is prime real estate. You want a licensed contractor (your pediatrician) to sign off before you start any renovation projects.
Real-life experiences: what parents and caregivers report
Medical definitions are great, but if you’re up at 2 a.m. Googling “weird thing in baby’s belly button,” what you really want to know is:
What does this feel like in real life? Here’s a composite look at what many parents describe when they talk about umbilical granulomas.
Often, the story starts with relief. The cord stump finally falls off, and parents are excited to see a “real” belly button. For a few days, everything looks pretty normalmaybe a little scab, maybe a tiny bit of dried blood.
Then, someone notices the area is still wet. There’s a bit of sticky discharge in the diaper or on a onesie, or a pink bump that wasn’t there before.
One parent might say that they initially assumed it was just leftover healing. Only when the discharge kept coming did they start to worry. They might snap a photo, send it to a friend who had a baby last year,
and get the classic response: “Hmm, I’d ask your pediatrician.”
At the doctor’s office, the pediatrician takes one look and calmly explains that this is an umbilical granulomacommon, treatable, and usually no big deal.
For many parents, that moment is a turning point. The scary unknown suddenly has a name and a clear plan. Hearing “this is very common” and “we can treat it right here” takes a lot of the pressure off.
If silver nitrate is used, some parents are surprised by how quick the procedure is. The applicator looks like a little stick, the doctor dabs it carefully on the bump, and it’s over in seconds.
The baby may squirm or fuss briefly, more from being held still than from actual pain. Parents are often warned that the area might look darker afterward and that a bit of light oozing or crusting is normal as it heals.
Parents who use a salt protocol under medical guidance often talk about building it into their daily routineafter a diaper change or before a nap, for example.
At first, they may feel nervous about touching the belly button at all. Over a few days, though, they usually become more confident. They notice the bump getting smaller and drier,
and the amount of moisture on the diaper liner gradually decreases. That visible progress can be incredibly reassuring.
There’s also an emotional side that doesn’t show up in textbooks. Some parents feel guilty, wondering if they did something wrong with cord care.
Others worry that the granuloma means their baby has a “weak immune system” or some hidden condition. In reality, most umbilical granulomas are just a minor detour in normal healing.
When pediatricians reassure families that this isn’t their fault and that their baby is otherwise healthy, you can almost feel the collective exhale.
Over time, the granuloma disappears. A few months later, many parents can’t even remember which side of the belly button it was on.
What they do remember is how anxious they felt in the momentand how grateful they were for clear instructions, simple treatment, and the chance to ask all their “Is this normal?” questions without judgment.
If you’re in the middle of this experience right now, it may help to know that countless parents have stood exactly where you are: gently lifting a tiny onesie, inspecting a tiny belly button, and wondering what comes next.
With a proper diagnosis, a sensible treatment plan, and close follow-up, an umbilical granuloma is usually just a short chapter in your baby’s long story of growing up healthy.
Takeaway
Umbilical granulomas are small, benign bumps of healing tissue that show up in the belly button after the cord stump falls off.
They can be annoying and a bit messy, but they’re almost always manageable with straightforward treatments such as silver nitrate, salt therapy under medical guidance, or ligation.
The key is to have your baby’s doctor confirm the diagnosis, choose the safest approach, and guide you through home care and follow-up.
If you’re worried about how your baby’s umbilical area looks, don’t hesitate to call your pediatrician or family doctor.
There are no bonus points for silently stressing at homeplus, your baby’s belly button deserves professional attention and a happy, healthy finish.