Formula fed baby poop dark green

All about baby poo | Pregnancy Birth and Baby

If there is one thing that will get new parents talking, it's baby poo. How often? What colour is it? What about the texture?

All babies are different. Some poo every time they feed; others can go days without a poo. This is all normal.

A lot will depend on how old your child is, whether they are breast or formula fed, or whether they have moved to eating solid foods. But certain kinds of poo can be a sign that your baby might be sick or that something is missing from their diet.

As your newborn settles into a routine, it won't take long for you to recognise patterns in their feeding, sleeping - and in how often you need to change nappies.

New parents are usually quite surprised by the variety of colours they find in their baby's nappy!

Baby's first poo

You might be a bit shocked by what comes out of your baby the first time they do a poo. It’s a sticky, greenish black poo that looks like tar but is perfectly normal. This is called 'meconium' and is the by-product of your baby being in the womb for 9 months. It should only take a day or two for this to go away and for the next colour poo to arrive. If your baby continues to have black or very dark poo after 4 to 5 days, speak to your doctor.

Baby poo guide

Your baby's poo can tell you a lot about their health.

The first 6 weeks

During their first 6 weeks of life, both breast-fed and formula-fed babies will have generally have poo that is either yellow or green. Breast-fed babies tend to have softer, runnier poo while formula-fed baby poo is a little bit firmer.

In the next few weeks, you can expect the colour and shape, as well as how often they poo, to change.

Breastfeeding mums might find a bit more variety in the nappy because your diet and any medication you are taking can affect your baby's poo.

Why is my baby's poo green?

Parents sometimes find varying shades of green in their baby’s nappy.

Breast-fed babies can produce bright, frothy green poo, usually because they are getting too much foremilk or because mum is swapping from breast to breast during feeds. Try feeding from just one breast at a time until the breast is drained to make sure your baby is also getting the rich hindmilk.

If your formula-fed baby’s poo is green, it could just mean they are getting a lot of iron in their feed. Check the formula to see if it contains an iron supplement and speak to your child health nurse or doctor about possibly adjusting which formula you use.

Moving to solids

At around 6 months, when you start to introduce solids to your baby’s diet, you’ll notice a change both in colour and texture. The colour tends to be more of a greenish brown to orange, although the type of food your baby eats will affect it. Many babies start off eating pureed carrots, pumpkin and sweet potato, so don’t be surprised if their poo is almost the same colour!

Most babies will go through about 6 to 8 nappies a day - that can be almost 3,000 in your baby's first year!

Listen to Dianne Zalitis, midwife, talk about baby poo on the podcast Feed Play Love.

Constipation versus diarrhoea

Because babies can’t tell you when they are sick, it’s important not only to check their nappies but to take note of other behaviours that could be a sign your baby is unwell.

Constipation

Many parents often think that their baby might be constipated, either because they haven't passed anything for a few days or because they might look like they are straining when they go.

As long as your baby's poo is soft, it's perfectly normal to go for a few days without doing one. You will also find that babies often strain, make noises, go red in the face and even cry when they are doing a normal poo.

Signs of constipation include:

hard and dry poo
poo that is firm and pebble-like
your baby being upset
a small streak of blood

Seeing a streak of blood might be alarming, but if they are constipated, they might have a little tear in their anus. You should see your doctor or child health nurse to have them checked out.

Fully breast-fed babies shouldn't get constipated. Even if they are not feeding as often, their poo should still be quite soft. Constipation is more common in babies who are formula-fed, so it's important to follow the directions on the container to make sure the mix of powder and water is correct.

Diarrhoea

When it comes to diarrhoea, baby poo is already quite soft and runny, particularly before the baby starts on solids. But if it becomes more runny and more frequent than usual, it could be diarrhoea.

Some signs to look out for include:

poo that is quite watery
doing more than usual
your baby is being unwell, especially if they are vomiting
your baby not wanting to feed

If you think your baby has diarrhoea, speak to your doctor or child health nurse since babies can easily become dehydrated if they don't get enough fluids.

What's

not normal

Although you can expect to see many different colours of poo in your baby’s nappy, there are some colours that indicate there might be a problem.

