Baby poo is probably something you were expecting to deal with as a parent, but did anyone tell you how varied the contents of your newborn’s nappies could be?
Runny or firm, light or dark, green, black or yellow, your baby’s poop can come in many different colours, shades and textures.
Those nappy changes are a big part of any parent’s daily routine, but they can also be an important way of keeping an eye on your baby’s health.
Learn what the colour, consistency and frequency of your baby’s poo can reveal about your little one’s health and development.
Your baby’s poo — What’s normal?
You might be wondering what healthy baby poo should look like. It’s a fair question, because the colour and consistency of your baby’s poo 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 nappies over the first few days, weeks and months after your baby’s birth.
Meconium
Your baby’s first few nappies will probably contain a gooey, dark-green, tar-like substance, with hardly any smell. This is called meconium.
This special kind of poo is made of things like the skin cells and other particles your baby swallowed along with the amniotic fluid while still inside your uterus.
It takes a few days for all the meconium to pass out of your newborn’s system, but as this happens your baby’s poo will get lighter and runnier.
Regardless of whether you’re breastfeeding or using formula, giving your baby colostrum (your very first, nutrient-rich breast milk) for the first few feeds can speed up the passage of meconium.
Tell your midwife or doctor if your baby’s first bowel movement doesn’t happen within the first 24 hours after birth.
Regular baby poo
Once the meconium is out of your baby’s system, regular poo can vary a lot, depending on how you’re feeding him or her. Here’s a brief guide to what your little one’s nappies could hold in store for you.
- If you’re breastfeeding your baby. In the first few months your baby’s stools may look a little like mustard, with a slightly runny and sometimes grainy consistency. The poo will have no smell.
- If you’re feeding your baby with formula. The poo of a formula-fed baby will usually be firmer and smellier than that of a breastfed baby. It also tends to be darker in colour – formula-fed baby poo can be pale brown or may even take on a yellowy-green hue.
- If your baby’s in the weaning stage. When you start introducing solid food at around 6 months, you’ll start to see (and smell!) some major changes in the contents of your baby’s nappies. His or her stools will get firmer and darker, and they can smell a bit stronger now too.
Yellow, Green, Black, Red — What the colours of baby poo can mean
You might be surprised by a change in the colour of your baby’s poo, which can range from the mustard hues of breast-milk poo and the darker tan of formula-fed baby poo to various other shades of yellow, brown or even green.
Green poo, in particular, can be alarming the first time you see it, but it’s usually harmless. All sorts of things can cause it, including some types of infant formula.
As long as your baby seems happy and well, with no change in his or her patterns of behaviour, sleeping or feeding, then green poo probably isn’t any cause for concern.
Check in with your doctor or health visitor if you notice other symptoms alongside the green poo.
Warning colours
Certain colours of stool can be a sign of a possible health issue. Always check in with your doctor if your baby’s poo is:
- Red. Traces of red can be due to blood in your baby’s faeces, so it’s important for your baby’s doctor to look into what might be causing it. Keep in mind, though, that there are plenty of harmless reasons for red poo. Babies can sometimes swallow a little blood during delivery. If your little one is eating solids, certain foods, especially beetroot, can also give poo a red tint.
- Black. A black stool could, in some cases, be caused by blood coming from the stomach or gut, but again certain foods – blueberries, for example – could also be to blame. It's important to know that very dark green poo can sometimes appear black. Green baby poo — even a dark shade of the colour — is usually nothing to worry about. Your baby’s first poo – meconium – can also look black, and this isn’t a problem either.
- White or pale. Very pale or white stools are very rare, but if you see poo this colour in your baby’s nappy, call your doctor, as it could be a sign of a liver condition that needs treatment
How often should your baby poo?
How often your baby fills a nappy can differ a lot, depending on his or her age and on what method you use for feeding your baby.
If you’re breastfeeding
In the first few weeks a breastfed baby may poo several times a day, sometimes as often as after every feed. After around six weeks the frequency of bowel movements will decrease. In fact, sometimes your little one may even go several days without filling a nappy.
As long as the stools are soft – and your baby is feeding well and not showing any signs of discomfort or restlessness – infrequent poos don’t usually mean your baby is constipated.
If you’re formula feeding
If your baby is getting all or most of his or her daily nutrition from formula, you might see up to five full nappies a day in the first few weeks. This usually decreases steadily after that, to about once a day after a few months.
If you’re ever concerned about how many poos your baby is doing, speak to your midwife, doctor or health visitor.
Watery Poo – How to recognise and deal with diarrhoea
The colour, frequency and consistency of your baby’s poo can vary. As long as your child's weight gain and growth are on track, and the stools are soft, things are probably fine.
Keep in mind, that it’s not unusual for breastfed babies to pass looser stools.
However, if your baby’s poo seems watery, especially if those bowel movements suddenly start coming more frequently, your little one may have diarrhoea.
Watery poo accompanied by fever and foul-smelling nappies is likely to be a sign of a stomach infection.
Always let your doctor know if you suspect your baby has diarrhoea, and make sure that he or she gets enough fluids in the meantime, because babies have a higher risk of dehydration.
If your baby is still exclusively breast or bottle fed, you can do this by keeping on breastfeeding or giving your baby formula. It may help to give smaller quantities but more frequently than usual.
If your little one is eating solid foods or a combination of solids and breast milk or formula, try giving extra sips of water regularly.
How to Recognise Dehydration and What to Do About it
It’s quite easy for babies to get dehydrated, and when this happens it needs to be treated urgently. As long as your baby gets prompt treatment, he or she will usually be OK, so call your doctor or visit your local A&E immediately if your infant shows any of these signs of dehydration:
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Fast breathing
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Few or no tears when crying
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Dry mouth
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Sunken fontanelle (the soft spot on top of his or her head)
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Dark yellow pee
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No pee in the last 12 hours
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Cold, blotchy feet and hands
When There’s No Poo — Constipation
With all the variation in how often your baby poos – from several times a day to once or twice a week – you may sometimes wonder how you can tell if your little one is constipated. Constipation is more common after the introduction of solids, but it can occur in younger babies, too. Here are some typical signs that your baby might have constipation:
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Fewer than three poos a week
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Difficulty passing a stool
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Bigger stools than usual
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Hard, dry, lumpy or pellet-like poo
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If your baby has an unusually firm tummy
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Loss of appetite
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Poo and wind that’s smellier than usual.
What can you do about constipation?
There are some things you can do to try and get things moving again. Lying your baby down and gently moving his or her legs in a cycling motion may help. A gentle tummy massage could also ease some of the pressure. Here are other tips for managing constipation:
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If your baby is still exclusively breastfed or formula-fed, you could give your baby small amounts (30 to 40 millilitres) of water that’s been boiled and then cooled back down again
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If your baby is eating solids, check that he or she is getting enough fibre. Prunes, apple and pears are great for constipation.
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Don’t give your baby prune juice, especially if he or she is younger than nine months.
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Don’t add anything to formula, such as sugar, malt extract or rice cereal. Apart from being ineffective, anything solid that you put into formula could create a choking hazard.
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If you don’t see any improvement in a day or two, talk to your doctor or health visitor. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a laxative or examine your baby to rule out any underlying medical condition.
You might not have realised until now just how much there is to know about your baby’s poo, but don’t worry: There’s no need to go over every single dirty nappy with a magnifying glass! Once you get used to your child’s bowel movement patterns, and their usual colour and texture, you’ll probably notice any changes pretty quickly.
If you’re ever unsure or worried about anything you find in your little one’s nappy, your midwife, health visitor or doctor are there to help advise you and answer any of your specific questions.