Baby Tracker for DadsIs it normal for a newborn to look yellow in the first 24 hours?
No, jaundice that appears in the first 24 hours after birth is a reason to call your pediatrician right away. The AAP says any baby with jaundice in the first 24 hours should have a bilirubin level measured right away, which is a test, not something to watch for at home.
Call your pediatrician right away (UK: your GP or NHS 111) if your baby:
- Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)
| When | Sign | Action | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| First 24 hours after birth | Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice) | Call your pediatrician right away; the bilirubin level should be measured right away | AAP |
What the sources say
Any baby that has jaundice in the first 24 hours after birth should have the bilirubin level measured right away.
At 3 AM
Many babies are still in the hospital at 24 hours, so this is often a word with the ward rather than a phone call. If you are already home, call the pediatrician or the number the hospital gave you for the first days.
Look in daylight or under a white light, not a warm lamp. Yellow is easy to miss in a dim room and easy to imagine under a yellow bulb. Check the whites of the eyes and the skin on the face and chest.
Do not wait for the next day's check to mention it. The AAP's sentence is about a test done right away, and the point of calling is to get that test, not to be told over the phone that it is probably fine.
Have these ready: the time of birth, the time you first noticed the yellow, where you see it, whether the baby is feeding and how often, wet diapers so far, and whether they are waking for feeds.
This page is about the first 24 hours only. Jaundice that appears later is a different question with its own thresholds, and not one we have a checked quote for yet.
Where the sources differ
The AAP page gives the first-24-hours line in one sentence. The NHS newborn jaundice page is in the app's source list for this sign, but we have not recorded a sentence from it yet, so this page quotes the AAP alone.
You know your baby best. If you think something is seriously wrong, get help now.
This page is general information, not medical advice. If you're worried, call your pediatrician.
Related questions
Baby Tracker for Dads starts the log from the time of birth and keeps this line on its free When to call a doctor page.