What to Do When Your Newborn Baby Has Jaundice?
- Sep 5, 2025
- 4 min read
Noticing a yellowish tint in your newborn’s skin or in the whites of their eyes can be unsettling for any parent. This condition is called baby (neonatal) jaundice, and it is actually one of the most common health concerns in the first days after birth. For many babies, it is harmless and resolves naturally, but for parents seeing it for the first time, it can still raise understandable worries.
At Joyful Seeds Paediatric & Development Clinic, located in Bukit Timah, Dr Charmaine Teo and Dr Martha Liu care for many newborns with baby jaundice. Our role is not only to monitor your little one’s health but also to guide you through these early days with clarity, reassurance, and expert support.
Why Baby Jaundice Happens
Baby jaundice appears when a newborn’s blood contains higher than normal levels of bilirubin. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that is produced when red blood cells break down. In adults and older children, the liver processes bilirubin efficiently so it can be removed from the body. In newborns, the liver is still developing, so this process can be slower, allowing bilirubin to build up and cause that familiar yellow tint.
Most babies will have some degree of jaundice in the first week of life. It often appears two to four days after birth, peaks around day four or five, and gradually fades over one to two weeks. Breastfed babies may have mild jaundice for a little longer, but this is usually normal and not harmful.
The Common Causes of Baby Jaundice
There are several reasons why baby jaundice may occur, and understanding them can help you feel more confident in managing it.
Physiological jaundice
This is the most common type and is simply part of a newborn’s natural adjustment to life outside the womb. It occurs as the baby’s body replaces the high number of red blood cells present at birth and the liver matures.
Breastfeeding jaundice
Sometimes jaundice appears if a baby is not feeding often or effectively enough in the first few days. Without enough feeds, bilirubin is removed from the body more slowly.
Breast milk jaundice
This is a harmless form that can appear after the first week of life. Substances in breast milk can temporarily affect how the liver processes bilirubin. Babies with this type of jaundice are otherwise healthy and feeding well.
Other medical causes
In some cases, jaundice can be related to blood group incompatibility between mother and baby, internal bleeding during birth, infection, or inherited conditions affecting the red blood cells or liver.
At our clinic in Bukit Timah, Dr Charmaine Teo and Dr Martha Liu carefully assess each baby to understand the cause, so we can decide whether simple monitoring is enough or whether treatment is needed.
Signs That Your Baby May Have Jaundice
Jaundice is most easily seen in natural daylight. It often begins on the face and the whites of the eyes, then moves down the body towards the chest, tummy, arms, and legs.
Other signs to watch for include:
A baby who is sleepier than usual or harder to wake for feeds
Poor feeding or a lack of interest in feeding
Dark yellow urine (newborn urine is usually colourless)
Pale or chalky-coloured stools (normal newborn stools are yellow or greenish)
While many cases of baby jaundice are mild, it is important to pay attention to how your baby looks and behaves, as higher bilirubin levels may require more active treatment.
When to Seek Medical Advice
You should contact a doctor promptly if:
Your baby develops yellow skin or eyes in the first 24 hours after birth
The yellow colour deepens quickly or spreads over the body within a short time
Your baby is very sleepy, difficult to wake, or refusing feeds
You notice dark urine or pale stools
Jaundice lasts beyond two to three weeks without improving
At Joyful Seeds Paediatric & Development Clinic, we can check your baby’s bilirubin levels using safe and painless tests. This allows us to determine whether your baby’s jaundice is within a normal range or whether treatment is needed to help them recover.
How Baby Jaundice Is Treated
Many babies with mild jaundice will improve naturally as their liver matures. However, treatment may be recommended if bilirubin levels are higher than what is safe.
Frequent feeding
Regular feeds every two to three hours help your baby’s body remove bilirubin more quickly. Breastfed and formula-fed babies both benefit from this approach.
Phototherapy
If bilirubin levels are high, your baby may need phototherapy. This treatment uses a special type of blue light that changes bilirubin into a form that the body can eliminate more easily. It is safe and gentle, and many babies rest comfortably under the light.
Treating underlying causes
If the jaundice is due to a specific medical condition, we will address that directly. This may involve treating an infection or managing other underlying health concerns.
Our doctors always explain the treatment plan clearly so parents understand why it is needed and what to expect.
Supporting Your Baby at Home
As a parent, you play a vital role in your baby’s recovery. Some helpful steps include:
Feeding your baby regularly to keep them well-hydrated
Gently waking your baby for feeds if they are very sleepy
Keeping follow-up appointments to monitor progress
Watching for changes in skin colour, feeding patterns, or alertness
We remind parents that these early weeks are a time of learning for both baby and family, and seeking reassurance is always encouraged.
Reducing the Risk of Baby Jaundice
You cannot prevent every case, but you can help lower the risk or reduce its severity by:
Feeding your baby often from birth to promote healthy bilirubin levels
Getting early support of breastfeeding is not going smoothly
Attending all postnatal check-ups so that jaundice can be detected and managed early
How Joyful Seeds Supports You Through Jaundice Care
Seeing your newborn with baby jaundice can feel overwhelming, especially in the early days when everything is new. At Joyful Seeds Paediatric & Development Clinic, located in Bukit Timah, we combine careful medical assessment with a warm, family-centred approach. Dr Charmaine Teo and Dr Martha Liu will walk with you every step of the way, offering not only medical expertise but also the reassurance and encouragement every new parent needs.
If your baby shows signs of jaundice, or if you are unsure whether their skin tone is normal, we welcome you to book a consultation. Together, we can ensure your baby gets the healthiest start to life.
