A baby poo

Baby Poop: Colors, Types, and What They Mean

Baby poop is probably something you were expecting to deal with, but did anyone tell you how varied the contents of your little one’s diapers could be? Runny or firm, black, green, or yellow—even mucus in your baby’s poop can be part of the adventure. Those diaper changes are, of course, a regular part of your daily routine as a parent, but they can also help you keep an eye on your baby’s well-being. Learn what the color, consistency, and frequency of baby poop can tell you about your baby’s health and development.

Your Baby’s Poop — What’s Normal?

You might be wondering what healthy baby poop should look like. It’s a fair question, because the color and consistency of your baby’s poop changes over time depending on various things, especially what your baby is eating.

Here’s a rough guide to what you’re likely to find in your little one’s diapers over the first few days, weeks, and months after your baby is born.

Meconium

Your baby’s first few diapers will likely contain a gooey, dark-green, tar-like substance, with hardly any smell. This is called meconium.

This is a distinct type of poop made up of things like mucus, skin cells, lanugo hairs, and other particles your baby swallowed, along with the amniotic fluid, while still in the womb.

It takes a few days for your little one to pass all the meconium out of their system, but as this happens, they’ll start to have regular baby poops. The color will shift from being almost black to a yellowy green and there may be less mucus present. Speak to your baby’s healthcare provider if your baby’s first bowel movement doesn’t happen within the first 24 hours after birth.

Regular Baby Poop

Once the meconium is out of your baby’s system, their regular poop can vary a lot, depending on how they’re being fed. Here is what you’ll probably find in your little one’s diapers:

• Breastfed babies. If you’re breastfeeding your baby, their stools in the first few months may look a little like Dijon mustard, with a slightly runny consistency, and possibly with whiteish, seed-like fat particles. A little bit of mucus in baby poop is normal, too. The color of your baby’s poop may also change depending on what you’re eating. For example, if you eat green vegetables like spinach, you might see a green tint in the contents of your little one’s diapers.

• Formula-fed babies. If your baby is getting their nourishment from formula, their poop won’t usually be as runny as that of a breastfed baby. It will have a more paste-like consistency (although it shouldn’t be firmer than peanut butter) and a darker yellow or tan color.

• Babies in the weaning stage. When you start introducing solid foods to your little one, which is recommended from around 6 months, you’ll start to see (and smell!) some major changes in the contents of your baby’s poopy diapers. Their stools will get firmer, and the color will vary more widely, too.

If your child is eating finger foods, you might see undigested bits of food like the skins of peas or tomatoes. This is because your little one’s digestive system is still getting the hang of processing all these new foods. The weaning period is also when your little one’s poop will start to smell stronger, due to the extra fats and sugars in their diet.

What the Colors of Baby Poop May Mean

You might be surprised by a change in the color of your baby’s poop, which can range from the mustardy hues of breast-milk poop and the yellow-tan of formula-fed baby poop to various other shades of yellow, brown, and even green. You might also find mucus in baby poop, which can create a translucent or milky coloring.

Green Baby Poop

Green poop can be alarming the first time you see it, but it’s usually harmless. All sorts of things can cause it, from certain medicines (taken by your baby, or by you if you’re breastfeeding) to green foods eaten by your baby directly or passed on through your breast milk. Sometimes, what you see is simply a product of your little one’s normal digestion.

Generally, all the earth tones (yellow through green and brown) are OK, but if you ever need reassurance about the color of your baby’s poop, don’t be shy about reaching out to your baby’s healthcare provider for advice.

Warning Colors

Certain colors of stool can be a sign of a possible health issue. Always check in with your baby’s healthcare provider if your baby’s poop is any of the following colors:

• Red. Traces of red can be due to blood in your baby’s poop, so it’s important for your baby’s healthcare provider to investigate what might be causing it. Keep in mind, though, that there are plenty of harmless reasons for red poop. In a newborn baby, a little blood may have been swallowed during delivery. If you’re breastfeeding, it might be that your nipples are bleeding, and the blood is mingling with your breast milk. If your little one is eating solids, it could be a certain food, such as beets, coloring their poop red.

• Black. A black stool could, in some cases, be caused by blood, which may turn from red to black inside the intestines over time. It's important to know that very dark green poop can sometimes appear black. Green baby poop—even a dark shade of the color—is usually nothing to worry about. Meconium can also look black, and this isn’t a problem.

• White or gray. Very pale white or clay-colored stools are very rare, but if you see poop this color in your baby’s diaper, call your baby’s healthcare provider, as it could be a sign of a liver condition that needs treatment.

