what's normal in a newborn — the 0–12 week reference card
newborns do a lot of strange-looking things. most of them are normal. this is a calm reference for the first 12 weeks — what's normal, what's not, and when to pick up the phone.
by Priya Chatterjee · last updated 4 May 2026
this isn't medical advice
this is a reference. trust your instinct — if you think something's wrong, call your GP, your maternal child health nurse, healthdirect (1800 022 222), or 000 if it's an emergency.
weight
- newborns lose up to 10% of birth weight in the first week — normal.
- they're back to birth weight by 10–14 days.
- after that, ~150–200g/week for the first 3 months.
poo
- first 1–3 days: meconium — black, tarry, sticky. normal.
- days 3–5: transition — green-brown.
- after day 5: breastfed = mustard-yellow, seedy, soft. formula-fed = tan/brown, pasty.
- frequency varies — anywhere from 1 a day to 8 a day in the first weeks.
call your GP if poo is
white/pale (could be a liver issue), red (blood) without a known cause like a small tear, or persistently very runny + green + foamy with weight loss.
breathing + sneezes
- newborns breathe fast — 30–60 breaths/min is normal.
- irregular pauses (a few seconds) followed by faster breathing — periodic breathing — is normal in the early weeks.
- sneezing a lot is normal — they're clearing amniotic fluid and dust.
- occasional hiccups, multiple times a day, are normal. they don't bother baby as much as they bother you.
skin + eyes
- jaundice (yellow tinge) appears day 2–4 in many newborns — usually clears by 2 weeks. your midwife/MCH nurse will check.
- milk spots (milia), baby acne, peeling, blotchy skin, stork bites on eyelids, mongolian spots — all common and resolve on their own.
- watery eye / blocked tear duct — common, usually clears by 12 months.
sleep
- 0–6 weeks: 14–17 hrs total, in fragments of 1–4 hrs. no day/night yet.
- 6–12 weeks: longer stretches start showing up at night, sometimes one 4–5 hour block.
- they fight sleep when overtired — counter-intuitive but real.
feeding cues
- early: rooting, sucking on hands, opening mouth.
- mid: stretching, fussing, head turning.
- late: crying — by this point you're behind. settle, then feed.
when to call a GP today
- fever ≥38°C in a baby under 3 months — straight to GP/ED, no waiting.
- won't feed at all for 6+ hours, or feeding much less than usual.
- fewer than 6 wet nappies in 24 hours after the first week.
- lethargy — hard to wake, floppy, not engaging.
- fast or laboured breathing (chest pulling in, grunting), bluish lips, gasping.
- bulging fontanelle (the soft spot on top of head).
- rash that doesn't fade when you press a glass against it (call 000).
frequently asked
how often should a newborn poo?
huge range — anywhere from once a day to once after every feed in the first 6 weeks. as long as poo is soft and baby is gaining weight, frequency is fine. by 6 weeks some breastfed babies poo only every few days, which is normal.
is it normal for my newborn's hands and feet to be cold?
yes — circulation isn't fully developed. check the back of the neck for true temperature. cold hands + warm trunk = normal.
my newborn cries every evening — is that normal?
the witching hour (typically 5–11pm) starts around 2–3 weeks and peaks around 6 weeks. it's normal but exhausting. if crying is intense, prolonged, and unrelieved, see a GP for colic / reflux assessment.