Immediate cord clamping is often the preferred management of the umbilical cord at birth in the US. However, recent evidence suggests immediate clamping may be associated with harm such as anemia (term) and intraventricular hemorrhage (preterm). Delayed clamping and cord milking appears to offer benefit to the term and preterm infant. The current theoretical understanding of newborn transition and research evidence on the timing of cord clamping is presented along with recommendations for practice.