Jaundice

Is this jaundice something to worry about?

Content reviewed against published AAP, CDC guidelines

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Last reviewed:

Key takeaways

  • Go to the ER if: seek immediate medical care
  • Call your doctor if: call your pediatrician today
  • Usually safe to monitor at home: monitor at home
  • When in doubt, call your pediatrician — they would rather hear from you than have you worry alone

How old is your baby?

Your baby's age is very important for evaluating jaundice. Jaundice appearing within the first 24 hours of life is always an emergency.

This is not medical advice. When in doubt, always call your pediatrician.

Quick Reference Guide

Call 911 / Go to ER

  • Seek immediate medical care

    Jaundice appearing within the first 24 hours of life is always pathological - it is never normal. This can indicate blood type incompatibility (Rh or ABO), infection, or other serious conditions that require urgent treatment.

    • If still in the hospital, alert your nurse immediately
    • If already discharged, go to the ER now
    • Your baby will need a bilirubin blood test urgently
    • Do not wait to see if it improves - early jaundice can rise very quickly

  • Go to the ER now

    Your baby is showing signs of severe jaundice. Very high bilirubin levels can be toxic to the brain (kernicterus). Your baby may need phototherapy or an exchange transfusion. This is time-sensitive.

    • Go to the emergency room immediately
    • If your baby is arching their back, has a high-pitched cry, or is extremely floppy, tell the ER team right away - these are signs of acute bilirubin encephalopathy
    • Undress your baby to their diaper in natural light on the way if safe to do so
    • Continue trying to feed (breast or bottle) to help eliminate bilirubin

  • Call your pediatrician now - or go to the ER

    A jaundiced baby who is not feeding well is at risk for worsening jaundice and dehydration. Poor feeding means less bilirubin is being eliminated. Your baby needs evaluation today.

    • Call your pediatrician immediately - if not reachable within 30 minutes, go to the ER
    • Try to wake and feed your baby every 2 hours - tickle feet, undress, use a cool cloth
    • If breastfeeding, ensure a proper latch - consider supplementing with expressed milk or formula if baby will not latch
    • Your baby will need a bilirubin level checked

  • Call your pediatrician now

    Jaundice beyond 2 weeks combined with pale, white, or clay-colored stools is a warning sign for biliary atresia - a serious liver condition where the bile ducts are blocked. Early diagnosis is critical for the best outcomes. This is time-sensitive.

    • Call your pediatrician immediately for urgent evaluation
    • Your baby will need blood tests including a direct (conjugated) bilirubin level
    • Save a diaper with the pale stool or take a photo to show the doctor
    • Do not delay - biliary atresia outcomes are much better when caught early (before 60 days)

Call Your Pediatrician

  • Call your pediatrician today

    Jaundice lasting beyond 2 weeks needs evaluation even if your baby seems well. In breastfed babies, breast milk jaundice can be benign and last several weeks, but your doctor should confirm with a blood test to rule out other causes.

    • Call your pediatrician for an appointment this week
    • Your baby will need a bilirubin blood test (including direct bilirubin)
    • Continue feeding well - at least 8-12 times per day
    • Note the stool color at each diaper change - alert your doctor immediately if stools become pale or white
    • Do not stop breastfeeding unless specifically directed by your doctor

  • Call your pediatrician today

    Low diaper output in a jaundiced baby suggests they may not be getting enough milk, which means less bilirubin is being eliminated. Your pediatrician needs to check both the bilirubin level and feeding adequacy.

    • Call your pediatrician for a same-day appointment if possible
    • Feed your baby every 2 hours - wake them if needed
    • If breastfeeding, consider supplementing with expressed breast milk or formula until the appointment
    • Track wet diapers and stools closely - write down the time of each
    • Your baby will likely need a weight check and bilirubin test

  • Call during office hours

    Your baby's jaundice is worth discussing with your pediatrician. Even though your baby is feeding well, jaundice that is worsening or not improving should be checked with a bilirubin test.

