That's a really good question. I didn't think it was anything to worry about but then they told me to leave it alone and it would take care of itself. Can't wait to see what anyone else has to say.

I think it is fine as long as it isn't doesn't look infected (puss, or red). And I must add, that I think it is so interesting how we (we meaning the ladies on the boards here) are told different things. Like you were told to use alcohol and clean it daily. I was told to just leave it alone and watch for redness, and not to mess with it. DD fell off in less than a week. Makes me wonder why docs tell us different things, wouldn't you think it would be uniform across the board LOL!!!! I guess to each his own! LOL! But that is why we drive ourselves nuts, one website says this, another that...one doc says this, another that!!!! AAGGHH!!!! I guess as long as babies are healthy and happy it doesn't matter!

I was told to clean it with alcohol like 4 times a day. I'll be honest...we did it like 1-2 times a day (most of the time just 1). DD's fell off at 2w1d. I can tell you my grandmother was really surprised at like a week and a half that it was still on.
On the talk show the "doctors" a couple of weeks ago, the peditrician one was saying that they no longer reccomend cleaning with alcohol...but I can't remember the reason why.
But, as long as it doesn't look infected, I think you're good. Towards the end Grace's was like on by like a string and I would clean under it and everything with the q-tip, but did NOT pull at it at all or anything.
If it goes another week, I'd call your pediatrician...just to make sure.

We were told to clean it with alcohol everytime we changed her diaper & also to fold the diaper down even if we used the kind with the cord cutout cause the doc said if the diaper slides up on it & keeps the cord wet it will take longer to fall off. My daughter's fell off around 2 1/2-3 weeks. Also we were told not to be afraid to touch it. The doc showed us to move the cord in every direction (carefully) when cleaning it with the alcohol. I would put a call in to the doc to see what he/she says though. It can't hurt to ask. :)

I was told to leave it alone and only clean it if it gets urine on it or feces. It is funny how we are all told different things. When I had my DD 13 years ago we used alcohol on it.

I would call the doc and let them know that the stump hasnt fallen off yet.

I work in postpartum and we say to leave it completely alone. Then the hospital I deliver at told me to wipe it with alcohol. So I wipe it with alcohol and it takes forever to fall off. I finally stop the alcohol and it falls off in a short time after. Crazy. I say its fine as long as its not red.