Jaundice in Newborns: What Families Should Know and When to Seek Help

An independent educational resource prepared by Mark M. Simonian, MD, FAAP

Sources checked: August 13, 2026     |     Medical review completed: August 13, 2026

This page is for general education only and does not replace individualized medical advice. This resource does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. For questions about your own child, contact your child's current healthcare professional.

Magnolia Pediatrics, Valley Children's Healthcare

2497 E. Herndon Avenue, Suite 101, Clovis, CA 93611     |     559-538-3070

Yellow coloring of the skin or eyes is common in newborns, but it needs timely observation and follow-up. A blood or skin bilirubin measurement - interpreted using your baby's age in hours and other health factors - is more reliable than judging color alone.

Urgent Warning Signs - Check This First

Call 911 now for a baby who is not breathing normally, is blue or gray, is limp or unresponsive, has a seizure, or seems to be in immediate danger.

Get emergency medical care now

  • Your newborn is very difficult to wake, is not moving normally, has a high-pitched or unusual cry, repeatedly arches the back or neck, or has a seizure.

  • Your newborn has a rectal temperature of 100.4 F (38.0 C) or higher, especially if under 3 months old. Do not give fever medicine before the baby is evaluated unless a clinician specifically directs you to do so.

  • Your baby will not feed, has a very weak suck, is having trouble breathing, or has signs of dehydration such as very few wet diapers, a very dry mouth, or unusual sleepiness.

Contact your baby's healthcare professional today

  • Yellow color begins in the first 24 hours after birth, becomes deeper, spreads from the face toward the chest, abdomen, arms, or legs, or appears worse than at the last check.

  • The whites of the eyes are yellow, your baby is not feeding well, stools are pale gray, white, or chalky, or urine is dark rather than pale.

  • Your baby was born early, had significant bruising or bleeding under the scalp after delivery, has a known blood-group incompatibility, has a sibling who needed phototherapy, or had a bilirubin level close to treatment range before discharge.

  • Your baby is 4 days or older and has not had the follow-up recommended at discharge, or jaundice lasts beyond 2 weeks.

What Jaundice Means

Jaundice is the yellow color caused by bilirubin, a pigment made when red blood cells are broken down. Newborns make more bilirubin and their livers are still learning to clear it. Many babies develop mild jaundice during the first days of life, but some need repeat testing, feeding support, or treatment.

Jaundice can be harder to see in babies with darker skin. Look at the whites of the eyes, gums, and skin in natural light, but do not rely on appearance alone to decide whether the bilirubin level is safe.

Feeding and Follow-Up Matter

  • Feed your newborn often and follow the feeding plan from the birth hospital or your baby's clinician. For breastfed babies, frequent effective feeding helps establish milk supply and supports bilirubin removal through stools.

  • If breastfeeding is painful, milk transfer is uncertain, your baby is too sleepy to feed, or diaper output is lower than expected, ask promptly for breastfeeding and weight-check support.

  • Do not give water, sugar water, herbal remedies, or sunlight treatment for jaundice. Do not change feeding or add supplements unless your baby's healthcare professional recommends a specific plan.

  • Keep every bilirubin, weight, and newborn follow-up appointment. The timing depends on your baby's age, bilirubin result, gestational age, feeding, and other risk factors.

How Jaundice Is Checked and Treated

Hospitals commonly screen bilirubin before discharge. If follow-up is needed, the clinician may use a noninvasive skin reading or a blood test. Results are interpreted in relation to your baby's age in hours and clinical risks; a single number without that context cannot tell families whether treatment is needed.

When treatment is needed, phototherapy (special light treatment) is common and effective. Feeding support and closely timed follow-up are also important. Decisions about temporary supplemental feeding are individualized; most newborns with jaundice can continue breastfeeding with appropriate support.

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Sources and Medical Review

Sources checked August 13, 2026. Medical review completed August 13, 2026.