PhysiologyReading time: 4 minutes

What You Need to Know About Newborn Jaundice

CategoryPhysiology
What You Need to Know About Newborn Jaundice

Medically reviewed by pediatrician Alexandra Zglavosiy

Newborn jaundice is often normal, not a disease. It usually appears on days 2–4 and fades by week 2. Frequent feeding helps; sometimes phototherapy is needed. Red flags: jaundice on day 1, low energy, poor weight gain, or fever. If symptoms worsen or last more than 2 weeks, consult a doctor.

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What’s Inside

Quick takeaways

  • Physiological jaundice appears in most newborns between days 2 and 4 and usually resolves on its own by 2 weeks.
  • Warning signs: jaundice on day 1, poor weight gain, lethargy, or fever — contact your doctor.
  • Treatment includes phototherapy (a safe light treatment) and more frequent feeding.
  • Sunlight and home remedies are not substitutes for medical care.

Physiological Jaundice Is Normal

In the first days of life, red blood cells break down rapidly. This leads to increased bilirubin — a yellow pigment processed by the liver. Since newborn livers are still immature, bilirubin may build up in the body and cause jaundice.

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Physiological jaundice is a common and normal condition that usually appears between days 2 and 4 after birth and disappears by day 7–14

  • The skin may look slightly yellow — first on the face, then the chest, belly, and legs
  • Mucous membranes may also be yellow — such as the gums or the whites of the eyes
  • Most cases are mild and resolve without treatment
  • About 5% of newborns may have pathological jaundice, which is caused by infections, blood incompatibility, or liver issues and requires medical care

Persistent jaundice symptoms require medical attention

Contact your pediatrician if your baby shows any of the following symptoms:

  • Jaundice in the first 24 hours of life
  • Yellowing that worsens after day 4 or comes back later
  • Wave-like or fluctuating jaundice
  • The baby is very sleepy or fussy, feeds poorly, or is not gaining weight
  • Rash, fever, trouble breathing, dark urine, or pale-colored stool
  • Jaundice that lasts longer than 2 weeks
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If yellowing gets worse instead of better, contact your doctor promptly

Phototherapy and Feeding Help Lower Bilirubin

Treatment is often not needed. Physiological jaundice resolves naturally as the baby’s liver matures. Parents should simply watch for symptoms and monitor the baby’s condition.

In some cases, the doctor may recommend:

  • Phototherapy — the most common treatment. The baby is placed under a special blue light that helps break down bilirubin through the skin. This method is safe and does not cause burns.
  • More frequent feeding — to help flush bilirubin out of the body through urine and stool.

Frequently Asked Questions About Newborn Jaundice

Is jaundice normal in a newborn?

Yes. Physiological jaundice is very common in newborns. It usually appears between days 2 and 4 of life and resolves on its own within 1–2 weeks as the baby's liver matures.

When is newborn jaundice a cause for concern?

Contact your doctor if jaundice appears during the first 24 hours after birth, becomes more intense after day 4–5, is accompanied by poor feeding, lethargy, fever, dark urine, pale stools, or lasts longer than two weeks.

How is newborn jaundice treated?

Most cases do not require treatment. If bilirubin levels become too high, a doctor may recommend phototherapy, a safe treatment that uses special blue light. Frequent feeding can also help the body eliminate bilirubin more effectively.

Can sunlight treat newborn jaundice at home?

No. Sunlight is not a substitute for medical evaluation or phototherapy when needed. If jaundice worsens or does not improve, your baby should be examined by a healthcare professional.

Sources

  • Lai NM, Ahmad Kamar A, Choo YM, Kong JY, Ngim CF. Fluid supplementation for neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Aug 1;8(8):CD011891. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011891.pub2. PMID: 28762235; PMCID: PMC6483308. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6483308/#CD011891-sec-0055. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
  • Tsujimoto Y, Miki S, Shimada H, Tsujimoto H, Yasuda H, Kataoka Y, Fujii T. Non‐pharmacological interventions for preventing clotting of extracorporeal circuits during continuous renal replacement therapy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2021, Issue 9. Art. No.: CD013330. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013330.pub2. https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013330.pub2/full. Accessed 01 April 2025.