Your belly button (navel) just sits there, a little crater in your belly. It might attract a little dirt, fuzz, or even a drip from your popsicle. Especially if your belly button is an innie!

But the good news is that your belly button needs surprisingly little care. You don't need to clean it out or dig around in there. Just regular baths or showers should be enough to keep that part of you clean and healthy. When you're sudsing up the rest of yourself, your navel will get clean, too.

But if your belly button is itching — or you think something's going on in there — tell a parent.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: July 2012