Newborn Pee Habits: Counting Diapers, Checking Colors

Delayed Start

A newborn may urinate only once in his or her first 24 hours. But by day six, urinating eight to 10 times a day is common

Determining Pee Output

If you are using disposable diapers, it may be difficult to know precisely how many wet diapers a baby has. You can place a piece of paper tissue in the disposable diaper to detect urination.

(Cloth diapers make wetness easier to detect.)

Surprising Shades of Red and Yellow

Frequency aside, parents are often surprised (or worried) by the color of urine they see inside Baby’s diaper.
Early urine may be orange colored and resemble blood in the diaper. Orange-colored urine contains nitrates, a biproduct of bilirubin, which means your baby needs more fluids.

Increase Fluids for More Wet Diapers

If more fluids are in order, breastfeed or offer formula more often. If by day five your baby is not urinating every four hours, notify your child’s pediatrician.

Baby's Birth Day

On the day your baby is born, expect 1 wet diaper and urine that’s reddish-orange.

Day 2 of Baby's First Week

Expect 2 wet diapers and urine that is a paler orange color.

Day 3 of Baby's First Week

Expect 3 wet diapers and urine that is bright yellow-orange.

Day 4 of Baby's First Week

Expect 4 wet diapers and lemon-yellow urine.

Day 5 of Baby's First Week

Expect 6 to 8 wet diapers and urine that is light yellow.