Then it can be surgically repaired with a tiny incision and a couple of stitches. Today, doctors say that is not only unnecessary, but the coin or strap can irritate baby's sensitive skin. About 85 percent of umbilical hernias shrink and go away on their own by about age 3. Some last longer, until a child is as old as 10 or 11. Almost all that last beyond puberty are there to stay.
Umbilical hernias are more common in girls, premature babies and African-American babies.
And in their relative rarity, they are often considered attractive. According to the many galleries of famous navels available on the Internet, celebrities with varying degrees of outies include Loni Anderson, Bridget Bardot and Janet Jackson. Don't miss the next edition of Body of Knowledge. But our budding gymnast has a blistering problem. The first step to fitness is choosing a good walking shoe.