Jaundice in Infants: Causes, Signs, and What You Need to Know

When a baby’s skin and eyes turn yellow, it’s usually jaundice in infants, a condition caused by high levels of bilirubin in the blood. Also known as newborn jaundice, it affects up to 60% of full-term babies and most premature ones. It’s not an illness—it’s a normal part of how a baby’s body adjusts after birth. The liver, still learning to work, can’t clear bilirubin fast enough, so it builds up. Most cases clear on their own within a week or two, but sometimes it needs help.

That’s where bilirubin levels, a simple blood test that measures how much yellow pigment is in the baby’s system come in. Doctors don’t just guess—they check numbers. A level of 15 mg/dL might be normal for a 3-day-old, but dangerous for a 1-day-old. Phototherapy, a safe, non-invasive treatment using special blue lights to break down bilirubin is the go-to fix when levels rise too high. It’s not surgery. No needles. Just a blanket of light, and the baby’s body does the rest.

What should you watch for? Yellow skin starting on the face and spreading down, sleepy behavior, poor feeding, or a high-pitched cry. These aren’t always signs of trouble, but they’re signals to call your pediatrician. Breastfeeding can play a role—some babies get jaundice because they’re not getting enough milk, not because of something wrong with the milk. Frequent feeds help. So do follow-up checks. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a visit within 2–5 days after leaving the hospital, especially if the baby was born early or had a rough start.

There’s a myth that jaundice means the baby is sick or that it’s caused by something the mom ate or did. It’s not. It’s biology. It’s timing. It’s the liver catching up. Most babies don’t need medicine, just time and a little extra light. But when it’s severe, untreated jaundice can lead to rare but serious brain damage. That’s why knowing the signs—and trusting your gut—is so important.

Below, you’ll find clear, practical advice from real cases: how to spot jaundice at home, what the numbers really mean, when to push for testing, and how phototherapy works without scary machines or hospital stays. You’ll also learn about feeding strategies that help, when supplements might be needed, and why some babies stay jaundiced longer than others. No fluff. No fear-mongering. Just what you need to know to keep your baby safe and healthy.