Newborn, day by day · Day 4
Newborn day 4: diapers, poop and feeding
Last reviewed November 2026 against AAP, CDC, NHS and WHO guidance · Sources
Quick answer
On day 4, expect 4 or more wet diapers and 2 or more poops (greenish to yellow). 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. Wet diapers should feel heavier as milk volume rises. Every baby is different, so watch diapers and cues.
- Wet diapers
- 4 or more
- Poops
- 2 or more
- Feeds / 24h
- 8–12 or more
On this page
What's normal on day 4?
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Wet diapers | 4 or more |
| Poops | 2 or more |
| Poop color | Greenish to yellow (transitional) |
| Feeds in 24 hours | 8–12 or more |
| Breast milk per feed | Rising as milk comes in |
| Formula per feed | About 1–2 oz (30–60 ml) |
| Milk | Transitional milk arriving |
| Weight | Near the lowest point; gain usually starts around day 5 |
How much does a 4-day-old eat?
Day 4 is often when milk really arrives. Feeds may get longer and your baby may seem more satisfied afterward. Some babies are extra hungry for a day as volumes rise.
Full, hard breasts (engorgement) are common around now. Frequent feeds help. If breasts are so hard your baby can't latch, expressing a little milk first can soften them.
How many diapers should a 4-day-old have?
Expect 4 or more wet diapers and at least 2 poops that are greenish to yellow (AAP). Wet diapers should feel heavier as milk volume rises.
See every day side by side in wet diapers by day and the baby poop color guide.
What else is normal on day 4?
- Weight usually starts climbing around day 5 (AAP), so day 4 may be close to your baby's lowest weight.
- If your baby is still very sleepy, looks more yellow and is feeding poorly, call your pediatrician today.
What happens on day 5?
From day 5, the NHS expects at least 6 wet diapers a day, and yellow poops should appear.
Read next: Newborn day 5
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 do I know my milk has come in?
Breasts usually feel fuller, firmer or warmer, milk may leak, and you'll hear more swallowing during feeds. Diapers tell you too: by days 4 and 5 you should see more and heavier wet diapers and poops turning yellow.
What helps with engorgement on day 4?
Feed often and let your baby finish the first breast. If breasts are too hard to latch onto, express a little milk first to soften them. The AAP notes severe engorgement can affect supply, so ask for help if it isn't easing.
How many wet diapers should a 4-day-old have?
Expect 4 or more wet diapers in 24 hours on day 4, plus 2 or more poops that are greenish to yellow. 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: How to Tell if Your Breastfed Baby is Getting Enough Milk
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: Warning Signs of Breastfeeding Problems
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: Your Baby's First Month: Growth & Physical Appearance
- 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.