How Often Should A Newborn Pee

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How Often Should A Newborn Pee

by Tammy Pratt
(hamilton mo usa )

Urate Crystals In Newborn Diaper (Image by Standford School Of Medicine)

Newborn Babies' Pee Habits

How often a newborn baby can be expected to pee actually changes rapidly during their first week of living. And so does the expected color of the pee.

Here is what to expect on your baby's urine frequency and color during the first week of living:

Pee Habits During The First Few Days

A newborn baby doesn't eat or drink much at all. During the first couple days outside the womb, a baby will start out with drinking only very small amounts of breast milk or formula, and hence will have no need to pee very much either.

During your baby's first 24 hours, it may very well be that your baby only urinates once.

On day 2, you can probably expect 2 wet (but not very heavy) diapers. (If this means that your baby actually only peed twice or peed many times but only enough to wet two diapers, is impossible to know, because a baby has no bladder control and may pee in very tiny amounts often.)

On day 3 - 3 diapers.

On day 4 - 4 wet diapers.

When checking your baby's diapers during these first few days, you may also be surprised (or scared) by the color of the urine. Newborn babies often produce pink or orange-colored urine. This is normal and NOT blood. (See a sample diaper above)

The color is caused by urate crystals, a byproduct of bilrubin and completely normal. It can even be that you can see actual crystals or something resembling power, which is comprised of the crystals.

The intensity of the color is likely to level off quickly. If red-orange on the first day, the urine should be slightly more pale orange on day 2. The color will then continue to shift towards normal pale yellow urine color by day 5.

If the color of your baby's urine is not becoming paler day by day, or if your baby's peeing frequency isn't increasing, your baby needs more fluid. Make sure you breastfeed on demand or offer formula more often. Also check with your baby's health care provider at any doubts on your newborn baby's wellbeing.

Newborn Pee Habits At Day 5 And On

At around 5 or 6 days old, your baby is likely to have started breastfeeding (or formula feeding) more often and in greater amounts. By then, most babies will wet 6 to 8 heavy diapers per 24 hours.

Breastfed babies may also start pooping very frequently – even as often as after every feeding or more.

Comments for
How Often Should A Newborn Pee

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Apr 22, 2010

Newborn Wet Diapers
by: Hawkins

During the first week of life, the number of days old a newborn is that is how many wet diapers they should have. First day of life, one wet diaper. Second day, 2 wet diapers. They of course can have more than that, but they need to make that minimum. After the newborn is a week old they should have 6-8 wet diapers a day. Again, they can have more than that but they need to make that minimum. If not, follow up with your PCM.

Sep 19, 2010

my newborn pees over 10 times a day
by: Anonymous

my newborn is 10 days old and he pees around 10-12 times a day. Is that normal, should I worry. he pops around 6times. I go trough around 15-18 diapers a day. I am just worried if it isn't to often.

Sep 20, 2010

10 times is normal...
by: Paula

Hi,

I think 10-12 times and pooping 6 times per day seems completely normal for a newborn, especially if your baby is breastfed. Breastfed babies tend to poop more often in the beginning and then less often when they are a few months old.

Hope this helps,

Paula

Sep 20, 2010

10 times a day
by: Anonymous

Thank you it is helpful, it is our first baby and we just got worried a little that something might be not right. Thank you again

May 04, 2011

my baby wont pee
by: jocelin

I have a 7month old who hasnt peed in 2 days. He just came out of a stomach flu. Is that normal?

May 04, 2011

To Jocelin
by: Paula

Hi Jocelin,

Even if your baby has had a flu, not peeing for two days is a concern. Do you notice any other signs of dehydration, such as dry eyes or mouth, lethargic or dizzy?

I think you should actually take your baby to the emmergency room immediately. Not peeing for two days is a long time and babies can get dehydrated quite easily.

Also start spoon feeding him with electrolyte liquids, such as Pedialyte, Infalyte, and ReVital. Two teaspoons every five minutes if there is any risk at all that he will throw up if he drinks more than that. If he doesn't throw up, increase the intake of liquid. And of course offer him your breast as much as possible if you breastfeed.

If you don't have any electrolyte liquid at home, you can make your own by mixing:

- Half (1/2) teaspoon of Salt
- Six (6) teaspoons of Sugar
- One Litre (4.3 cups) of clean drinking or boiled water and then cooled

Prepare by simply stirring the mixture until the salt and sugar dissolve.

I don't mean to scare you, but 2 days without urination is enough to get a doctor to examin your baby as soon as possible.

Hope this helps,

Paula

Jan 12, 2012

My 2.5 months baby pees in orange NEW
by: Mia Lee

1. My 2.5 months baby pees in pale orange since last 5 days, before, she peed in pale yellow. Does it mean she lack of water?
She is 100% breastfed.
2. Is it normal if she poops 4 to 5 days once (even 6 days)? It has been this way 1.5 month. She is still happy, plays and pees about 8-10 times a day.

Thanks very much for your reply.
Mia Lee

Jan 13, 2012

Changed your diet? NEW
by: Paula (Easy Baby Life)

Hi Mia,

Have you changed your diet at all, like started with a new herbal tea or medication? That could be a reason for your baby's urine color. Other possibilities are that she does need more liquid (breast milk, not water) or that she has a urinary tract infection. I think you should consult a doctor to be safe.

Regarding her poop habits - not a concern since she is fully breastfed. Is she growing and increasing in weight? Then you don't need to worry about her infrequent bowel movements. But talk to the doctors about the urine color.

Best,

Paula

Jan 13, 2012

Re: Changed your diet NEW
by: Mia Lee

Dear Paula,

Yes I started to drink black tea with milk recently and sometimes coke/milk coffee.
I know they are not good for my baby and I have limited myself to drink only 1 black tea with milk once a day. For softdrinks, I drink about 1 can in 2-3 days.
Should I stop?

My baby urine colour is not as orange as the picture above thou, much lighter.
I'm trying to drink lots of water, besides, would this help?

One other thing, those poops and pee things started to smell since she passed her first month. Is this also normal?
(Sorry if my English sounds wierd to you..)
:)

Thanks much and regards,
Mia Lee

Jan 13, 2012

Not to worry about a cup of tea :-) NEW
by: Paula (Easy Baby Life)

Mia,

The reason I asked about diet changes is that theoretically you could be eating/drinking something that could be affecting the color of your baby's urine. It is not the most likely reason, though.

One cup of tea or coffee per day is not going ot harm your baby. They do contain caffeine, so a sensitive baby could find it a bit more hard to settle, but that is about it.

If your baby's pee has a funny smell, then a urinary tract infection is definitely a possibility. In such case, antibiotics is necessary, so go visit a doctor.

Best, Paula

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