baby blue

noun

1

: a pale blue

2

baby blues plural : blue eyes

She's a zaftig woman, with long red hair and a pale rose complexion setting off those baby blues.

—Michele Kort

3

baby blues plural in form but singular or plural in construction : a feeling of sadness that is experienced by a woman shortly after giving birth, that is typically accompanied by other symptoms (such as mood swings, crying spells, and insomnia), and that usually lasts less than two weeks : postpartum blues

Baby blues isn't an illness or even a proper psychiatric diagnosis, it is simply a way that people have tried to describe unpleasant feelings that occur shortly after having a baby and tend to resolve in a few days.

—Jackie Ganley

—usually used with the

a case of the baby blues

compare postpartum depression

Examples of baby blue in a Sentence

She gazed into his baby blues.

She had a bad case of the baby blues.

Recent Examples on the Web

Pictured sitting poised in a chair upholstered in a complimentary shade of baby blue, Harris is cross-legged with one hand in her lap and another on the armrest. —Leah Dolan, CNN, 11 Oct. 2024

The Winter Wonderland Collection, which launches Nov. 1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods, comes five designs: solid white, fuschia and baby blue options, as well as pink with a shimmery silver pattern and seafoam green one with snowflakes. —Ada Tseng, WWD, 31 Oct. 2024

Its bursts of color come courtesy of mustard-yellow banquets and baby blue chairs. —Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 29 Oct. 2024

In the photos, the X-Men actress could be seen rocking a number of stylish outfits, including a floor-length baby blue dress, a red sweater and matching ballet flats, a matching two-piece ski set featuring a blue gingham print, and a backless black long-sleeve dress. —Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1