Newborn, day by day · Day 1
Newborn day 1: diapers, poop and feeding
Last reviewed November 2026 against AAP, CDC, NHS and WHO guidance · Sources
Quick answer
On day 1, expect 1 or more wet diapers and 1 or more poops (black, sticky meconium). Most newborns feed 8–12 or more times in 24 hours, and formula-fed babies take about ½ oz (15 ml) per feed. Colostrum comes in teaspoons, and that's what a newborn needs. Every baby is different, so watch diapers and cues.
- Wet diapers
- 1 or more
- Poops
- 1 or more
- Feeds / 24h
- 8–12 or more
On this page
What's normal on day 1?
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Wet diapers | 1 or more |
| Poops | 1 or more |
| Poop color | Black, thick and sticky (meconium) |
| Feeds in 24 hours | 8–12 or more |
| Breast milk per feed | A few drops to about 5 ml (1 tsp) of colostrum |
| Formula per feed | About ½ oz (15 ml) |
| Milk | Colostrum |
| Weight | Starting to lose a little (normal) |
How much does a 1-day-old eat?
Many babies are alert for the first hour or two after birth, then very sleepy. Feeding early and often helps: the AAP says it's more important that newborns feed frequently than for long stretches.
Colostrum is thick and yellowish and comes in small amounts, from a few drops to about a teaspoon (5 ml) per feed on day 1 (HSE). Formula-fed newborns often take about ½ oz (15 ml) per feed on days 1 and 2 (AAP).
How many diapers should a 1-day-old have?
Expect at least one wet diaper and at least one meconium poop. Meconium is black or very dark green, thick and sticky; it filled your baby's intestines before birth (AAP). A baby who hasn't passed meconium within 48 hours needs to be checked.
See every day side by side in wet diapers by day and the baby poop color guide.
What else is normal on day 1?
- Write down every feed and diaper, even roughly. Nurses will ask, and by day 3 you'll be glad you did.
- Any yellow color to the skin in the first 24 hours should be checked right away (AAP).
- Skin-to-skin time helps sleepy babies wake and root for feeds.
What happens on day 2?
Day 2 usually brings 2–3 wet diapers, more meconium and a baby who wakes up hungrier, often at night.
Read next: Newborn day 2
When to call your pediatrician
- A rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby 3 months or younger. The AAP says to call right away, even if your baby seems otherwise well.
- Fewer wet diapers than expected for the day of life (see the table above), or dark yellow urine.
- No meconium (black, sticky poop) in the first 48 hours, or still black or dark green poop on day 5.
- Pink or brick-red staining in the diaper that keeps showing up after the first few days, or blood in the urine.
- Not back to birth weight by about 2 weeks, or your baby seems hungry after nearly every feed.
- Breastfeeding parent: milk hasn't come in by day 5, or breasts stay hard and full after feeds.
- Very sleepy and hard to wake for feeds, floppy, or unusually quiet.
- Yellow skin or eyes that spread or deepen, or any yellow color in the first 24 hours.
- Trouble breathing, blue or gray lips, or your baby is limp or very hard to wake: call 911 (or your local emergency number) now.
If something feels wrong, trust that feeling and call. You never need a reason beyond worry.
Questions parents ask
How much does a newborn eat on the first day?
Very little. Colostrum feeds range from a few drops to about 5 ml (1 teaspoon) on day 1, according to Ireland's HSE. Formula-fed babies often take about ½ oz (15 ml) per feed. Aim for 8 or more feeds in 24 hours.
Is it normal for my newborn to sleep a lot on day 1?
Yes. Many newborns are sleepy after the first alert hour or two. Still offer feeds often, at least 8 times in 24 hours. If your baby is hard to wake for feeds, tell your nurse or pediatrician.
How many wet diapers should a 1-day-old have?
Expect 1 or more wet diapers in 24 hours on day 1, plus 1 or more poops that are black, sticky meconium. Fewer wet diapers than that, or dark urine, is a reason to call your pediatrician.
Related guides
- How many wet diapers should a newborn have?Newborn wet and dirty diapers by day, from day 1 to week 2: how many to expect, poop color changes, and when fewer diapers mean it's time to call.
- Baby poop color guide: what's normal and what's notA baby poop color chart: meconium, transitional green, mustard yellow, formula tan, plus the colors (red, black, white) that mean call your pediatrician.
- How to tell if your baby is getting enough breast milkSigns a breastfed baby is getting enough: wet and dirty diapers by day, weight gain, swallowing and contentment after feeds, plus the warning signs to act on.
- How much should a 1-week-old eat?How much a 1-week-old eats: 1–2 oz (30–60 ml) per feed, 8–12 times a day. Daily totals, a sample schedule, hunger cues and when to call the doctor.
- How to track baby feeding and diapersWhy pediatricians ask about feeds and diapers, exactly what to log for breast, bottle and combo feeding, and paper vs notes app vs tracking app compared.
Free tools
Sources
Last reviewed November 2026. Numbers are ranges from these public health sources; 1 oz ≈ 30 ml.
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: Colostrum: Your Baby's First Meal
- HSE (Ireland's public health service): How much breast milk to express
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat?
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: Baby's First Days: Bowel Movements & Urination
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: Jaundice in Newborns
- NHS: Breastfeeding: milk supply
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: How to Tell if Your Breastfed Baby is Getting Enough Milk
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: Fever and Your Baby
Feedoo Baby shares general information, not medical advice. Every baby is different. If you're worried about feeding, weight gain, diapers or your baby's health, call your pediatrician, midwife or health visitor.