The First Two Weeks: What Is Actually Normal

Little Route Lab · Updated 2026-08-31 · 10 min read

The short answerNewborn sleep, feeding, stools, skin colour, breathing patterns, and cord changes vary, so scheduled checks and feeding support matter. Seek urgent clinical advice for poor feeding, falling output, worsening jaundice, spreading cord redness, fever, or a baby who seems abnormal. Call emergency services for breathing difficulty, a seizure, inability to wake, or blue, grey, pale, or blotchy skin, lips, or tongue; on brown or black skin, check palms and soles too.

The short answer

Most of what a healthy newborn does in the first two weeks looks alarming and is not. They feed almost constantly, sleep in bursts of very different lengths, breathe irregularly with brief pauses, lose weight before they gain it, and fill nappies that change colour from near black to yellow. Each has a boundary where it stops being ordinary, and every boundary below names the body that set it. The signs needing help now are directly below. This is general guidance only, not advice about your baby.

When to get help now

The NHS page on urgent medical help for babies and children under 5, reviewed 6 August 2026, says to call 999 or go to A&E if your baby:

Has swollen lips, tongue or throat with difficulty swallowing or talking.
Is breathing very fast or has difficulty breathing. They may make grunting noises or suck in their tummy when they breathe.
Has blue, grey, pale or blotchy (mottled) skin, lips or tongue. The NHS pairs that bullet with where to look, in its own words: "on black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of their hands or soles of their feet".
Has skin that feels cold or damp (clammy) to touch.
Has a rash that does not fade when you press it.
Has a very high temperature, meaning 38C or higher under 3 months old, or 39C or higher at 3 to 6 months.
Has a very low temperature, meaning less than 36C, or feels cold to touch or is shivery.
Has a weak, high-pitched or continuous cry.
Has fainted, is difficult to wake, or cannot be woken.
Has not had a pee in the past 12 hours.
Is having a seizure (fit).

That is the cited 999 list, all 11 bullets. The page also says to call NHS 111 if you are worried about any symptom or do not know what to do.

The NHS jaundice page, reviewed 24 March 2026, carries a second emergency list. Call 999 or go to A&E if your baby has jaundice and:

Is less than 24 hours old.
Is sleepier than normal or difficult to wake.
Is not feeding.
Is floppy or stiff, or has jerking or twitching movements.
Has a high temperature of 38C or more, or a low temperature of 36C or less, feels hot or cold to the touch, or is shivering.
Has not been producing any wet nappies.
Has difficulty breathing, which you may notice as grunting noises or their stomach sucking in under their ribcage, or is breathless or breathing very fast.

That is the cited list, all 7 bullets. A yellow-looking baby less than 24 hours old is in the NHS 999 box, not the lower one.

Ask for an urgent GP or midwife appointment or call NHS 111 if your baby is over 24 hours old and:

You think they have jaundice.
They have been diagnosed with jaundice and it is not getting better, or is getting worse.
Their pee is dark yellow or brown, or their poo is a pale creamy colour. Keep a sample of the poo to show a midwife or doctor.

The AAP says to call your baby's doctor about the umbilical stump for any of these:

Foul-smelling yellowish discharge from the cord.
Red skin around the base of the cord.
Crying when you touch the cord or the skin next to it.
Active bleeding from the cord. The AAP says to call immediately for this one.
A stump that is still there after 3 weeks. The AAP says the stump "should dry and fall off by the time your baby is 3 weeks old. If it is still there beyond that time, a doctor's visit is needed."

On jaundice, the AAP says to call your baby's doctor if:

Your baby's skin turns more yellow.
Your baby's abdomen, arms or legs are yellow.
The whites of your baby's eyes are yellow.
Your baby is hard to wake, fussy, or not nursing or taking formula well.

On breathing pauses, the AAP writes that in normal periodic breathing "the baby's skin color does not change with the pauses in breathing and there is no cause for concern", contrasting that with apnea. StatPearls defines apnea of infancy on the cited page-term infants as an unexplained stop in breathing of 20 seconds or longer, or a shorter pause with bradycardia, cyanosis, pallor or marked hypotonia. So:

Treat a pause of 20 seconds or longer as not ordinary.
Treat any pause with a colour change or with the baby going floppy as not ordinary. Blue, grey, pale or mottled skin, lips or tongue is on the NHS 999 list above.

If you are worried about your baby right now, you do not need a reason that satisfies anyone. Call your pediatrician, your local out-of-hours service, or your emergency number. Trusting your instinct is the correct response.

Sleep, and why it has no shape yet

The AAP puts total newborn sleep at between 14 and 17 hours a day. The NHS puts the range wider, at around 8 to 18 hours in total, and says either is perfectly normal. It says your baby may sleep in short or long bursts and is highly unlikely to sleep through the night. In REM or active sleep the AAP says the baby may twitch or jerk her arms or legs, her eyes move under her closed eyelids, and breathing is often irregular. Light sleep is the different stage in which "breathing becomes more regular and sleep becomes less active".

