What is umbilical granuloma?

An umbilical granuloma is an overgrowth of tissue during the healing process of the belly button (or ‘umbilicus’).

It usually looks like a soft pink or red lump and is often oozing small amounts of clear or yellow fluid.

Umbilical granuloma is very common in newborns and is usually painless and harmless.

The cause of umbilical granuloma is not known but if left untreated, it can take months to get better.

How is it diagnosed?

Umbilical granuloma is diagnosed by a doctor looking at and feeling the area around the belly button.

Treatment

The first treatment is “salt treatment” (see below for instructions), which is a safe and effective treatment which you can do at home.

What to do if salt treatment is not effective?

If the umbilical granuloma does not respond to treatment after 5 days, see your GP.

In some cases, silver nitrate treatment (done by your GP) or surgical treatment is needed.

Care at home

Keep the umbilical area dry and clean.
Clean the belly button with soap and warm water if it gets soiled with urine (wee) or faeces (poo).
Expose the belly button to the air by folding back the top of your baby’s nappy.

Salt treatment

Clean the belly button area with a cotton ball soaked in warm water.
Apply a small pinch of table/cooking salt over the umbilical granuloma.
Cover the area with adhesive tapes/dry gauze to keep the salt in place for 30 minutes.
Clean the area using a cotton ball soaked in warm water.
Repeat this procedure twice a day for 5 days.

In about two or three days you should notice that the granuloma reduces in size. It may change colour, dry off and the area will gradually heal.

When to seek help

See your GP or a doctor if your baby has any of the following:

swelling/redness, an offensive smell and/or discharge of the belly button. (This could be an infection).
a fever (temperature higher than 38°C)
Unusually tired/drowsy or irritable.

If there is no improvement after 5 days of salt treatment, see your GP.

If you're not sure whether to go to an emergency department, call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) and speak to a registered nurse.

Developed by the Emergency Department, Queensland Children’s Hospital. We acknowledge the input of consumers and carers.

Resource ID: FS391. Reviewed: November 2023.

Disclaimer: This information has been produced by healthcare professionals as a guideline only and is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your child’s doctor or healthcare professionals. Information is updated regularly, so please check you are referring to the most recent version. Seek medical advice, as appropriate, for concerns regarding your child’s health.