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The navel is an odd, but powerful, erogenous zone. When someone pokes inside or around a belly button, some people may feel erotic sensations. That’s because the navel and genitals have a common tissue origin. For some, the stimulation feels like a tickle—down there.
Instead, try distracting, redirecting, or finding other objects for your child to comfort themselves with. Dr. Jain likes a squishy stress ball or soft Play-Doh. “This might be a better way to keep them from playing with their soft and moist belly button,” she said.
Why do children draw belly buttons?
She suggested that children are fascinated by belly buttons and the drawing of a simple round shape is often intensely satisfying. Perhaps then, it is the circles that she finds fascinating. The drawing sequence always begins with eyes made up of a circle within a circle.
Why does my toddler’s belly button stick out?
An umbilical hernia happens when intestine, fat, or fluid pushes through a weak spot or hole in your baby’s stomach muscles. This causes a bulge near or in the belly button, or navel. It may look like your child’s belly button is swollen. Many children have an umbilical hernia at birth.
The belly button has folds of skin that provide a place for bacteria to grow. Most of these bacteria remain at a low level and will not cause a smell. But if bacteria become too dense, they may result in an unpleasant or offensive smell.
You can help prevent it if you wear looser clothing and keep your navel clean, especially in hot, humid weather. You treat it with antifungal creams, powders, or lotions rubbed directly on the area. Kids who have this birth defect may end up with just a scar, or nothing at all, for a belly button.
What does it mean when your belly button is swollen?
Bacterial Infection. Bacteria can infect a wound or a cyst on your belly button or behind it. You could have pain, swelling, and pus or liquid that leaks from your navel. Your doctor might give you antibiotics or drain any built-up fluid. If another health problem caused it, you may get surgery to stop it from happening again.
What happens if you have a cyst on your belly button?
The urachus might close enough to block fluid but still leave space for a lump of tissue, or cyst, to grow. It may be so small that you don’t know it’s there. But if it gets infected, you could have belly button pain, fever, and bloody urine. Your doctor may give you antibiotics, drain or remove the cyst, and possibly repair the area with surgery.
Before birth, your bladder connects to your bellybutton through this channel in your gut. Though it usually disappears by the time you’re born, sometimes it remains. You might not notice it, but if it’s completely open, your navel may be wet as urine flows up and even leaks out. Your doctor will do surgery to repair the problem.