Newborn, day by day · Day 3
Newborn day 3: diapers, poop and feeding
Last reviewed November 2026 against AAP, CDC, NHS and WHO guidance · Sources
Quick answer
On day 3, expect 3 or more wet diapers and 2 or more poops (greenish-brown transitional stools). Most newborns feed 8–12 or more times in 24 hours, and formula-fed babies take about 1–2 oz (30–60 ml) per feed. Milk often starts coming in between days 2 and 5. Every baby is different, so watch diapers and cues.
- Wet diapers
- 3 or more
- Poops
- 2 or more
- Feeds / 24h
- 8–12 or more
On this page
What's normal on day 3?
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Wet diapers | 3 or more |
| Poops | 2 or more |
| Poop color | Greenish-brown and looser (transitional) |
| Feeds in 24 hours | 8–12 or more |
| Breast milk per feed | About 15–30 ml as milk starts coming in |
| Formula per feed | About 1–2 oz (30–60 ml) |
| Milk | Milk often coming in (days 2–5) |
| Weight | Still losing; the AAP's usual limit is about 8–10% of birth weight |
How much does a 3-day-old eat?
Many parents notice milk starting to come in between days 2 and 5 (AAP): breasts feel fuller, warmer or heavier, and you may hear more swallowing. Colostrum feeds are around 15–30 ml now (HSE).
Formula-fed babies often take 1–2 oz (30–60 ml) per feed by now, every 2–3 hours (CDC).
How many diapers should a 3-day-old have?
Expect 3 or more wet diapers. Poops start to change from black meconium to greenish-brown transitional stools, a mix of meconium and milk. The AAP expects at least 2 poops a day on days 3 and 4.
See every day side by side in wet diapers by day and the baby poop color guide.
What else is normal on day 3?
- Newborn jaundice often appears around day 2 or 3. It usually starts on the face and moves down the body. Call if it spreads to the belly or legs, or your baby is very sleepy.
- Weight is still dropping. The AAP says a well-fed newborn loses no more than about 8–10% of birth weight before gaining again.
What happens on day 4?
Day 4 usually brings 4 or more wet diapers and poops turning greenish to yellow.
Read next: Newborn day 4
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
When does breast milk come in?
Usually between 2 and 5 days after birth, according to the AAP. Your breasts may feel fuller and you may hear more swallowing during feeds. If milk hasn't come in by day 5, get your baby weighed and ask for help.
Is green poop normal on day 3?
Yes. Day 3 is when meconium usually gives way to greenish-brown transitional stools. By days 5 to 7, the AAP expects yellow, loose stools for breastfed babies.
How many wet diapers should a 3-day-old have?
Expect 3 or more wet diapers in 24 hours on day 3, plus 2 or more poops that are greenish-brown transitional stools. 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
- CDC: How Much and How Often to Feed Infant Formula
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: How to Tell if Your Breastfed Baby is Getting Enough Milk
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: Jaundice in Newborns
- NHS: Breastfeeding: milk supply
- 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.