MaxieGuide · Nappies
How many wet nappies should a newborn have?
Fewer in the first few days, then about six or more heavy wet nappies every 24 hours from around day five. That's the pattern Australian and New Zealand health services describe.
Not medical advice. This page summarises what Australian and New Zealand health services publish, and links to them. It is general information, not advice about your baby. If you are worried, speak to your midwife, child health nurse or GP, or call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (PlunketLine 0800 933 922 in New Zealand). In an emergency, call 000 (111 in New Zealand).
The first week, roughly
Newborns wee very little at first, because they're only getting small amounts of colostrum. As feeding builds, so do the wet nappies, roughly like this.
| Age | Wet nappies in 24 hours |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | About 1 |
| Day 2 | About 2 |
| Days 3 and 4 | About 3 or more |
| Day 5 onwards | About 6 or more, and they feel heavy |
Plunket says a baby getting enough fluid has six or more very wet nappies a day. Disposables can feel dry when they aren't, so go by weight.
What the wee looks like
Usual wee is pale or clear. Dark or strong-smelling wee, and fewer wet nappies than usual, are on the dehydration list from the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network (NSW Health). Some babies leave an orange or pinkish mark in the first few days, and Raising Children Network explains when to mention it.
And the dirty ones
Poo goes from dark and sticky to yellow or mustard over the first week, and breastfed and formula-fed babies differ. Plunket's baby poos page and Pregnancy Birth and Baby show what's usual and what's worth a call.
When the services say to get help
If the wet nappies drop off or your baby seems unwell, don't wait for the next appointment.
- Fewer wet nappies than usual, dark wee, a dry mouth, or a baby who is unusually sleepy or hard to wake: call your GP, midwife or child health nurse, or Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (PlunketLine 0800 933 922 in New Zealand).
- A floppy baby, pale or cold skin, or a baby who will not feed: call 000 (111 in New Zealand).
Keeping count without thinking
The hard part is remembering at 4 pm whether the 5 am nappy was wet.
- Write it down at the change table, not later.
- Keep one record for the whole house.
- Count in 24-hour blocks from the same time each day, to match what your nurse asks.
Counting at 3 am is the hard part.
Paper works fine. The free printable feed and nappy log fits a day on one A4 page. Or try Maxie. One tap logs a nappy and your partner's phone has it about two seconds later. It's free.
Sources
Read on 25 September 2026. Health advice changes, so trust the linked page.
- Raising Children Network: Poo and wee, what to expect in babies (Australian Government funded)
- Pregnancy Birth and Baby: Nappies (Australian Government, Healthdirect)
- Sydney Children's Hospitals Network (NSW Health): Nappies
- Sydney Children's Hospitals Network (NSW Health): Dehydration in babies and children
- Whānau Āwhina Plunket: Poos, nappies and toilet (New Zealand)
- Whānau Āwhina Plunket: Baby poos (New Zealand)
More guides: newborn feeding log · WHO growth percentiles explained.