Understanding Newborn Pee Frequency And What's Normal

A newborn baby will typically pass urine for the first time within 12 to 24 hours of birth. In the first week of life, a newborn may not receive much breast milk, and so won't have many wet diapers. However, as the days go on and the mother's milk supply increases, the baby will produce more urine. By the third day of life, newborns should produce a minimum of three wet diapers, increasing to around six or more by day six. After the first week, a baby should be peeing at least six times in 24 hours.

How often should a newborn pee?

The number of times a newborn urinates can vary, but there are some general guidelines that can help you determine if your baby is peeing a normal amount.

The First 24 Hours

Within the first 24 hours after birth, a newborn will likely pee once, resulting in one wet diaper.

Days 2-3

During the next couple of days, as the baby consumes more milk, the number of wet diapers will increase. By day two, you should see at least two wet diapers, and by day three, at least three.

Days 4-6

From days four to six, a typical peeing routine for a baby will result in about four to eight wet diapers per day. Some babies may pee every one to three hours, while others may only pee four to six times a day.

After the First Week

After about a week, your baby should be peeing at least six times in 24 hours if they are drinking enough milk. Each pee generally contains 30 to 45 ml of urine, and the urine should be clear and odourless.

Signs of Dehydration

If your baby is not peeing enough, they may be dehydrated. Signs of dehydration include:

• Dryness of lips and tongue
• Sunken soft spot on the top of the baby's head
• Reduced number of wet diapers (generally fewer than six to eight diapers changed in a day)
• Sunken eyes
• Dry mouth

If you are concerned that your baby is not peeing enough or displaying signs of dehydration, contact your healthcare provider.

What colour should a newborn's urine be?

A newborn's urine colour can tell you a lot about their health and development. In general, a normal pee colour for a newborn is a shade of yellow. The darker the yellow colour, the more concentrated the urine, and the more dehydrated your baby may be.

However, newborn babies can pass urine in a range of colours, and many of these are completely normal.

Light to Dark Yellow Baby Pee

Light yellow urine is a good sign that your baby is healthy, well-nourished, and hydrated. Darker yellow pee could indicate that your baby is a little dehydrated and needs to consume more liquids.

Pink Baby Pee

A pink colour may indicate highly concentrated urine caused by low fluid consumption. For newborn girls, the pink colour can be caused by the mother's hormones. This should clear up within a week. If it persists, contact your healthcare provider.

Orange, Red, or Brown Baby Pee

If your baby is older than one week and their urine has an orange, red, or brown hue, there is blood in their urine. This is not normal and could be a sign of infection or inflammation. The medical term for this condition is hematuria, and it can be caused by high levels of minerals in the urine, hereditary conditions, or immune system abnormalities. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you suspect blood in your newborn's urine.

Red, Brown, or Cloudy Baby Pee

These colours could be a sign of a urinary tract or kidney infection. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you notice cloudy urine, especially if it also has a red or brown hue.

"Brick Dust" Baby Pee

This term refers to a red-brown hue in baby pee. It looks like brick dust has been sprinkled into the urine and is often mistaken for blood. This is caused by concentrated urine, meaning your baby hasn't been receiving enough fluids.

Sweet-Smelling Baby Pee

A sweet smell to your baby's pee could indicate a rare, serious illness called Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD). It could also be a sign of diabetes. Both are very serious conditions, so contact your healthcare provider if you notice a sweet smell.

Strong-Smelling Baby Pee

A strong or foul-smelling pee may indicate a bacterial infection, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI), which can cause serious illness if left untreated. Look for other signs of infection, such as blood in the urine, cloudy urine, or fever. Consult your healthcare provider if you suspect an infection.

Other Colours

In the first 2 days of life, a newborn may pass dark yellow, orange, or pink urine due to the excretion of waste products called urates. Certain foods, herbs, and supplements could change the colour of breast milk and cause the breastfed newborn's urine to have a pink, green, or orange tint. If you are concerned about the colour of your baby's urine, consult your healthcare provider, who will be able to advise you.

How to check if a diaper is wet

Checking if a diaper is wet is an important part of monitoring a newborn's health. Here are some ways to do it:

Visual Inspection

If the baby is wearing a onesie, you can peek from the leg areas or the back opening without undoing the whole outfit. You can also take a look by pulling the diaper away from the baby's back. Some diapers have a wetness indicator—a stripe that turns from yellow to blue when wet.

Touch

Some diapers will feel different to the touch when wet. You can try pinching or squeezing the diaper to check for wetness. However, this method may not be reliable for cloth diapers, which often do not have a built-in wetness indicator and can feel bulkier.

Weight

A diaper full of pee or poop will feel heavier.

Smell

A dirty diaper will often have a distinct smell.

Routine Changes

You can also build diaper changes into your routine. For example, you can change the diaper before or after a nap, before outings, or after snacks. Changing diapers regularly, such as every 1-3 hours, can help prevent rashes and keep the baby comfortable.

Other Signs

Keep in mind that a baby will usually indicate their discomfort if they are sitting in a wet diaper. You can also look out for signs of dehydration, such as fussiness, extreme sleepiness, and decreased interest in playing.

What to do if your newborn is not peeing enough

It is important to understand how many times a newborn should pee in a day to be able to identify if they are not peeing enough. Typically, a newborn baby passes urine for the first time within 12 to 24 hours after birth. Not peeing in the first 24 hours could indicate a urinary tract problem. During the first 2-3 days, a breastfed baby may not produce many wet diapers as the peeing frequency increases with the intake of the mother's milk. It is normal for a baby to urinate anywhere between 1-6 hours (or 4-8 wet diapers) a day.

If your newborn is not peeing very often (fewer than four times a day), there could be a few reasons. Firstly, illnesses, fevers, or hot weather can cause a drop in urine output. Once your baby's health improves and the weather cools down, they will likely return to their typical routine. Another reason could be that your newborn is not eating enough. If you are breastfeeding, it can be hard to judge how much your baby is consuming. Look for other signs such as lethargy and prolonged sleep to indicate inadequate nutrition.

If you notice that your newborn is still not peeing after a fever breaks or if they are not peeing at all within 6-8 hours, contact your child's healthcare provider as soon as possible. Dehydration can be dangerous for your baby and requires urgent medical attention. Signs of dehydration include a lack of tears when crying, a sunken soft spot on the baby's head, reduced number of wet diapers, sunken eyes, and a dry mouth.

To help your newborn pee more, ensure they are staying hydrated by drinking enough liquids such as breast milk or formula milk. Avoid highly concentrated urine by providing adequate fluids. Additionally, maintain a comfortable climate, especially in extremely cold weather, as it can also lead to reduced urination.

How to prevent a UTI in newborns

A newborn baby usually passes urine for the first time within 12 to 24 hours after birth. In the first 24 hours, a newborn will probably pee once, so you can expect one wet diaper. In the following days, as the baby consumes more milk, the number of wet diapers increases. After about a week, a typical peeing routine for a baby will result in about four to six wet diapers per day.

Healthy Bathroom Habits

• Urinate every two to three hours while awake.
• Relax when urinating—straining is not necessary.
• Don't rush through urination.
• For girls, wipe from front to back after urinating and/or defecating. This helps prevent bacteria in the feces from getting into the urethra.
• Don't hold in urine. It's not safe to do so, and it can lead to a UTI.

Healthy Bowel Movements

• Constipation and diarrhea can lead to UTIs. Make sure your child has a nutritious, fiber-rich diet.
• Drink plenty of fluids during the day.
• Go to the bathroom around the same times every day.
• Stay relaxed when using the bathroom.

Other Tips

• Expose your child's bottom to air when possible.
• Have your child wear cotton underwear and clothing. Synthetic materials (such as spandex) hold moisture, which can allow bacteria to grow.
• For children in diapers or pull-ups, create a moisture barrier using petroleum jelly, zinc oxide, or lanolin.
• Avoid using bubble baths, detergents, shampoos, or shower gels in the bath.
• Avoid using colored or scented toilet paper.

Frequently asked questions