Mucus in Baby Poop

As mentioned, mucus in baby poop is most often harmless and normal. Meconium almost always has it, and it’s not abnormal to find small amounts of mucus in your baby’s poop as they grow older and eat more varied foods. Mucus in baby poop is typically translucent or slightly milky in color.

However, if mucus in baby poop is accompanied by other symptoms, this could be an indication of an infection or digestive issues. Symptoms to look out for include blood in the poop, diarrhea, high fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, and weakness. If you notice any of these symptoms, especially alongside mucus in your baby’s poop, contact your baby’s healthcare provider.

Baby Poop Color Chart

To help you visualize the array of baby poop colors, here is a handy chart:

How Often Will Your Baby Poop?

The frequency of your baby’s poops will change as your little one grows and their digestive system develops, but it’s also affected by the feeding method that you use.

If You’re Breastfeeding

If your baby is breastfed, they’re likely to poop more frequently than their formula-fed peers. As a rule of thumb, after the first few days, you might see anything between 2 and 5 bowel movements a day, up until your little one is around 6 weeks old.

Keep in mind that after 3 to 6 weeks of age, your breastfed baby might sometimes go several days between bowel movements. This is because your baby’s digestive system is able to process breast milk very efficiently, leaving very little solid waste.

After 6 weeks, your baby may have fewer daily poops. One reason may be that, by this time, your breast milk usually no longer contains colostrum, which can act as a laxative.

If You’re Formula Feeding

If your little one is getting all or most of their daily nutrition through formula feeding, after the first few days they may start filling their diaper at least once a day, but it’s not out of the ordinary for them to sometimes go a day or two without a bowel movement. This is OK, provided their stools are soft when they do materialize.

If you’re ever concerned about how many poops your little one is passing, consult your baby’s healthcare provider.

Can Your Baby Make Too Much Poop?

The amount of poop your baby makes each time can vary. As long as their weight gain is on track, and the stools are soft, all is probably fine.

If your baby’s poop seems watery or is filled with mucus, and they are pooping much more frequently than usual or has other symptoms, like a high temperature (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or above), this could be diarrhea.

See your baby’s healthcare provider if you think your little one might have diarrhea, especially if they’re under 3 months.

It’s worth knowing that newborns and younger babies are more likely to produce lots of little poops one after the other. If you notice that your baby has just had a bowel movement, you might be able to save yourself an extra diaper change by waiting just a little longer in case there’s more to come.

Each one of those diaper changes could be earning you Pampers Cash that you can use toward gifts, coupons, and discounts. Download the Pampers Club app to get started right now!

When There’s No Poop — Constipation

With all the variation in how often your baby poops, you may sometimes wonder how you can tell if your little one is constipated.

Constipation in babies is more common after the introduction of solids, but it can occur in younger babies, too. Here are some typical signs of constipation:

• In a newborn baby. Firm stools that come less than once a day.

• In an older baby or toddler. Hard, compact stools that only come every three or four days.

• In a baby or child of any age. Large, hard, and dry stools that are painful to pass; blood on or in your child’s stools; you child strains for more than 10 minutes without passing any stool at all.

What Can You Do About Constipation?

If you think your baby is constipated, see their healthcare provider for advice. Don’t give your baby any medication, including a laxative, unless it’s specifically prescribed by their provider.

Call their provider immediately if your little one doesn’t get better or has other symptoms like:

• vomiting

• fever

• lethargy

• loss of appetite

• blood in the stool.

How to Tell if Your Baby Has Pooped

Your baby’s poop may not always smell much, especially in the first few weeks, so how can you tell when a diaper change is needed?

One tell-tale sign is straining: Passing a stool is hard work for small babies. You might notice your little one getting red in the face with the effort of pushing out that poop.

You’ll soon get to know your baby’s facial expression when they’re having a bowel movement, or—when they’re old enough to stand and walk—the squatting pose that they adopt when they need to go.

Use our handy Diaper Size and Weight Chart to make sure your baby's diapers always fit properly.

The Bottom Line

You might not have realized until now just how much there is to know about your baby’s poop, but don’t worry: There’s no need to go over every single dirty diaper with a magnifying glass! Once you get used to your little one’s bowel movement patterns, and the usual color and texture of their poops, you’ll probably notice any changes quickly.

Just keep an eye on color and consistency and together with your baby’s healthcare provider, you can take any steps needed to get things back to normal.