White, chalky poo is never normal and could be a sign your baby has jaundice or a problem with their liver. You should see your doctor immediately if you notice that your baby’s poo is white.

While a single streak of blood in your baby’s poo could be a sign of constipation, if you discover more than one streak, you should see your doctor immediately.

It’s also a good idea to take your baby’s nappy, or a poo sample, to show the doctor.

The bottom line

Most babies will go through about 6 to 8 nappies a day - that can be almost 3,000 in your baby's first year! And whether you use cloth or disposable nappies you'll be spending a lot of time looking at what comes out of your baby. Just remember that all babies are different and you will soon settle into a routine of feed, poo, sleep, repeat.

If you are unsure whether your baby is unwell, visit your doctor or call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 to speak to a maternal child health nurse.

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Baby Poop Color Chart - a Stool Type Guide by Similac®

Questions about your baby’s health? Her diaper may be full of answers.

If your baby seems fussy or sick, or if you simply aren’t sure if all is well, check her diaper for clues about what’s going on.

To begin, choose the stool below that looks most like your baby’s.

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Greenish-black and sticky baby poop

AKA: Meconium

Looks like: Licorice or tar

A thick, dark substance that fills your infant’s intestines before birth and is eliminated as stool after birth.

What does it mean?

Meconium stools are the first stools your baby will have after birth, and it is perfectly normal. It appears greenish-black because it contains bilirubin, a yellowish-green breakdown of red blood cells. The colostrum in your breast milk acts as a laxative and helps your baby pass the meconium in about 3 days.

What should I do?

There is no need to worry. This stool is normal, healthy, and temporary. (If it lasts more than 3 days, check with your doctor. He might want to check to make sure your baby is getting the feedings she needs to move this through her system.)

The information in this section was derived from the following:
Abbott Nutrition. Parents Guide to Infant Stools. March 2009.
McGrail A, Metland D, Murray L, et al. The BabyCenter Essential Guide to Your Baby's First Year. July 2007.
Nathanson LW. The Portable Pediatrician. September 2002.

Yellow and seedy baby poop

AKA: Breastfed-baby poop

Looks like: Yellow, curdled milk

Your breastfed baby's stools will look like this until you supplement with formula or begin feeding your baby solids.

What does it mean?

This stool is normal. Breastfed babies' poop has a mild smell (and might come with loud sound effects).

What should I do?

Don’t worry. Your baby's poop is standard. Breast milk has the ideal nutrients to help your baby stay healthy and grow strong.

Tan and thick baby poop

AKA: Formula-fed-baby poop

Looks like: Hummus

This is the result of feeding your baby formula, either as her full diet or as a supplement to breast milk.

What does it mean?

Your baby's stools are normal. You should only be concerned if your baby's poop is watery or becomes hard (especially small hard balls of stool).

What should I do?

There is no need to worry. Your baby's stool is normal and healthy.

Greenish-brown baby poop

AKA: Introduction-to-solids baby poop

Looks like: Leftover guacamole

A mix of table foods, this poop is normal.

What does it mean?

Greenish-brown poop is typical and normal when your baby starts eating solids, but you might see this color in your baby's diaper before then. If your baby has other symptoms that concern you, contact your healthcare professional.

What should I do?

Do not worry. This stool is normal and healthy.

Frequent watery, brown, and loose baby poop that is not typical for your baby

AKA: Diarrhea

Looks like: Watery with chunks

Frequent, loud, and loose stools could be diarrhea.

What does it mean?

The occasional loose baby stool is no cause for alarm. But if it occurs regularly for 2 days or more, it could be diarrhea. Diarrhea in babies can cause dehydration, and also might be a sign of infection. Usually these infections are not dangerous, but the dehydration that can result is a concern.

What should I do?

Call your healthcare provider if the problem persists for more than 2 days. The younger the baby, and the more frequent the diarrhea, the greater the concern for dehydration. Do not give your baby anti-diarrhea medication unless advised by your healthcare professional. Your healthcare provider might advise giving your baby an oral electrolyte solution, such as Pedialyte^®, to help prevent dehydration.