    • Call your pediatrician during their next office hours
    • Continue feeding frequently - at least 8-12 times per day
    • Place your baby near a window in indirect sunlight (not direct sun) for short periods - this can help mildly
    • Check the skin color in natural light daily - press gently on the forehead or chest and look at the color underneath
    • Watch for spreading to legs, palms, or soles - call sooner if this happens

Monitor at Home

  • Monitor at home

    Mild jaundice in the first week of life is very common - about 60% of full-term newborns develop visible jaundice. If your baby is feeding well, has good output, and the yellow color is fading, this is following a normal course.

    • Continue feeding your baby frequently - at least 8-12 times per 24 hours
    • Adequate feeding is the best treatment for mild jaundice - it helps the body eliminate bilirubin through stool
    • Check the skin color in natural light once or twice a day
    • Call your pediatrician if the yellow color spreads, deepens, or if feeding worsens
    • Keep all scheduled newborn follow-up appointments - your baby's bilirubin will be checked
    • Mention the jaundice at your next visit even if it seems to be improving

Jaundice — When to Seek Care Decision Guide

Urgency: Emergency / ER

Scenario: Seek immediate medical care

What to Do: Jaundice appearing within the first 24 hours of life is always pathological - it is never normal. This can indicate blood type incompatibility (Rh or ABO), infection, or other serious conditions that require urgent treatment.

Key Actions: If still in the hospital, alert your nurse immediately; If already discharged, go to the ER now; Your baby will need a bilirubin blood test urgently; Do not wait to see if it improves - early jaundice can rise very quickly

Urgency: Emergency / ER

Scenario: Go to the ER now

What to Do: Your baby is showing signs of severe jaundice. Very high bilirubin levels can be toxic to the brain (kernicterus). Your baby may need phototherapy or an exchange transfusion. This is time-sensitive.

Key Actions: Go to the emergency room immediately; If your baby is arching their back, has a high-pitched cry, or is extremely floppy, tell the ER team right away - these are signs of acute bilirubin encephalopathy; Undress your baby to their diaper in natural light on the way if safe to do so; Continue trying to feed (breast or bottle) to help eliminate bilirubin

Urgency: Emergency / ER

Scenario: Call your pediatrician now - or go to the ER

What to Do: A jaundiced baby who is not feeding well is at risk for worsening jaundice and dehydration. Poor feeding means less bilirubin is being eliminated. Your baby needs evaluation today.

Key Actions: Call your pediatrician immediately - if not reachable within 30 minutes, go to the ER; Try to wake and feed your baby every 2 hours - tickle feet, undress, use a cool cloth; If breastfeeding, ensure a proper latch - consider supplementing with expressed milk or formula if baby will not latch; Your baby will need a bilirubin level checked

Urgency: Emergency / ER

Scenario: Call your pediatrician now

What to Do: Jaundice beyond 2 weeks combined with pale, white, or clay-colored stools is a warning sign for biliary atresia - a serious liver condition where the bile ducts are blocked. Early diagnosis is critical for the best outcomes. This is time-sensitive.

Key Actions: Call your pediatrician immediately for urgent evaluation; Your baby will need blood tests including a direct (conjugated) bilirubin level; Save a diaper with the pale stool or take a photo to show the doctor; Do not delay - biliary atresia outcomes are much better when caught early (before 60 days)

Urgency: Call Doctor

Scenario: Call your pediatrician today

What to Do: Jaundice lasting beyond 2 weeks needs evaluation even if your baby seems well. In breastfed babies, breast milk jaundice can be benign and last several weeks, but your doctor should confirm with a blood test to rule out other causes.

Key Actions: Call your pediatrician for an appointment this week; Your baby will need a bilirubin blood test (including direct bilirubin); Continue feeding well - at least 8-12 times per day; Note the stool color at each diaper change - alert your doctor immediately if stools become pale or white; Do not stop breastfeeding unless specifically directed by your doctor

Urgency: Call Doctor

Scenario: Call your pediatrician today

What to Do: Low diaper output in a jaundiced baby suggests they may not be getting enough milk, which means less bilirubin is being eliminated. Your pediatrician needs to check both the bilirubin level and feeding adequacy.