AAP sleep guidance is not a preference and is not presented as one here. Put your baby on their back for all naps and at night. Use a firm, flat sleep surface, and take the AAP's definition whole: "A firm surface means that it shouldn't indent when your baby is lying on it. Any surface that inclines more than 10 degrees isn't safe for your baby to sleep on." Propping a congested baby up at an angle to sleep is ruled out by that second sentence. Place your baby's crib, bassinet, portable crib or play yard in your bedroom, close to your bed, which the AAP recommends for at least the first 6 months. Keep soft objects and loose bedding out of the sleep area, including pillows and pillow-like toys, quilts, comforters, mattress toppers, non-fitted sheets, blankets, toys, and bumper pads or related products that attach to crib slats or sides. Weighted blankets, sleepers and swaddles are named separately by the AAP and are out too. Nothing goes in with the baby but a fitted sheet and their own clothing. On bed sharing the AAP is direct: based on the evidence, it does not recommend bed sharing with your baby under any circumstances.

Feeding, and how often is often enough

The AAP's Bringing Baby Home page says most newborns will eat every 2 to 3 hours, and that your baby's pattern may vary and be perfectly healthy. Its feeding page splits by method. Breastfed newborns usually nurse every 2 hours from the start of one feeding to the next, so 10 to 12 sessions in 24 hours is the norm. For bottle feeding it says 8 times is generally recommended as the minimum every 24 hours. That minimum is stated for bottle feeding specifically.

The AAP also says that if your baby is having trouble gaining weight, do not wait too long between feeding, even if it means waking your baby. Whether that applies to yours is a question for the clinician with the weights.

Nappies, and the colour changes nobody warns you about

The first stool is meconium, which the NHS describes as sticky and greenish-black, passed during or after birth or in the first 48 hours. After a few days it changes to a yellow or mustard colour.

The AAP gives the counts to watch: 2 to 3 wet nappies each day in the first few days, at least 5 to 6 a day after the first 4 to 5 days, and at least 4 stools a day by the fourth day.

The NHS says to tell your doctor or health visitor if poos become very smelly, very watery or harder, particularly if there is blood in them, and about pale poos. Two nappy signs sit higher and are in the block above: a pale creamy poo in a baby over 24 hours old, and no wet nappies at all in a baby with jaundice.

Weight loss, then weight regain

The AAP says all newborns lose weight during the first 7 days. The same page notes that at birth your baby's weight included excess body fluid lost during the first few days. It does not say how much of the loss that accounts for, so neither does this article. It says babies should start gaining steadily from about 5 days old, should be back at their original birth weight by about 2 weeks, and that almost all will have regained it by 3 weeks.

The NHS says your baby will be weighed during their first 2 weeks to check they are regaining birthweight, and that most are at or above it by 3 weeks. If a baby loses a large amount of weight or has not regained birthweight by 3 weeks, a midwife or health visitor will support you, discuss how feeding is going, possibly observe a feed, and look at general health.

Breathing sounds and pauses

The AAP describes normal periodic breathing of infancy as breathing that is often irregular and may stop for 5 to 10 seconds, then start again with a burst of rapid breathing at 50 to 60 breaths a minute for 10 to 15 seconds, before settling until the cycle repeats. StatPearls, updated 15 April 2026, calls those 5 to 10 second cycles not pathologic, and says periodic breathing is seen predominantly between the ages of 2 and 4 weeks and resolves by 6 months. The boundaries that are not ordinary are in the block above.

Skin and the umbilical stump

The NHS says the top layer of your baby's skin at birth is very thin and easily damaged, that you should bath your baby with plain water only for at least the first month, and that vernix should always be left on the skin.

Spots and rashes are very common in newborn babies. They may come and go, but if you also notice a change in your baby's behaviour, for example if your baby is not feeding well, or is very sleepy or very irritable, tell your midwife or GP immediately.

Stump timings differ between services. The NHS says the cord takes about a week to dry out and drop off, to keep it clean and dry, and to report any bleeding or discharge to your midwife, health visitor or GP. The AAP says there is no need for alcohol on it and to keep the nappy folded below the cord so urine does not soak it. Its 3-week timeline and the doctor's visit attached to it are in the block above.

Jaundice

The NHS says that for most babies with jaundice the yellow is most noticeable at around 3 days old, and that it usually takes around 2 weeks to go. The same page adds: "It can be harder to see yellow on black or brown skin." Timing sets the tier. Jaundice in a baby less than 24 hours old is on the NHS call 999 or go to A&E list above.

The AAP says all babies should have at least one bilirubin measurement, by skin or blood test, before discharge from hospital. Its list of babies needing earlier follow-up runs to six items, and all six are here: a high bilirubin level before leaving hospital, early birth more than 2 weeks before the due date, jaundice in the first 24 hours after birth, breastfeeding that is not yet going well, bleeding under the scalp or a lot of bruising related to labour and delivery, and a parent, brother or sister who had a high bilirubin level and received light therapy. Whether a baby needs treatment is decided on a measured level, not on how yellow they look to you.

Continue with umbilical cord stump care and how often should a newborn feed.

