Baby Poop Guide: Colours, Consistency and When to Worry
Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby's Poop
It's funny how many parents start to obsess over what's in their baby's diaper, but your baby's poop can tell you a lot about their health, so it's worth paying attention. Here's how to know what's normal and what's not.
Getting to Know Newborn Poop
Babies don't poop in the womb, but for the first few days your baby's poop is a sticky, greenish-black substance called meconium, made up of amniotic fluid, mucus, skin cells and other things ingested in the womb. After that it changes to a watery, mustard yellow if you're breastfeeding, or yellow, brown or green for formula. Breast milk digests fast, so your baby may poop after every feed. Frequency matters less than consistency: watery green stools could mean diarrhoea, while firm, pebble-sized stools streaked with red or black could mean constipation.
The Effect of Solids on Poop
As your baby starts cereals and pureed foods, you'll see a more direct link between what they eat and the colour of their poop. Breastfed babies usually have a thicker stool, while formula-fed babies' stools soften, and pooping becomes less frequent. You might spot partly digested bits, but these disappear as your baby becomes a better chewer and their digestive system adapts.
Strange Poop Colour
Green, frothy poop usually means your baby is getting too much foremilk and not enough hindmilk. Foremilk is the low-calorie milk that comes first in a feed; hindmilk is the higher-fat milk that comes later. To balance the two, let your baby finish one breast before offering the other, or start the next feed on the breast you ended with. An iron supplement or iron-fortified formula can also turn poop dark green or almost black.
Poop Problems to Discuss With Your Doctor
- If your breastfed baby poops frequently and isn't gaining weight, they may not be getting enough to eat.
- Poop that's runnier than usual and more water than solids may be diarrhoea.
- Hard, pebble-like poop streaked with blood, with discomfort when pooping, suggests constipation.
- Slimy, greenish poop may mean mucus, a possible sign of infection or allergy; see a doctor if it lasts two days or more or comes with other symptoms.
- Bright red blood can mean a blood protein allergy, anal tears, small haemorrhoids or a bacterial infection.
- Black poop (digested blood) when your baby is not on iron supplements or iron-fortified formula should be checked by your doctor.
Warning Signs From Your Baby's Poop Colour
These types of poop are thankfully very rare but point to a serious condition and need medical attention right away.
- Dark, sticky black poop that's mainly digested blood.
- Poop that's almost entirely red blood, which could mean a severe intestinal problem.
- Pale, chalky, clay-coloured poop that signals liver or gallbladder failure.
Do you know that an average baby will need 1057 nappy changes in the first 6 months? Get exclusive promotions and free diaper samples by joining the Huggies Club now!
"The information contained in this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this site. To the extent permitted by law, Kimberly-Clark excludes liability or responsibility for claims, errors or omissions on this site, and may amend material at any time without notice."