Key Actions: Call your pediatrician for a same-day appointment if possible; Feed your baby every 2 hours - wake them if needed; If breastfeeding, consider supplementing with expressed breast milk or formula until the appointment; Track wet diapers and stools closely - write down the time of each; Your baby will likely need a weight check and bilirubin test

Urgency: Call Doctor

Scenario: Call during office hours

What to Do: Your baby's jaundice is worth discussing with your pediatrician. Even though your baby is feeding well, jaundice that is worsening or not improving should be checked with a bilirubin test.

Key Actions: Call your pediatrician during their next office hours; Continue feeding frequently - at least 8-12 times per day; Place your baby near a window in indirect sunlight (not direct sun) for short periods - this can help mildly; Check the skin color in natural light daily - press gently on the forehead or chest and look at the color underneath; Watch for spreading to legs, palms, or soles - call sooner if this happens

Urgency: Monitor at Home

Scenario: Monitor at home

What to Do: Mild jaundice in the first week of life is very common - about 60% of full-term newborns develop visible jaundice. If your baby is feeding well, has good output, and the yellow color is fading, this is following a normal course.

Key Actions: Continue feeding your baby frequently - at least 8-12 times per 24 hours; Adequate feeding is the best treatment for mild jaundice - it helps the body eliminate bilirubin through stool; Check the skin color in natural light once or twice a day; Call your pediatrician if the yellow color spreads, deepens, or if feeding worsens; Keep all scheduled newborn follow-up appointments - your baby's bilirubin will be checked; Mention the jaundice at your next visit even if it seems to be improving

Based on AAP and CDC symptom management guidelines. Always call 911 for life-threatening emergencies.

Frequently asked questions

When should I take my baby to the ER for jaundice?
Seek immediate medical care: Jaundice appearing within the first 24 hours of life is always pathological - it is never normal. This can indicate blood type incompatibility (Rh or ABO), infection, or other serious conditions that require urgent treatment.. Go to the ER now: Your baby is showing signs of severe jaundice. Very high bilirubin levels can be toxic to the brain (kernicterus). Your baby may need phototherapy or an exchange transfusion. This is time-sensitive.. Call your pediatrician now - or go to the ER: A jaundiced baby who is not feeding well is at risk for worsening jaundice and dehydration. Poor feeding means less bilirubin is being eliminated. Your baby needs evaluation today.. Call your pediatrician now: Jaundice beyond 2 weeks combined with pale, white, or clay-colored stools is a warning sign for biliary atresia - a serious liver condition where the bile ducts are blocked. Early diagnosis is critical for the best outcomes. This is time-sensitive..
When should I call the doctor about baby jaundice?
Call your pediatrician today: Jaundice lasting beyond 2 weeks needs evaluation even if your baby seems well. In breastfed babies, breast milk jaundice can be benign and last several weeks, but your doctor should confirm with a blood test to rule out other causes.. Call your pediatrician today: Low diaper output in a jaundiced baby suggests they may not be getting enough milk, which means less bilirubin is being eliminated. Your pediatrician needs to check both the bilirubin level and feeding adequacy.. Call during office hours: Your baby's jaundice is worth discussing with your pediatrician. Even though your baby is feeding well, jaundice that is worsening or not improving should be checked with a bilirubin test..
When can I monitor jaundice at home?
Mild jaundice in the first week of life is very common - about 60% of full-term newborns develop visible jaundice. If your baby is feeding well, has good output, and the yellow color is fading, this is following a normal course..

Bottom line

Most cases of jaundice in babies can be managed at home with monitoring. Seek emergency care if you notice seek immediate medical care. When in doubt, call your pediatrician.

Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician. Worrying about your baby means you care — that is a good thing.

All content follows our editorial policy and is reviewed against published clinical guidelines.

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