My newborn looks yellow. Is this jaundice normal?
Quick answer
Yellow skin or eyes in a newborn is caused by elevated bilirubin levels. While mild jaundice after day 2 is common, rapidly rising jaundice can risk a baby's brain health. Neonatologist Dr. Bramhini Nareddy provides same-visit bilirubin testing and blue-light phototherapy at Nareddy Care Hospitals in Prasanthi Nagar, Tirupati.
Action guide
When to seek care
Emergency now (Call 108)
- Jaundice appearing within the first 24 hours of birth (always pathological)
- Yellow color extending all the way down to the palms, soles, and belly
- Baby is very difficult to wake up or refuses multiple feeds
- High-pitched shrill crying, arching back, or seizures
- Pale white/clay-colored stools or dark mustard-yellow urine
See a doctor today
- Jaundice appearing on days 2 to 4 and spreading past the chest
- Baby feeds for only 2–3 minutes and falls asleep exhausted
- Fewer than 6 wet diapers in 24 hours after day 4
- Jaundice still present after 14 days of age
Care at home & watch
- Yellow tint confined only to the face and eyes, fading gradually
- Baby feeds vigorously every 2 to 3 hours (8–12 times a day)
- Passing plenty of wet diapers and normal yellow seedy stools
- Alert, active, and gaining weight normally
Diagnosis
Common possible causes
Physiological jaundiceImmature newborn liver catching up with red blood cell processing.Read more ›Breast milk jaundiceHarmless enzyme interaction causing mild jaundice that lingers for weeks.Read more ›Blood group incompatibilityMother Rh-negative or O group with baby A/B group, causing rapid jaundice.Read more ›
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell how far jaundice has spread at home?
In natural daylight, gently press your finger on baby's forehead, chest, abdomen, and thighs for 2 seconds. If the blanched skin looks yellow below the chest, see Dr. Bramhini for a bilirubin blood test.
Is morning sunlight enough to cure newborn jaundice?
Sunlight is not reliable or safe for significant jaundice because of sunburn and hypothermia risks. Calibrated medical phototherapy is the proven safe treatment.
Dr. Bramhini Nareddy
Paediatrician-Neonatologist · Open until 10 pm daily.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Bramhini Nareddy, MD (Paediatrics) · Last updated October 2026