My newborn looks jaundiced — when should I worry?

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.