Final answer:
Sponge baths are recommended for newborns until the umbilical cord falls off in a week or two. The umbilical cord connects the developing fetus to the placenta in the womb. After birth, the cord is cut leaving a stub that will eventually fall off and become the navel.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sponge baths are recommended for newborns until the umbilical cord falls off in a week or two (Figure 23.5.4). The umbilical cord is the structure that connects the developing fetus to the placenta in the womb. After birth, the cord is cut, leaving a stub that will dry out and fall off within about three weeks. This stub, once fully healed, becomes the navel.