Contact your healthcare professional right away if you see:

Blood or mucus in stools
Fever
Vomiting
Irritability
Refusal to eat
Decreased or dark-colored urine
Decreased activity

Dry, brown, and hard baby poop

AKA: Constipation

Looks like: Dirt, clay, or pebbles

Hard, pellet-like stools could mean your baby is constipated.

What does it mean?

Occasional constipation is normal, especially with formula-fed babies and when your baby transitions to solid foods. It could be a sign that your baby is not getting enough fluid or that he is losing too much fluid from the heat, an illness, or a fever. Occasional blood streaking on the surface of the stool can result when hard stools make tiny tears in the soft tissues around the anus.

What should I do?

In a very young baby, consult your healthcare professional, who might recommend giving your baby small amounts of extra water. Give older babies plenty of breast milk or formula to drink. If your baby is eating solids, offer foods that are higher in fiber, such as fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, and add puréed prunes to your baby's cereal. Check with your baby’s doctor about altering your baby's diet or using juices.

Contact your healthcare professional right away if you see:

Blood or mucus in stools
Fever
Vomiting
Refusal to eat
Decreased or dark-colored urine
Decreased activity

Pinkish-red baby poop

AKA: Artificially colored stools

Looks like: Partially digested food

What your baby eats comes out looking much the same as when it went in.

What does it mean?

Once your baby has started on solids, you will see bowel movements that can vary in color and texture after every meal. In addition to foods, some medications also can turn a baby’s poop unusual colors.

What should I do?

Watch what your baby eats to ensure there is a link between the color of the stool and what she is eating. Examples of foods known for turning baby poop shocking colors include carrots (orange) and spinach (green). If your baby’s stool is red for no apparent reason (no cherry Popsicle^®, Froot Loops^® cereal, or red gelatin), call your healthcare provider.

Contact your healthcare professional right away if you see:

Blood or mucus in stools
Fever
Vomiting
Irritability
Refusal to eat
Decreased or dark-colored urine
Decreased activity

Popsicle^® and Froot Loops^® are not registered trademarks of Abbott Laboratories.

Dark-green baby poop

AKA: Iron supplementation

Looks like: Thick, dark stool

If your baby's stool is dark green, it could be the product of iron supplementation in your baby's diet.

What does it mean?

In some babies, the iron sulfate in a supplement or iron-fortified baby formula can make dark-green stools, or sometimes even greenish-black. There is no need to be concerned with the color change, as it has no significance to your baby’s digestive system.

What should I do?

This stool is normal. Studies show that iron supplementation does not cause digestive problems or discomfort.

Contact your healthcare professional right away if you see:

Blood or mucus in stools
Fever
Vomiting
Irritability
Refusal to eat
Decreased or dark-colored urine
Decreased activity

Bright-green baby poop

AKA: Foremilk/hindmilk imbalance

Looks like: Green, frothy poop

Breastfed babies who get more foremilk than hindmilk sometimes have bright-green baby poop.

What does it mean?

When your breastfed baby nurses for short periods of time on each breast, he might get more foremilk, which is sweeter and thinner, and less hindmilk, which is richer and fattier. Your baby might need to nurse longer on each side in order to ensure enough hindmilk is consumed during each feeding.
Sometimes a virus will turn your baby's stools bright green. If your baby is fussy and seems uncomfortable, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I do?

Try to let your baby empty the first breast before you switch to the other side.

Contact your healthcare professional right away if you see:

Blood or mucus in stools
Fever
Vomiting
Irritability
Refusal to eat
Decreased or dark-colored urine
Decreased activity

Red-streaked baby poop

AKA: Bloody stool

Looks like: A hard stool streaked with blood or mucus

Bright-red blood on a baby stool could indicate that your baby has small tears, or rectal fissures, around the anus.

What does it mean?

Often the stools of constipated babies are streaked with red from rectal fissures, small cracks in the anus caused by pushing. You also might see streaks of mucus on the baby poop.

What should I do?