Baby poo: a visual guide (photos)

by Polly Logan-Banks |

• Banana Stock

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  What should baby poo look like?

  Most new parents find baby poo quite surprising! It has so many shades and consistencies that even experienced parents may not have seen them all. This photo guide to baby poo will give you a good idea of what's normal and what's not as your newborn grows, drinks breastmilk or formula and starts eating solids.

• BabyCenter community member

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  Newborn poo: meconium

  Expect to find greenish-black, tarry, sticky stools in your newborn's nappy for the first few days. This is known as meconium (mec for short), and is made of amniotic fluid, mucus, skin cells and other substances your baby swallowed in the womb. It doesn't really smell, so you may not realise straight away when it's time for a nappy change.

  When your baby is two to four days old, his stools will become less sticky and lighter in colour - sort of an army green. This transitional stool is a sign that he's started digesting breastmilk or formula.

• BabyCenter community member

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  Healthy breastfed poo

  If your baby is exclusively breastfed, his stools will become yellow or slightly green, and have a mushy or creamy consistency. Breastfed poo can look like mustard-coloured cottage cheese, and may be dotted with little seed-like flecks. It often smells surprisingly sweet.

  There are many shades of normal when it comes to breastfed poo. Your baby may occasionally do a poo that seems a bit greener than usual. As long as he seems well in himself, there's no need to worry.

• BabyCenter community member

  4 / 12

  Healthy formula-fed poo

  Formula-fed babies have less runny stools that are often a similar colour and texture to peanut butter. They can vary from tan-brown or yellow-brown, to green-brown.

  Formula-fed poo also smells a bit more like adult poo than breastfed poo does.

• BabyCenter community member

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  Dark green or black poo

  If you give your baby an iron supplement, his stools may turn dark green or almost black. This doesn't happen often, but it's a completely normal variation that would make Popeye proud.

  If your baby's more than a few days old, his poo looks blackish, and he's not taking an iron supplement, see your GP as soon as possible. In rare cases, this can be a sign of bleeding in your baby's digestive system. It's not likely to happen to your baby, but you should get him checked out, just in case.

  If there are black specks in your breastfed baby's poo, this could be a sign that he's swallowing blood from cracked and bleeding nipples. The blood turns black when your baby digests it.

  It's always a good idea to get any blood in your baby's poo checked out by your GP, but in most cases, black specks are unlikely to be anything to worry about.

• BabyCenter community member

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  Solid-food poo

  Once your baby's eating solid foods, you'll quickly notice a change in his poos, especially if he's breastfed.

  Solid-food stools tend to be brown or dark brown and thicker than peanut butter but still mushy. They're also smellier.

  You may notice that your baby's poo takes on the colour of the food you give him. For example, if you feed him carrots, his next poo may be orange. And a beetroot poo can look quite alarming!

• BabyCenter community member

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  Poo with partially digested food

  Occasionally, your baby's poo will have identifiable chunks of food in it, particularly if you're doing baby-led weaning.

  Not to worry! Your baby's still learning to chew, and his digestive system is still developing, so it's normal for some food to pass through his system without being fully digested.

  If your baby’s poo consistently has undigested food in it, it's worth talking to your GP. She'll check to make sure your baby's intestines are working properly, and he's getting all the nutrients he needs.

• BabyCenter community member

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  Diarrhoea

  It's not uncommon for healthy babies to do the occasional explosive or runny poo. But if your baby does several runny poos with no lumps in them, he could have diarrhoea. It can be yellow, green, or brown, and may seep or explode out of the nappy.

  Diarrhoea can be a sign of an infection or allergy, and if it lasts for a while without being treated, can lead to dehydration. If your baby has watery stools for more than a day or two, see your GP. Make an appointment sooner if he's showing signs of dehydration - such as fewer wet nappies or a sunken fontanelle – or has any other symptoms that concern you.

• BabyCenter community member

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  Constipation

  If your baby's stool is hard and looks like little pebbles, it’s likely that he’s constipated. Your baby may be visibly uncomfortable when he's pooing and the poo may even be tinged with blood from irritating his bottom on the way out.

  Constipation often happens in babies who are being introduced to solid foods, and it's usually nothing to worry about. But in some cases, constipation can be a sign of dehydration, a food allergy, or a medical condition. If you think your baby is constipated, it's worth having a chat with your health visitor, just in case.

