Diapers: What's Normal and When to Call

Age	Wet diapers	Dirty diapers
Days 1-2	A few	1-2 black, tarry (meconium)
Days 3-4	Increasing; at least 4 a day in week 1 is reassuring	2 or more, turning green to yellow
Day 5 to 4 weeks	6 or more, pale or nearly clear	Breastfed: 3-4+ yellow, loose, seedy. Formula: tan to yellow, thicker
1-6 months	6 or more	Breastfed babies may go a few days if soft; formula stools firmer
6+ months	Steady, pale yellow	Changes with new foods; hard pellets mean constipation

Diapers are the at-home feeding check

• Days 1-2: a few wet diapers and 1-2 black, tarry stools (meconium).
• Days 3-4: wet diapers increasing (the AAP finds at least 4 a day in the first week reassuring); 2 or more stools, turning green, then yellow.
• Days 5-7 and on through the first month: 6 or more wet diapers, pale or nearly clear, and for breastfed babies 3-4 or more yellow, loose, seedy stools a day. Formula stools are tan to yellow and thicker.
• 1-6 months: 6 or more wet a day. Breastfed babies may go a few days without a stool if it is soft when it comes.
• Expect 8-12 changes a day early on.

Changing and rash

• Set everything out first and keep a hand on the baby on any raised surface.
• Wipe front to back. Fold the diaper below the cord stump until it falls off.
• For rash: change soon after wet or dirty diapers, give diaper-free time, and use a thick layer of zinc oxide or petroleum jelly.

When to check in

Mention it at the next visit if a diaper rash isn't better after 2-3 days of care.

Call the pediatrician the same day if: - There are fewer than 6 wet diapers a day after day 5, or no wet diaper in 6-8 hours. - Urine is dark yellow after the first few days (pink "brick dust" spots are normal only in the first 2-3 days). - Stools are white, gray or pale clay-colored; stools are black after the first few days; or there is blood in the diaper. - A rash blisters, oozes, bleeds or comes with fever.