# My newborn looks jaundiced — when should I worry? | Clever Mum > Mild jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) is very common, affecting over half of newborns, usually appearing on day 2–3 and clearing by 2 weeks without * [ Home ](/) * › [ Mum Answers ](/answers) * › My newborn looks jaundiced — when should I worry? Newborn & Baby # My newborn looks jaundiced — when should I worry? Quick answer — My newborn looks jaundiced — when should I worry? Mild jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) is very common, affecting over half of newborns, usually appearing on day 2–3 and clearing by 2 weeks without treatment. Get same-day advice if jaundice appears in the first 24 hours of life, spreads to the arms and legs, your baby is very sleepy or hard to feed, or if it hasn't cleared by 2 weeks (3 weeks if premature) — these need a bilirubin check. ## Why it's so common Newborns produce more bilirubin than adults (from breaking down extra red blood cells needed in the womb) and their immature liver can't clear it as fast, so it briefly builds up and tints the skin and whites of the eyes yellow. It typically appears around day 2–3, peaks around day 5, and clears by 2 weeks on its own. ## Checking for it Jaundice can be harder to spot on darker skin tones — check the whites of the eyes, gums and the soles of the feet, and press gently on the skin to see if it looks yellow underneath. Your midwife checks for it at routine visits. ## When it needs a same-day check * Appears within the **first 24 hours** of life (different from typical jaundice and needs urgent review) * Spreads to the arms, legs or feels significant * Your baby is unusually sleepy, difficult to wake, or feeding poorly * Hasn't cleared by 2 weeks (3 weeks if born premature) * Pale, chalky stools or dark urine (a different, rarer cause worth checking) Treatment, when needed, is usually straightforward phototherapy (light therapy) under monitoring — most babies need no treatment at all. ## More Newborn & Baby questions * [How often should I bathe a newborn?](/answers/how-often-bathe-newborn/) * [When can I take my newborn outside?](/answers/when-can-baby-go-outside/) * [How many nappies does a newborn use a day?](/answers/how-many-nappies-newborn/) * [When do babies start smiling?](/answers/when-do-babies-smile/) * [How do I look after my newborn's umbilical cord stump?](/answers/how-to-care-for-umbilical-cord-stump/) [Browse every question we answer →](/answers/) Health answers describe NHS guidance and are not medical advice — for anything urgent, call 111 (or 999 in an emergency). Spotted something out of date? Email [editors@clevermum.co.uk](mailto:editors@clevermum.co.uk).