The short answer
A little yellowness in the first week is common and usually harmless, but you cannot judge it by eye, especially on dark skin. Get a blood test the same day if jaundice starts in the first 24 hours, if your baby was born early, or if the yellow is spreading to the legs. Go to a neonatal unit immediately if a yellow baby is very sleepy, will not feed, is floppy, arches the back or has a high-pitched cry. Phototherapy in hospital is the treatment; sunlight is not.
Phototherapy, ₦35,000 a dayMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Why babies go yellow
Newborns break down red blood cells quickly, and the liver takes a few days to clear the bilirubin this makes. Most babies who look slightly yellow on day two to four are fine. The danger is when the level climbs high enough to affect the brain, a condition called kernicterus, which can cause permanent harm and is preventable with timely treatment.
Babies at higher risk
Ask for a bilirubin check early if your baby:
- Was born before 38 weeks
- Has a brother or sister who needed jaundice treatment
- Has a different blood group from the mother
- Has G6PD deficiency, or it runs in the family
- Is not feeding well or has lost a lot of weight
Things that do not help
These are common in Nigeria and none of them treats jaundice:
- Putting the baby in the sun, which can overheat or burn a newborn
- Glucose water or herbal drinks, which reduce feeding
- Camphor or naphthalene (mothballs) near the baby, which can make jaundice worse in babies with G6PD deficiency
How it is treated
The bilirubin level is measured in the blood and compared with a chart for your baby's age in hours. If it is above the line, phototherapy under blue light brings it down, usually over one to two days. At Haven Paediatrics in Ikeja phototherapy is ₦35,000 a day. A very high or fast-rising level needs an exchange transfusion in the neonatal unit.
What it costs on Mezo
One fixed price, paid online.
Common questions
Should I stop breastfeeding?
Usually not. Feeding often helps clear bilirubin. The doctor will say if anything needs to change.
How long does phototherapy take?
Most babies need one to two days, with the level rechecked during treatment.
My baby is still yellow at three weeks. Is that normal?
It needs checking. Jaundice lasting beyond two weeks in a term baby, or three weeks in a preterm baby, should be seen by a doctor, especially with pale stools or dark urine.
The procedures
Related health guides
More patient guides
Sources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Newborn jaundice. NHS. Patient information.
- Jaundice in newborn babies under 28 days (CG98). National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Clinical guideline.
Links last checked 22 October 2026.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.