Yes—most newborn jaundice fades within 1–2 weeks, but babies need timely checks and treatment if levels rise or last longer.
Newborn jaundice is common. It gives a yellow tint to skin and eyes when bilirubin, a pigment from normal red-blood-cell turnover, builds up faster than a baby can clear it. Most term babies look their most yellow around days 3–5, then lighten. Preterm babies may take longer. Your care team checks levels, because very high bilirubin can harm the brain, yet the vast majority never reach that point and do well.
Newborn jaundice at a glance
| Age/Timing | What You May Notice | What Parents Should Do |
|---|---|---|
| First 24 hours | Yellowing that starts this early is not typical | Call your clinician the same day for urgent testing |
| Days 2–3 | Color appears or deepens; baby may be sleepy | Feed often; ask about a bilirubin check before going home |
| Days 3–5 (peak) | Color usually at its strongest | Confirm a follow-up visit; ask when the next level check is due |
| End of week 1–2 | Color starts to fade in term babies | Keep feeding 8–12 times daily; track diapers and behavior |
| Beyond 2 weeks (term) or 3 weeks (preterm) | Yellow tint lingers; baby otherwise well | Ask about “prolonged jaundice” labs to rule out liver or thyroid issues |
| Any time | Pale chalky stools, dark tea-colored urine, fever, poor feeding, hard to wake, high-pitched cry | Seek care now; these are red flags |
Why newborns get yellow
Before birth, the placenta clears bilirubin for the baby. After birth the liver takes over. Newborn livers are still maturing, red blood cells turn over quickly, and gut reabsorption sends some bilirubin back into the bloodstream. That combo makes mild jaundice very likely in the first days.
Does jaundice go away in newborns? The usual course
In most term babies the yellow fades by the end of the second week. Preterm or small babies may take a bit longer. Breastfed babies can show two different patterns tied to timing. Early “breastfeeding jaundice” appears in the first week when intake is low; fixing latch and feeding frequency usually brings the level down. “Breast milk jaundice” starts after the first week in fully fed babies and can linger several weeks while the baby stays well, growing, and active. Providers follow both the numbers and the baby, not just the color.
Breastfeeding jaundice vs breast milk jaundice
Breastfeeding jaundice
- Starts day 2–5 when milk transfer is low
- Baby may be sleepy and not making many wet diapers
- Care plan: improve latch, wake to feed, add expressed milk or short-term supplementation if your clinician advises
Breast milk jaundice
- Starts after day 5–7 in babies who feed and gain well
- Baby looks yellow but acts normal
- Can last 3–12 weeks, then clears without stopping breastfeeding
- Care plan: keep breastfeeding; follow levels; rare cases need brief phototherapy
When treatment steps in
The decision rests on the bilirubin level, the baby’s age in hours, and any added risks such as prematurity, bruising, G6PD deficiency, or blood-group incompatibility. Teams use a skin screening device and blood tests, then compare the value with age-based charts from the latest pediatric guidance. If the number crosses a treatment line, blue-light phototherapy starts. If levels are far above the line or rising despite lights, an exchange transfusion may be used in a hospital with advanced care. Most babies need only phototherapy and good feeding.
Phototherapy, how it works
Blue light changes bilirubin into forms the body can excrete in bile and urine. During treatment, the baby stays under lights or on a fiber-optic pad with only the diaper on and eye protection in place. Feeding continues on schedule. Levels usually fall within hours. A small rebound can happen after lights stop, so a repeat level may be planned.
How doctors decide: numbers and risk
Every newborn should have a bilirubin value measured or plotted against age before discharge and a follow-up visit set for the window when levels usually peak. The plan depends on hours since birth and risk. Babies who had jaundice in the first 24 hours, early discharge, prematurity, bruising, known blood-group mismatch, or a sibling who needed phototherapy are watched more closely. Families get clear return times and warning signs to watch for.
