An umbilical hernia involves a distinctive protrusion near a baby’s navel, or belly button. Its size may range from half an inch to about 2 inches (1 to 5 centimeters) in diameter. It may only be noticeable when a child is crying, coughing or straining, and may become smaller when the child is quiet or still.

The navel is the place on the abdomen where the fetal umbilical cord enters the body. Before a baby is born, a muscular ring inside the umbilical cord normally closes. When this ring does not close, an umbilical hernia can develop.

Umbilical hernias are common in infants. In most cases, they cause no pain or harm, and resolve on their own (without treatment) by the time a child is 2 years old. They may occasionally remain until children are 3 or 4 years old.   

Umbilical hernias occur most often in infants under the age of 6 months. They also occur more frequently among babies who are premature and have a low birth weight and are of African American descent. The condition affects boys and girls equally.

Parents who suspect their child has an umbilical hernia should consult their child’s pediatrician. A physical examination is usually all that is needed to diagnose the condition.

No treatment is generally required for infants with umbilical hernias. A physician may recommend monitoring the condition while waiting for it to heal on its own. Folk remedies, such as taping coins to the area, have no effect on the hernia, and may actually cause skin infections.

When umbilical hernias remain beyond the ages of 4 or 5 years, or are accompanied by complications or swelling, surgery may be recommended. Surgical repair is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. A simple incision is made under the navel, and the bulging tissue is placed back inside the abdominal wall.