Newborn Jaundice: What Parents Need to Know About Causes, Treatment, and When to Worry

When a baby’s skin and eyes turn yellow, it’s usually newborn jaundice, a condition caused by elevated bilirubin in the blood that’s common in the first few days after birth. Also known as neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, it happens because a newborn’s liver isn’t quite ready to process bilirubin—the yellow pigment from breaking down old red blood cells. Most cases are mild and go away on their own, but knowing the signs and when to act can make all the difference.

Not all jaundice is the same. breastfeeding jaundice, a type that occurs when babies aren’t getting enough milk in the first few days, is different from physiological jaundice, the normal, harmless kind that peaks around day 3 to 5. Then there’s the rarer but serious bilirubin encephalopathy, a brain injury risk if bilirubin levels climb too high without treatment. That’s why doctors check bilirubin levels with a simple skin test or blood draw, especially if your baby looks yellow before day 2, isn’t feeding well, or seems unusually sleepy.

Phototherapy—where babies are placed under special blue lights—is the most common treatment. It’s safe, non-invasive, and works by changing bilirubin into a form the baby can pee out. In severe cases, an exchange transfusion might be needed, but that’s rare. For breastfeeding jaundice, increasing feeding frequency often helps. Some parents worry that stopping breastfeeding will fix it, but that’s usually not the answer. Most babies thrive with more feeds, not fewer.

You’ll see a lot of advice online—sunlight, herbal teas, home remedies—but none of those are reliable or safe substitutes for medical care. The key is monitoring: watch for worsening yellowing, especially on the chest, arms, or legs. Check your baby’s diaper output—if they’re not peeing or pooping enough, that’s a red flag. And if your baby seems listless, cries in a high-pitched way, or won’t wake up to feed, get help right away.

This collection brings together real, practical advice from trusted medical sources. You’ll find clear explanations of how bilirubin levels are measured, what to expect during phototherapy, how to support breastfeeding while managing jaundice, and when to push for further testing. No fluff. No guesswork. Just what you need to protect your baby’s health.