• BabyCenter community member

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  Poo with mucus

  Does your baby's nappy look like it's been slimed? Greenish poo streaked with shiny, glistening strings means there's mucus in it. This sometimes happens when a baby is especially drooly, since mucus in saliva often remains undigested. It can also happen when he has a cold, as he'll naturally produce more mucus.

  However, mucus in poo can also be a sign of an infection or allergy. If it happens for several days, or your baby has any other symptoms, see your GP to rule out any problems.

• BabyCenter community member

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  Bloody poo: bright red blood

  If you have a baby girl, you may notice a few specks of blood in her nappy a few days after the birth. This is known as a false period. It happens because of the surge in hormones your body experiences in pregnancy, which in turn stimulate your baby’s womb to produce a period. It's perfectly normal, and no cause for concern.

  In boys, and girls after the first few days, bright red blood can show up in baby stools for a few different reasons. For example, constipation or nappy rash can irritate your baby's bottom and make it bleed. Or your baby may swallow a little blood if you breastfeed him with cracked nipples.

  Although blood in your baby's nappy doesn't necessarily mean he's ill, it's always best to get it checked out, just to be on the safe side. It can sometimes be a sign of infection, allergies, or a problem with your baby's digestive system. So if you notice a bloody nappy, make an appointment with your GP, just in case.

• BabyCenter community member

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  The end

  More advice and tips:

  • Find out if it's normal for your baby to poo after every feed.
  • Learn more about how starting solids can affect your baby's poo.
  • Get tips to make nappy changes easier.

  Thanks very much to the BabyCenter US parents (and their babies!) who contributed to this photo gallery.

Polly Logan-Banks

Polly Logan-Banks is an experienced editor with a keen interest in producing evidence-based content. Polly is passionate about ensuring that every child gets the best start in life.

Baby poop: what your baby's diapers tell you

The birth of a child presupposes continuous learning for parents especially beginners. You may have read a lot of books, you may have asked family and friends with children for advice, and you may even think that you will be well prepared for the arrival of your child. But the reality is that the arrival of a child (especially the first) brings with it an infinite number of new situations.

But don't worry, in a short time you will become an expert at recognizing your baby's different calls. You will also learn how to bathe with great skill that baby who does not stop crying, even if they say that the bath is relaxing. You will even learn to decipher your baby's diaper by the color and texture of his poop.

However, while you're getting a master's degree in childcare, you can some of your baby's poop scares you . This is completely normal and happens to the vast majority of new parents as babies' stools change in color and consistency as their diet changes. Until they look like adults, your baby's stool will go through the following phases.

Index

• 1 Meconium
• 2 First "normal" poop
• 3 Complementary foods
• 4 Is the baby constipated?

Meconium

Baby's first food is black and sticky, like resin. nine0005 This first food is called meconium. This must sound familiar to you, because midwives often talk about it so that parents don't get scared for the rest of their lives when they change their first diaper.

The color and consistency of these feces are due to the child's digestion while still in the womb, and his diet depends on the mother. This stool is very large and usually lasts one to two days. Despite its appearance, meconium is a sign that the newborn's digestive system is working properly. nine0003

The first "normal" poop

Food is what will change the color and consistency of a newborn's feces. When breastfeeding begins, stools will turn mustard yellow , somewhat runny and lumpy. The color may vary depending on whether the baby is breastfeeding or formula feeding. This is because the formula is fortified with iron, which imparts a blackish tint, and the poop may be slightly more brown.

This will be the general appearance of the baby's poop. nine0005 for the first 6 months or so when you usually start with the introduction of food.

Complementary foods

As the baby begins to eat different foods, the appearance and color of the stool will change depending on what you are taking . Some fruits and vegetables give a very distinctive tone, such as carrots. The baby's feces will take on an appearance very similar to that of an adult, and from now on they will get bigger and bigger in what will be their future digestion. nine0003

Is the child constipated?

Many parents go through this phase during the first few weeks of a baby's life, as newborns can go several days without a bowel movement . It is also possible that the baby will poop a lot on the same day, since breastfed babies tend to have a bowel movement at almost every breastfeed.

The first is not synonymous with constipation, nor does the second mean that the child has diarrhea. These are quite normal and common situations. On the other hand, the number of stools is is not what marks the constipation but the consistency of the stool. If the baby does not poop for several days, but retains its normal color and texture, this is completely normal.

On the other hand, if the stool is hard and spherical, it is a clear sign that the baby is constipated . In this case, you should contact your pediatrician to resolve this issue. You should not give your child any medicines, liquids or infusions on your own. Follow this link for tips on how to avoid constipation in children. nine0003

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You may be interested in

Baby poop: everything you need to know

Has anyone ever told you a wide variety of poop What can you find in a baby diaper?