If your baby’s doctor confirms the bleeding is from a fissure, there is little cause for concern. Usually, once the constipation has resolved, the bleeding stops. If there is a large amount of blood (more than a few drops) or if the bleeding does not resolve with the softening of the stools, check with your doctor.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, call your healthcare professional right away:

Blood or mucus in stools
Fever
Vomiting
Irritability
Refusal to eat
Decreased or dark-colored urine
Decreased activity

Black baby poop

AKA: Melena

Looks like: Black, thick, or tarry stool

Melena is a thick black stool that could contain blood that entered in the upper GI tract.

What does it mean?

A black baby stool might contain blood that entered the intestines in the upper portion of the digestive system.

What should I do?

If it’s not meconium (which passes during the first few days of life), call your healthcare professional immediately.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, call your healthcare professional right away:

Blood or mucus in stools
Fever
Vomiting
Irritability
Refusal to eat
Decreased or dark-colored urine
Decreased activity

Chalky and white baby poop

AKA: Abnormal Stool

Looks like: Pale, colorless, or white stool

A chalky white baby stool could be a sign of a lack of bile, which normally turns a stool brown.

What does it mean?

A white stool might be a sign of a liver or gallbladder problem. Bile is a digestive fluid made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Your baby's stool gets its normal color from the bile as it is excreted during digestion. If your baby's liver doesn't produce bile, or if the bile is obstructed, his stool will be white.

What should I do?

A white stool is very rare, but if your baby's poop is white, call your healthcare professional right away.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, call your healthcare professional right away:

Blood or mucus in stools
Fever
Vomiting
Irritability
Refusal to eat
Decreased or dark-colored urine
Decreased activity

Baby's green stool - Articles about baby food from pediatricians and MAMAKO experts The child's stool suddenly began to look completely different, instead of yellowish, it turned out to be green. What does it mean? Why does a baby have green stools? The reason is important. Greens in the diaper can be a completely normal and harmless manifestation of changes in the intestinal microflora or a symptom of the disease. Dark green, yellow-green, green stools with mucus, green diarrhea - when to worry and call the doctor, and when are green stools still in the "green zone"?

- Anastasia Anatolyevna, what kind of stool should a healthy baby have and what deviations are acceptable?

— Stool color differs between breastfed and formula-fed babies. If greenery appears in the stool, and its consistency and frequency remain normal, this is acceptable.

— What diseases can be a symptom of green stool in a newborn?

- Various diseases can provoke the appearance of green stools, primarily disorders in the baby's gastrointestinal tract and infections:

liver or gallbladder dysfunction;
diseases of the pancreas;
dysbacteriosis;
bacterial infections;
viral intestinal diseases;
helminthic infestation;
food allergy.

- Let's see what green stool means in common problem situations.

Situation 1. Green loose stools in an infant

- If diarrhea occurs suddenly, accompanied by vomiting, fever, intestinal colic - this is a disease. It can be caused by enteroviruses, pathogenic fungi, intestinal bacteria. For example, staphylococci and streptococci, entering the intestines of a child, begin intensive reproduction and change the acidic environment to an alkaline one. Therefore, the color of the stool changes.

Situation 2. Green feces with dysbacteriosis in infants

— Every baby faces dysbacteriosis: it occurs during the formation of the necessary microflora in the intestines. The unnaturally green color of the stool in dysbacteriosis is due to the content of dead leukocytes in the feces. They accumulate in the intestinal area and increase the inflammatory process. The stool turns green due to fermentation and putrefaction in the intestines. Other manifestations of dysbacteriosis include bloating, gas formation, and a skin rash. The child's stool will return to normal when the microflora is fully populated.

If the child is gaining weight well, nothing bothers him, then green stool is considered normal. Other symptoms will indicate indigestibility of food.

Green stool in a baby - causes

— What symptoms should a child see a doctor against the background of green stools?

- Decreased appetite in a baby, fever, colic, abdominal pain, bloody impurities and mucus in the feces, vomiting, rash on the body - such complaints should be an obligatory reason for a visit to a children's doctor. Upon examination, he will recommend a list of studies to make the correct diagnosis.

If a green stool appeared during a change in nutrition, but the child has an adequate weight gain, good health, he is active, his appetite is normal, then there is no reason for concern. This may be a one-time manifestation that will disappear without any complaints.