Sources

NHS, When to get urgent medical help for babies and children under 5 (reviewed 6 August 2026)
NHS, Jaundice in babies (reviewed 24 March 2026)
AAP, Jaundice in Newborns (updated 8 August 2024)
AAP, Your Baby's First Month: Growth and Physical Appearance (updated 3 April 2026)
AAP, How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat? (updated 2 April 2024)
AAP, Your Newborn's First Week (updated 14 August 2023)
AAP, Stages of Newborn Sleep (updated 18 September 2013)
AAP, How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe (dated 8 January 2026)
AAP, Umbilical Cord Care (updated 6 July 2025)
NHS, How to change your baby's nappy (reviewed 27 August 2024)
NHS, Your baby's sleep patterns
NHS, Your baby's weight and height (reviewed 20 September 2023)
NHS, Getting to know your newborn (reviewed 22 April 2024)
Kondamudi NP, Aggarwal S, Krata L. Infant Apnea. StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (updated 15 April 2026)

Parents also ask

How often should a newborn feed in the first two weeks?

The American Academy of Pediatrics says most newborns eat every 2 to 3 hours, and that your baby's pattern may vary and still be perfectly healthy. For breastfeeding it says newborns usually nurse every 2 hours from the start of one feeding to the next, so 10 to 12 sessions in 24 hours is the norm. For bottle feeding it says 8 times is generally recommended as the minimum every 24 hours. The AAP also says that if your baby is having trouble gaining weight, do not wait too long between feeding, even if it means waking your baby. A baby who is not feeding at all is different: the NHS lists not feeding, in a baby with jaundice, under call 999 or go to A&E. If you are unsure whether your baby is feeding enough, ask your midwife, health visitor or pediatrician to weigh them and watch a feed.

Is it normal for a newborn to pause while breathing?

The AAP describes normal periodic breathing of infancy: breathing that is often irregular and may stop for 5 to 10 seconds, then start again at 50 to 60 breaths a minute for 10 to 15 seconds before settling. It says the baby's skin colour does not change with those pauses, and contrasts that with apnea. StatPearls defines apnea of infancy on the cited page-term infants as an unexplained stop in breathing of 20 seconds or longer, or a shorter pause with a slow heart rate, blue or pale colour, or marked floppiness. So a pause of 20 seconds or longer, or any pause with a colour change or floppiness, is not ordinary. The NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E if your baby has difficulty breathing, makes grunting noises or sucks in their tummy when breathing, or has blue, grey, pale or blotchy (mottled) skin, lips or tongue. On that last one the NHS adds that on black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of their hands or soles of their feet.

What colour should a newborn's poo be in the first days?

The NHS says the first stool, meconium, is sticky and greenish-black, passed during or after birth or some time in the first 48 hours, and that after a few days it changes to a yellow or mustard colour. Breastfed poo is runny and does not smell. Formula-fed poo is firmer, darker brown and more smelly. The NHS says to tell your doctor or health visitor if poos become very smelly, very watery or harder, particularly if there is blood in them, and about pale poos. Two signs sit higher than that. The NHS jaundice page says to ask for an urgent GP or midwife appointment or call NHS 111 if a baby over 24 hours old has a pale creamy poo, and to call 999 or go to A&E if a baby with jaundice has not been producing any wet nappies.

When should a baby be back to their birth weight?

The AAP says all newborns lose weight during the first 7 days, that they should start gaining steadily from about 5 days old, that by about 2 weeks of age they should be back at their original birth weight, and that almost all babies will have regained it by 3 weeks. The NHS says babies are weighed during their first 2 weeks to check they are regaining birthweight, and that most are at or above it by 3 weeks. If a baby loses a large amount of weight or has not regained birthweight by 3 weeks, the NHS says a midwife or health visitor will support you, discuss how feeding is going, possibly observe a feed, and look at general health. Only the clinician holding the weights can say whether your baby's pattern needs action.

When is newborn jaundice an emergency?

The NHS places jaundice in a baby less than 24 hours old under Immediate action required: call 999 or go to A&E. The same 999 list applies if a baby with jaundice is sleepier than normal or difficult to wake, is not feeding, is floppy or stiff or has jerking or twitching movements, has a temperature of 38C or more or 36C or less or feels hot or cold to the touch or is shivering, has not been producing any wet nappies, or has difficulty breathing or is breathless or breathing very fast. Separately, and only for babies over 24 hours old, the NHS says to ask for an urgent GP or midwife appointment or call NHS 111 if you think they have jaundice, if diagnosed jaundice is not getting better or is getting worse, or if their pee is dark yellow or brown or their poo is a pale creamy colour. The AAP adds calling your baby's doctor if the skin turns more yellow, the abdomen, arms or legs are yellow, the whites of the eyes are yellow, or the baby is hard to wake, fussy, or not nursing or taking formula well. Treatment decisions rest on a measured bilirubin level, not on how yellow a baby looks, and the NHS says it can be harder to see yellow on black or brown skin. So the order to act in is this: if your baby is less than 24 hours old and looks yellow, or a jaundiced baby is sleepy, floppy, not feeding or making no wet nappies, that is the 999 or A&E box, not an appointment to book.

Independent guidance, not medical advice. We do not diagnose or recommend treatments or doses. For any concern about your baby, contact your pediatrician or local emergency service.