10yo with very deep "inny" belly button - stinky inside

[Stinkerantibiotic]

Hi, hoping someone has advice. Dd has a very very very deep inny - maybe 1inch or so. It became hard to clean it as she has grown and as she is getting more independent with bathing I haven't been keeping much of an eye. She sat next to me today and I got a waft of a terrible smell - turns out she has been poking it with her finger and "de-cheesing" it 😱(couldn't find vomit).

I'd love to think she is creating some new antibiotic in there (didn't I read something about this?) but in reality I don't think anyone wants to study what is being created in her black hole... Does anyone have advice on how to clean it thoroughly without it becoming sore? We did try with Q tips for a bit but she said they hurt. What have I overlooked that is obvious?

Q tips. And it shouldn't hurt

Long bath once a week instead of showers? Maybe she can clean it with a finger while in the bath. She may be able to partly turn it inside out which would help.

Cotton pas or q tip with witch Hazel.

I have this problem at times. I use the thicker make up Q-tips with witch hazel or diluted tcp.

I use a cotton bud on mine, in the bath or shower. If it's sore it's because it's become thrush-y so I put clotrimazole cream on the cotton bud and poke that in.

Gently - she is overweight ? If so this might be another way to tackle the issue

I sort of dollop in some Nivea or E45 type fairly bland moisturiser and kinda “squish it around” a bit for a couple of mins then use an earbud/Q tip until the earbud is clean.
If it reeks or is very sore though might need antibiotics first

I'm actually wondering if there's a bit of an infection happening in there for it to be so stinky but also sore. I'd take a peek and call into the chemist. I'd teach her to maybe use the corner of a flannel when she's bathing to clean inside it, or to use her finger so it's properly cleaned.

you need to show her how to clean it in the shower.
lather up some soap or shampoo and get in there.
any area where skin is on skin needs to be cleaned carefully.

Q-tip dipped in TCP and make sure it is clean and fully dry after bath or shower.

Oh...oh...oh I know the answer to this one, it was on Embarrassing Bodies years ago. The girls belly button had not fully closed and as she grew during puberty she developed an umbilicus hernia or something where the muscles were slightly separated causing the smell. I think they just put a couple of stitches and closed it up.

I think she needs to soak it, in a long bath. Poking about with it makes it worse.

Mine goes like that. I stick sudocrem in it

I use a qtip dipped in rubbing alcohol or witch hazel.

if it smells, the skin is irritated. Whatever you do to clean it is going to cause some discomfort right now.

to get it back to a good state you need to first make sure it is empty.

Mine is like this. I dip a cotton bud in tea tree and clean it.

Why would it be due to being overweight?
I've always had a very innie belly button regardless of weight.

Just get the soap suds in there every day in the shower. Mine is really deep. It does go a bit minging if I’m ill and don’t shower every day.

No, she's very tall for her age - not skinny but always has been in top 90th centile - not near obsese or even overweight on the charts.

Oh god, this sounds like a deep dive from hell.
Or a sporners corner special.

Canesten thrush cream dabbed inside after a good clean as if its smelly it could be fungal

I used to have a very deep belly button and it was stinky like this. And oozy 🤮
I came to realise it wasn't lack of washing that was the problem but lack of efficient drying due to it being deep. I would put some baby powder in and a bit of cotton wool to absorb any left over water.
Incidentally I don't have this issue at all now as after a few keyhole surgeries my belly button is practically closed up now

I get this. Teach her how to clean it. Some cotton wool and antibacterial soap for now until it’s better. Then she needs to properly clean it with a
flannel and soap every day. If you notice it’s becoming sore and or stinky get some medicated talc. I tend to put some talc in everyday in the summer as you do get a bit sweaty. She needs to make sure she’s drying it properly too. Talc will help with this

Get her to lie on her back and pour a bit of hydrogen peroxide in there to kill any nasties

If my belly button gets sore then I too put sudocrem in it with a Q-tip.

It sounds like she may be irritating it by poking in there too much.
It tends to smell more if you poke around in it too much.

Tell her to just put sudocrem in it for a couple of days and not to poke around in it until it’s healed.
Then teach her to just clean it once a week in the bath or shower.

I also have a very deep belly button, I have never had to clean mine outside of having a shower/bath then making sure it’s properly dry- I don’t think you should have to be digging about. However after I had my son I did have issues as it tried to regain its previous structure (was extremely stretched, by a very large baby) I had to see the doctor as it was becoming sore where moisturiser/sweat was becoming stuck in the summer months as it tried to go back in. I would just go to the doctors and see they can give you a cream for it. Not had a problem since and it’s been two years now and only used the cream for about a month.