Green stool in a child - what tests to pass:

blood and urine test – the presence of inflammation in the body is determined;
coprogram - the presence of an inflammatory process in the intestine is assessed,
analysis of feces for dysbacteriosis - to assess the intestinal microflora;
biochemical blood test - checking the functioning of the digestive organs;
scraping for enterobiosis - confirms or excludes a parasitic disease;
Ultrasound examination of the digestive system - to assess the functioning of the pancreas and liver.

Watch the video in which Rabiyat Salakhiddinovna Zayniddinovna, a pediatrician, will tell you why artificial and breastfeeding babies' stools are green and in which cases parents have no reason to worry.

- How to treat green stools at home?

— The child must be treated by a specialist. Therapy depends on the cause of green impurities in the feces. In case of malnutrition, a change in the diet of mother and child, a decrease in the volume of complementary foods, and the selection of the right complementary foods are prescribed.

If an infection is suspected, the child must be hospitalized in a specialized department, because adequate assistance can only be provided there.

Treatment of intestinal infection and green stool:

drinking regime - to prevent dehydration;
sorbents - to remove pathogenic toxins from the body;
antibacterial drugs - are prescribed when a causative agent of a bacterial intestinal infection is detected.

Non-infectious causes of green stools in a child - what to do:

lactose intolerance - lactose is excluded from the child's diet;
allergic reaction - determine the allergen and exclude it from the diet of an artificial child or a nursing mother;
helminthic invasion - give anthelmintic drugs;
dysbacteriosis - correct the intestinal microflora with pre- and probiotics.

— What can be considered the best prevention of green stools?

- Timely and correct introduction of complementary foods, nutrition without overeating, dietary compliance by the mother, individually selected milk formula will contribute to comfortable digestion in a small child.

There are many reasons leading to green stools in babies. Green stools can appear in both breastfed and formula fed babies. Whether the change in the color of the stool is caused by infectious diseases, your pediatrician will help you figure it out, who will select the right treatment.

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What to do if a formula-fed baby has green stools

Tips for moms

Photo: pololia — stock.adobe.com

What causes green stools in a bottle-fed baby

The type of bowel movements can be used to judge the normal functioning of the intestines of a newborn. But if during breastfeeding the stool depends on the nutrition of the mother, then with artificial it is affected by various reasons.

The green mass on the diaper looks especially frightening. This occurs in the following cases:

Adaptation after birth. For several days, in a newly born baby, the intestines are cleared of amniotic fluid and get used to a new diet.
When switching to artificial feeding. This does not last long and is quite normal, as the stomach has to change from breast milk to formula.
As a response to nutrition. This happens when using some mixtures containing iron.
When removing bilirubin. In newborns, the content of this pigment, which is formed during the breakdown of hemoglobin, is high, and is normal when it is excreted along with feces.
Due to dysbacteriosis. The reproduction of pathogenic bacteria causes a change in the color of the stool.
Infectious, viral and other diseases, congenital pathologies. This is the most dangerous of the causes of green stools. In this case, you need to consult a doctor.

Photo: NDABCREATIVITY — stock.adobe.com

If, in addition to a change in the color of the feces, an unpleasant smell and foam do not appear, the baby behaves calmly, his temperature does not rise, there is no need to worry.

What to do if the child has green stools

You need to constantly monitor the type of feces, and if you find that it has become green, you should examine the child, pay attention to his behavior. If no changes are found, try changing the mixture, watch the baby.

Change the feeding schedule. Let the child eat in small portions, but more often. If during this period you gave the baby any medications or started complementary foods, stop doing it immediately.

Talk to your pediatrician about any changes in your baby's stool. Harmless symptoms can hide a serious illness.

It is impossible to independently determine what caused the green stool in a formula-fed baby. We can only speculate, try to somehow influence the situation, and the doctor will make an accurate diagnosis after receiving the test results. Therefore, if the stool has a green color for several days, or if you feel unwell, it is necessary to pass feces for caprology and bacterial culture.

The child is growing, complementary foods are introduced, formulas are changed according to age. Any change in diet can cause green stools, and you must be ready to analyze the situation and, if necessary, take action in time.

Also useful to know: a child has styes on his eye

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