Newborn care: the first weeks, day by day
Five things tell you most of what you need to know in the first weeks: feeds, diapers, the cord stump, skin color and temperature.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
In the first weeks, most newborns feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, and from about day 5 they should have at least 5 to 6 wet diapers a day. Keep the cord stump clean and dry until it falls off, usually within 3 weeks. A temperature of 38 °C (100.4 °F) or more in a baby under 3 months always means calling the doctor right away.
The newborn weeks at a glance
| Topic | What is usual | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Feeds (breast milk) | about every 2 hours, 10 to 12 sessions in 24 hours | AAP |
| Feeds (formula) | every 2 to 3 hours, at least 8 feeds in 24 hours | AAP |
| Wet diapers, first few days | 2 to 3 a day | AAP |
| Wet diapers, after day 4 to 5 | at least 5 to 6 a day | AAP |
| Stools by day 4 | at least 4 a day (varies with breast or formula) | AAP |
| Diaper changes, young babies | up to 10 to 12 a day | NHS |
| Cord stump | dry, falls off by 3 weeks | AAP |
| Jaundice | most visible around day 3, usually gone in about 2 weeks | NHS |
These are reference points, not targets. Your midwife, health visitor or pediatrician checks weight and feeding in the first days; bring your questions to those visits.
Feeding: watch your baby, not the clock
The AAP calls it responsive feeding: for most healthy, full-term babies, you feed when your baby shows hunger. Crying is a late sign of hunger, so try to catch the earlier ones:
- licking lips or sticking the tongue out;
- rooting, turning the head and mouth in search of the breast;
- bringing a hand to the mouth again and again;
- opening the mouth, sucking on anything nearby;
- fussing.
Babies also suck for comfort, so not every cue means hunger; sometimes a cuddle or a clean diaper is the answer. Premature babies and babies with some medical conditions may need scheduled feeds set by your pediatrician.
Amounts for formula feeding, as the AAP describes them: about half an ounce per feed for the first day or two, then usually 1 to 2 ounces per feed, and by the end of the first month at least 3 to 4 ounces about every 3 to 4 hours. Bottle-fed babies can overfeed more easily, so pause during the feed and let your baby show you when they are full.
Diapers: your daily feeding check
The diaper is the simplest way to know milk is going in. The AAP's reference points are in the table above; the weight curve at checkups confirms the rest.
What the NHS says about newborn poo:
- the first poo, meconium, is sticky and greenish-black, usually within the first 48 hours;
- after a few days it turns yellow or mustard;
- breastfed babies' poo is runny and barely smells; formula-fed babies' poo is firmer, darker and smellier;
- straining or even crying while pooing is normal; soft poo after a few days without one is not constipation.
Talk to your doctor or health visitor if poo becomes very watery, hard, very smelly, contains blood, or looks pale: pale poo can be a sign of jaundice.
Change the diaper as soon as it is wet or dirty to protect the skin, clean inside every fold, wipe girls front to back, and never leave your baby alone on a changing table (NHS).
The umbilical cord stump
The AAP's guidance is short:
- Keep the stump clean and dry; no alcohol needed.
- Fold the diaper below the stump so urine does not soak it.
- A few drops of blood on the diaper when it falls off are normal.
Until the stump falls off, give sponge baths only. The full routine is on our newborn bath guide.
Call your baby's doctor if the cord actively bleeds, if there is a foul-smelling yellowish discharge, red skin around the base, crying when you touch it, or if the stump is still there after 3 weeks.
Jaundice: yellow skin in the first days
Jaundice happens because a newborn's liver takes a few days to clear bilirubin. The NHS says the yellow is most noticeable around day 3 and usually takes about 2 weeks to fade. It is easier to see in daylight, in the whites of the eyes, under the tongue or inside the cheeks, and harder to see on brown or black skin.
Frequent feeds help: the NHS mentions 8 to 12 feeds a day. The AAP warns that putting your baby in sunlight is not a safe way to treat jaundice; when treatment is needed, it is usually phototherapy.
| Situation | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow skin in a baby under 24 hours old | call 999 / 911 or go to the emergency department | NHS |
| Jaundice that is not improving or getting worse, dark pee, pale creamy poo | urgent appointment with your doctor or midwife, or call NHS 111 | NHS |
| Very sleepy, hard to wake, not feeding, floppy or stiff, fast or difficult breathing | call 999 / 911 | NHS |
| Jaundice lasting beyond 2 weeks (formula-fed) or 4 weeks (mostly breastfed) | tell your baby's doctor | AAP |
Fever: the rule that does not bend
A high temperature is 38 °C (100.4 °F) or more (NHS). In a baby under 3 months, the AAP says to call the doctor right away; in the UK, the NHS says to call 111. Use a digital thermometer; the NHS describes taking it under the armpit and waiting a few minutes after a bath or being wrapped up, which can raise the reading for a short time.
Call 911 (US) or 999 (UK) if your baby is drowsy and hard to wake, floppy, struggling to breathe (grunting, belly sucking in under the ribs), has blue, grey or blotchy skin or lips, has a seizure, or has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass on it. These are the NHS emergency signs.
Do not give any medicine to a young baby without advice from your doctor or pharmacist. This page gives no doses.
The other questions of the first weeks
- Sleep: how long newborns sleep and how to keep every sleep safe, in our newborn sleep schedule and safe sleep guide.
- Crying: what is normal, and a plan for the hard evenings, in PURPLE crying.
- Equipment: only what you really need, in the newborn essentials checklist.
Questions parents ask
How many times a day should a newborn eat?
The AAP says breastfed newborns usually nurse about every 2 hours, 10 to 12 times in 24 hours, and bottle-fed newborns eat every 2 to 3 hours, at least 8 times in 24 hours. Feed on cues rather than the clock unless your pediatrician advises a schedule.
When does the umbilical cord stump fall off?
The AAP says it should dry and fall off by 3 weeks of age. If it is still there after that, or if it actively bleeds, smells bad or the skin around it is red, see your baby's doctor.
Is newborn jaundice dangerous?
Most jaundice is mild and harmless, but very high bilirubin can harm the brain, which is why babies are tested. Jaundice in the first 24 hours, a baby who is hard to wake or not feeding, or pale stools all need prompt medical advice.
What temperature is a fever in a newborn?
38 °C (100.4 °F) or more. In a baby under 3 months, the AAP says to call the doctor right away and the NHS says to call 111; call 911 or 999 if your baby is floppy, hard to wake, struggling to breathe or has a rash that does not fade under a glass.
Sources
- AAP HealthyChildren — How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat? checked October 13, 2026
- AAP HealthyChildren — Umbilical Cord Care in Newborns checked October 13, 2026
- AAP HealthyChildren — Jaundice in Newborns checked October 13, 2026
- AAP HealthyChildren — Fever: When to Call the Pediatrician checked October 13, 2026
- NHS — Jaundice in babies checked October 13, 2026
- NHS — How to change your baby's nappy checked October 13, 2026
- NHS — High temperature (fever) in children checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.