Liquid or solid, black, green or yellow, baby poop can have many tones and textures different.

These diaper changes are an important part of any parent's daily routine, but they can also be a way to monitor a child's health.

It will take a few days to clear all the meconium from your body, but then you will start having regular bowel movements. By this point your poop will have changed from almost black to a shade. nine0005 yellowish green .

Tell your pediatrician if you don't have your first bowel movement. within the first 24 hours after birth!.

Baby poop depending on how we feed them

Once meconium is passed out of a baby's body, the feces can vary greatly. depending on how we feed him . Here is what we are likely to find in diapers on different occasions:

• Breastfed babies If we are breastfeeding, his stool in the first months may look a bit like mustard from Dijon, with consistency slightly runny and possibly with off-white seed-like fat particles. Your child's stool color may also change depending on what he eats. For example, if you eat green vegetables such as spinach, they may have a green tint.

• Formula-fed children. In this case, your stool will not be as thin as that of a breastfed baby. He will have sequence is more spreadable than (although it should not be harder than peanut butter) and dark yellow or roasted.

• Infants at weaning stage . When we start introducing food solid , which is recommended after 6 months, we will see (and smell!) some important changes in the composition of diapers. Your stool will become harder than and its color will also be different. We can see pieces of food undigested, such as pea skins or tomatoes. This is because your little one's digestive system is still learning to digest all these new foods. During the weaning period, feeds also begin to smell more strongly due to additional fats and sugars in the diet.

Green, grey, red - what do the colors of baby poop mean?

La green poop In particular, it may be alarming when we first see it, but it is usually harmless. This can be caused by various reasons, from certain drugs (taken by the child himself or even by us if we are breastfeeding him) as long as green foods the child swallows directly or passes through breast milk.

As a general rule, all earth tones of (yellow, green, and brown) will do, but if you ever need to be sure, don't hesitate to ask your pediatrician for advice.

Warning colors

There are certain stool colors that could be a sign a possible health problem :

• Red. Traces of red may be associated with blood in the stool . A newborn baby may have swallowed some blood during childbirth. If we are breastfeeding, the nipples may bleed a little and the blood may mix with breast milk. If the baby is already eating solid food, this may be due to the color of certain foods, such as beets, which can stain feces. In any case, you will have to go to the pediatrician to determine what it is. nine0003

• Blacken. In some cases, black stools may be caused by blood which may change from red to black in the intestine over time. It is important to know that dark green stools can sometimes appear black. Green baby poop, even with a dark shade of color, is nothing to worry about at all. Meconium may also look black, and this is not a problem.

• White or grey. Very pale white or clayey stools are very rare, but if we see feces of this color on a diaper, we must call pediatrician as this could be a sign of a liver condition that needs treatment.

How often should the baby poop?

La frequency The way a baby defecates will change as his digestive system grows and develops, but this will also depend on the feeding method he uses.

If we are breastfeeding

He will probably defecate more often than if we were formula feeding him. As a rule, after a few days you can 2 to 5 bowel movements per day until he is about 6 weeks old.

At 3 to 6 weeks of age, if we are breastfeeding, they can spend a few days between bowel movements . This is because a baby's digestive system can process breast milk very efficiently, leaving very little solid waste.

After 6 weeks, you can download less than before. One of the reasons for this is that at that time breast milk usually no longer contains colostrum which can act as a laxative.

If you drink formula

Regardless of whether we give him all formula or just part of it, after the first few days he may start stuffing his diaper at least once a day. Although usually a day or two do not defecate. It is normal if the stool is soft.

When can you say that a child poops too much?

The amount of poop you do each time can be different. While you're gaining weight and their soft chair , everything is probably fine.

If a little boy's poop seems to be Aguada especially if you poop much more often than usual or if you have other symptoms such as high fever is about diarrhea. You need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Newborns and infants are more likely to get sick poop less and more times . If the baby has just had a bowel movement, we may be able to save on extra diaper changes by waiting a little longer...

When can I tell if I have constipation?

Constipation is more common after administration of solids but can also occur in infants. Here are some typical signs of constipation:

• Newborn. Hard stools and less than once a day.

• In an older child or a small child. Hard and compact stools than every three to four days.

• In an infant or child of any age. nine0177 Profuse, hard, dry stools, painful on defecation. If there is blood in the stool or if the child strains for more than 10 minutes without a bowel movement.