You’ll find yourself changing your newborn’s nappies a lot, and while you may have lots of questions around your baby’s poop colour, you may also have some around baby pee. Maybe you're curious about how frequently your little one should be peeing, what colour it should be or if it should have a strong smell to it and what this may mean?
In this guide to baby pee we turned to trusted sources to answer all of these questions, to put your mind at ease and let you know when you should be seeking medical attention.
How many nappies per day?
You're going to be getting through a lot of nappies! The NHS say; "In the beginning expect to change your baby's nappy around 10 to 12 times a day. When your baby is a bit older, you'll probably change them 6 to 8 times a day." They also advise to change your newborn's nappy whenever they have done a wee or poo in order to help prevent nappy rash. Yep that is a lot of nappies!
In general, if your baby has four to six wet nappies a day and they seem happy enough, then there should be nothing to worry about. However, if your baby has a lot more or less than this, and you notice changes in their behaviour, there may be something else at play.
My baby is peeing a lot - is this normal?
If your baby is peeing a lot it’s usually a good sign and means your newborn is getting enough food. If you’re breastfeeding your newborn, then six or more wet nappies a day during your baby’s first month is completely normal, so don't freak out if you're going through nappies like crazy, all new mums are.
However, if you notice your baby is peeing more than usual, such as more than once every hour, then it's time to contact your child’s healthcare provider.
If your baby is suffering from a urinary tract infection (UTI) you'll prbably know about it as they may cry when peeing, have a fever, be irritable and not want to feed.
What if my newborn is not peeing?
If your newborn is peeing less than four times a day it could indicate that they’re unwell, have a fever or they may be trying to manage the heat. These three different things can cause your baby’s urine output to drop by about half, which, believe it or not, is pretty normal.
Don't worry too much, it’s likely they’ll return to their normal peeing routine once they’re feeling better or the weather cools down, but if you are concerned you can always reach out to your healthcare provider for reassurance.
Another reason your baby may not be peeing a lot is if they’re not eating enough. This can be hard to judge so it’s important to look out for other signs that may indicate this, such as if they’re oversleeping or if they seem lethargic.
Is it normal for a baby to not pee for 12 hours?
No, it is not normal or healthy if your baby is not passing urine for 12 hours. An infant not peeing could indicate a serious problem.
If your baby is not weeing at all within six to eight hours or after being ill, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Different baby pee smells
Many mums are curious about what it means if a baby’s pee has a particular smell to it, especially if it’s pretty strong or unpleasant. So don't worry, you're definitely not alone here.
1). Strong smelling urine
Smelly urine can certainly take the cute factor down a few notches! If your infant urine smells strong this could be a sign that your baby has a bacterial infection such as a UTI (urinary tract infection). It can lead to serious illness if left untreated, which is why when newborn urine smells strong it’s so important to contact your healthcare provider if you think they have a UTI.
Signs of an infection to look out for include:
• blood in your baby’s pee
• pee that looks cloudy
• your baby's urine smells
If your baby has a UTI they may also be:
• irritable
• have a fever
• be peeing a lot more than often
• showing discomfort whilst peeing
On the flip side, if your baby’s pee smells strong and is highly concentrated it could be a sign your baby is dehydrated.
2). Sweet-smelling urine
If the baby wee smells a little like maple syrup, don't be fooled as it may indicate a serious illness called Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) – yes, that's a thing!
The NHS says it's an inherited condition; "It means the body cannot process certain amino acids (the "building blocks" of protein), causing a harmful build-up of substances in the blood and urine" they say.
Signs for MSUD usually occur within the first few days of birth or between five months and seven years. Sweet-smelling urine can also be a sign of diabetes.
Both of these are serious conditions, so if your baby’s pee smells sweet contact your healthcare provider.
If your breastfed baby's urine smells strong and is highly concentrated with a dark yellow color, Pampers say your little one may be dehydrated and suggest that "Giving your baby more fluids (just breast milk or formula until 6 months old) will typically do the trick."
And if your formula fed baby urine smells strong, don't assume it's just their diet. Take the same precautions as above and call your health provider.
Newborn pee colour
Just like adults, healthy baby wee colour is usually light to dark yellow. This colour may change from time to time and, even though most of the time it’s nothing to worry about, there may be other occasions it indicates there’s a problem.
Check out our baby pee colour chart below for a quick indication of what your baby’s pee colour means:
Light to dark yellow baby pee
Light yellow pee is a good sign and healthy. Darker yellow pee could indicate your baby is a little dehydrated and needs to consume more liquids.
Keep in mind that breastmilk and formula is suitable for babies under six months. Afterwards, your baby can start drinking small amounts of water.
Pink baby pee
This is highly concentrated pee (not to be mistaken with blood). If your baby is peeing a lot there’s no need to worry, however if this colour persists contact your healthcare provider.
If your newborn girl has a pinkish stain in her nappy it could indicate blood in her pee. We know, the words - blood urine newborn - in the same sentence can be alarming and you'll probably want to know - is it normal for a newborn to pee blood?
There's usually nothing to worry about though. Blood in a newborn's urine is usually temporary and caused by the mum’s hormones. Acording to Healthychildren.org this only applies to girls as the mum's hormones affect the baby's uterus.
If these pink spots continue to appear or her pee is consistently pink after she turns one week old, contact your healthcare provider.
Orange, red or brown baby pee
This usually indicates blood in your baby’s pee. Blood in your baby’s urine is not normal for either boys or girls (after one week old) and usually indicates a problem.
The term for blood in pee is hematuria. You should contact your child’s healthcare provider if you spot these colours in your baby’s pee.
Red, brown or cloudy baby pee
This could be a sign that your baby is suffering from a UTI or kidney infection. If this occurs, contact your child’s healthcare provider immediately and more so if there’s also blood in it.
Red-brown baby pee
This colour is also referred to as ‘brick-dust’ as it looks a little like brick-dust has been sprinkled into your baby’s urine. It can often be mistaken for blood. It’s actually urate crystals (a by-product of concentrated urine) and should go once your baby has consumed more fluids.
Remember, the times to be most concerned about your baby's pee is:
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If it presents orange, brown or red tints - this could be a sign of blood.
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If your baby isn't peeing at all (or under the normal amount)
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Your baby's pee smells sweet.
Contact your healthcare provider if any of these occur or if you have any other concerns about your baby's urine.
Proud aunt to her teen niece, Zara Mohammed is a Digital Writer for Mother&Baby. She has 10 years freelance writing experience creating lifestyle content for various platforms, including pregnancy, women’s health, parenting, child development and child mental health, plus lots of fun seasonal family articles and celebrity news.