Watch-list signs that need care now
- Jaundice in the first 24 hours after birth
- Deepening yellow after going home
- Hard to wake, poor feeding, weak suck, or fewer than 6 wet diapers after day 4
- Fever, limp tone, or a high-pitched cry
- Dark yellow urine that stains the diaper
- Pale, chalky, or light gray stools
- Yellow lasting more than 2 weeks in term babies or more than 3 weeks in preterm infants
Will newborn jaundice go away on its own? Timing and checks
For most babies, yes. The timeline depends on maturity, feeding, and any added risks. Term babies usually clear by 1–2 weeks; preterm babies may take up to 3 weeks. Breast milk jaundice can linger longer yet still be harmless when the baby is thriving and labs show the indirect type of bilirubin. Direct (conjugated) bilirubin is different. If a baby’s stool is pale or the urine looks dark, that hints at a problem with bile flow and needs prompt testing.
Home care that helps while you wait
- Feed often: 8–12 times a day for breastfed babies; on-demand for formula-fed babies. Good intake lowers reabsorption in the gut and helps bilirubin leave in stool.
- Track diapers: by day 4, expect at least 6 wets and 3–4 stools daily.
- Keep visits: if the color deepens, the baby looks sleepy, or feeding slips, ask about an extra level check.
- Avoid sun exposure as treatment: sunlight through a window is not a substitute for medical phototherapy and can overheat or burn delicate skin.
- Skip water or sugar water: these do not clear bilirubin and can displace needed milk.
Conditions that raise risk or slow recovery
Some babies carry added risks. Common ones include prematurity, bruising or cephalohematoma from delivery, ABO or Rh incompatibility, poor feeding, weight loss, infection, or thyroid disease. In certain regions or families, G6PD deficiency raises risk, especially in boys. Family history matters too if a prior baby needed phototherapy. Share any of these with your clinician at discharge and the first visit.
How jaundice gets checked and treated
| Step Or Test | What It Shows | Usual Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Visual screen | Yellow tone, sclera color, overall impression | Confirm with a bilirubin level if yellow is seen |
| Transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) | Noninvasive estimate through the skin | If near a treatment line, confirm with a blood test |
| Total serum bilirubin (TSB) | Accurate level used for decisions | Plot on an age-in-hours chart to decide on phototherapy |
| Direct bilirubin | Checks for cholestasis | If elevated, investigate liver and bile ducts |
| Blood type/Coombs test | Finds immune-mediated hemolysis | Follow guidance; lower treatment thresholds may apply |
| Phototherapy | Light converts bilirubin so the body can excrete it | Continue feeds; recheck levels to confirm a steady fall |
| Exchange transfusion | Rapid removal of bilirubin in severe cases | Intensive care; used when other care is not enough |
What parents can expect during follow-up
Expect at least one check 3–5 days after birth, timed for the usual bilirubin peak. Some babies need earlier checks. If your baby goes home within 24–48 hours, the first visit is set sooner. Ask for the actual number, the plotted risk zone, and the plan if the number rises. If treatment is needed, phototherapy often starts the same day in the hospital or at home with rented equipment, based on your local program and the baby’s risk profile. Once levels fall and the baby looks better, care returns to routine visits.
Safe breastfeeding while managing jaundice
Keep nursing. Frequent, effective feeds clear bilirubin. A session with a lactation specialist can boost transfer and supply. Some babies benefit from expressed milk after each feed. A short course of formula may be suggested in select cases under medical guidance; that choice weighs the bilirubin level, intake, and parental goals. Stopping breastfeeding is rarely needed, even with breast milk jaundice, and is usually avoided.
Answering common worries
Will jaundice come back after lights? A small rebound can happen, so a repeat level may be planned. Can jaundice cause brain injury? That is rare with modern care and timely checks. Does a yellow baby always need lights? No; many babies need only better feeding and follow-up. Is there a role for home remedies? No. Safe care is frequent feeding, scheduled checks, and medical phototherapy when the chart says it is needed.
A quick word on stool and urine color
Stool that stays pale, chalky, or light gray, or urine that looks dark yellow or tea-colored, points to a blockage of bile flow. That pattern is not the usual newborn jaundice and needs testing right away. Early detection protects the liver. If you see those colors at any time, call your clinician the same day.
Where to learn more
For the medical roadmap and treatment charts, see the AAP guideline on newborn hyperbilirubinemia. For a parent-friendly overview and safety tips, read the CDC page on jaundice and kernicterus.