I used a belly band on my babies until the navel cord fell out. When my granddaugher was born no one mentioned the band to my DD but we made one. It's not very tight or restricting so I don't know why it isn't used anymore. The baby Dr. told me it will prevent the navel from being an outie. My DD's sis in law didn't use one on her kids and everyone has prodruding belly buttons that her girls are ashamed of.