How many wet nappies should a newborn have a day?

Wet nappies build up over the first few days. From around day five, six to eight wet nappies in 24 hours is a common sign a baby is getting enough milk. Fewer than six wet nappies in a full day, or dark or strong-smelling wee, is worth checking with a midwife or doctor.

How often should a newborn poo?

In the early weeks many babies do at least three poos a day. From day five, fewer than one poo in 24 hours can mean a baby needs feeding more often and is worth raising with your care team.

What poo colours should I worry about?

Black meconium is expected only in the first few days. After that, red poo, chalk-white poo, or ongoing black poo should be checked with a doctor.

Newborn nappy guide

Newborn nappies: how many wet and dirty per day?

Wet nappies build up over a baby's first few days. From around day five, six to eight wet nappies in 24 hours is a common sign a newborn is getting enough milk, and many babies do at least three poos a day in the early weeks. Nappy output is a useful everyday signal of feeding wellbeing, not a diagnosis. When something looks off, your midwife, Plunket nurse, or doctor comes first.

Wet nappies by day

In the first days after birth a newborn produces only a little urine, and wet nappies increase as feeding gets established.

Wet nappies usually build over the first few days.
From day five onward, watch wet nappies closely if the running count is under six.
Six to eight wet nappies a day is a common sign a baby is getting enough milk or formula.
Check with a midwife or doctor if a full 24 hours ends with fewer than six wet nappies, or if wee is dark or strong-smelling.

Dirty nappies in the early weeks

Poo patterns change quickly in the first week, and those changes help show whether a baby is feeding well.

In the early weeks, many babies do at least three poos a day.
From day five onward, fewer than one poo in 24 hours is worth watching and can mean a baby needs feeding more often.
Frequency and consistency vary between babies, so track the trend rather than a single change.

What poo colour means

Colour changes through the first week as meconium clears and milk feeding takes over. A few colours are worth a care-team check.

Black or meconium: expected only in the first few days. After that, worth checking.
Red: check with a doctor.
Chalk-white: check with a doctor.
Green, yellow, and mustard tones: commonly seen as feeding settles.

Signs worth checking

Raise it with your midwife, Plunket nurse, or doctor if you notice:

fewer than six wet nappies across a full 24 hours from day five
dark or strong-smelling wee
fewer than one poo in 24 hours from day five
red, chalk-white, or ongoing black poo
a baby who is hard to wake for feeds, or feeding much less than usual

Nappy output works alongside feeding. See how much milk a newborn should drink per feed.

This page is a practical reference for feeding wellbeing, not a diagnosis or medical advice. Baby cues, weight checks, and advice from your midwife, Plunket nurse, doctor, or care team always take priority. If you are worried, seek care promptly.

Keep a running nappy count

Tiny Tells logs wet, dirty, or both in one tap, tracks stool traits for care-team chats, and quietly flags the signs above as they add up. Everything stays private on your iPhone and your own iCloud, with no accounts and no tracking.

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Sources

Guidance follows broad NZ and Australian newborn-care references, including: