Baby Poop - What's Normal & What Ain't

We’ve talked about how to poop when it comes to adults—and what your poop says about your health. But what about baby poop?

Is green baby poo normal? What’s the ideal baby poop color? Does formula poop look different than breastfed baby poop? Are there things you can do to help baby poop?

If you’re asking any of these questions, this post is right for you!

We are often told to watch our baby’s poop output to be sure they are getting enough food (especially breast-fed babies). But, similar to adults, did you know that your baby’s poop is also a great way to understand what’s going on in his or her digestive tract from top to bottom?

To get to the bottom of your baby’s poop, let’s talk about color, texture, and frequency.

Baby Poop Color Comparison

Greeny black

This dark, tarry poop is called meconium. It consists of amniotic fluid, secretions of the intestinal glands, bile pigments, fatty acids, and intrauterine debris. Here’s more information on green poop.

Mustard Yellow

If you are exclusively breastfeeding, and your baby’s poop is bright or mustard yellow (and sometimes a slight orangish), congratulations, your baby poop is normal.

Tan

If your baby is on formula, and their baby poop is tan and slightly solid (think a thin peanut sauce), than it’s normal.

Lime Green

This baby poop color usually means there is some digestive distress. One reason for green poop is a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance. That means baby is not getting enough of the rich creamy milk at the end of a feed and, consequently, getting too much of the liquidy foremilk that is higher in lactose and lower in fat. This usually happens if you have too fast a letdown or oversupply and eventually will normalize in most cases. Making sure baby finishes one side before offering the other will often fix this problem.

One other reason for a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance is if baby has a bad latch. If so, baby may have a hard time getting the thick creamy hindmilk out of your breast. Definitely consult a lactation consultant if you think this may be the case.

Lime Green poop can also be a sign of a stomach bug. A stomach bug poop is usually frothy and/or mucusy as well.

Another possible reason that your breastfed baby’s poop is green is sensitivity to something you are eating (most likely dairy). An elimination diet is the best way to deal with this problem.

Finally, if baby has recently eaten spinach or kale it might answer the age-old question of, “why is baby’s poop green?”

Forest Green

Dark green poop is a normal variation of poop from a baby who is taking an iron supplement. It also can be the transition from meconium to regular fecal matter.

Brown

Baby poop will start to turn brown as she begins to eat more and more solids.

Boring, but totally normal.

White

 A baby poop that is chalky white or gray poop can be a sign that baby is not digesting properly and that his liver is not producing enough bile. Call your pediatrician right away.

Red

Red poop isn’t necessarily something serious. For example, this can happen after eating beets.

If baby’s poop is otherwise normal but contains flecks of red, it’s most likely caused by a dairy allergy. Best to eliminate and see if it improves. Of course, check with doctor as well.

If baby’s poop is hard and dry (a sign of constipation) and contains red streaks, it’s likely caused by small tears in the skin created by straining to poop.

If baby’s poop is thin and watery and has red streaks or her poop is a raspberry color that looks like congealed fat, you may have a bacterial infection on your hands. Call your pediatrician right away.

Black

After the first few days of meconium, a tarry black poop could signal bleeding. Call your pediatrician right away.

If baby is breastfeeding and you have cracked and bleeding nipples, you may find little black flecks in baby’s otherwise normal poop. It’s a result of baby digesting a bit of your blood and isn’t harmful.

Baby Poop: Texture

The texture of your baby or infant’s poop can say a lot about their health and wellness.

Breastfed Baby Poop

A breastfed baby’s normal poop will be loose and, at times, grainy or seedy. Those little “seeds” are undigested milk fat—totally normal.

Formula fed baby poop

A formula fed baby’s normal poop will be thicker than a breastfed baby’s, having the consistency of toothpaste or hummus.

Baby on solid food poop

When baby starts eating solids her poop’s texture will start to firm up but will still be mushy (like a glob of peanut butter) until she stops nursing.

Undigested food in baby’s poo

Baby poop with bits of undigested food in it is considered normal. However, if baby consistently has trouble digesting a certain food, you may want to hold back on offering it until baby is older.

Also, if baby eats a lot of one kind of food (and it ends up in the diaper), you may want to restrict the amount he eats at one time. Remember, if it’s coming out whole, he isn’t getting any nutrition from it anyway.

Hard, dry baby stool

If your baby is having hard, dry poops (like rabbit droppings) that are hard to pass, he or she is probably constipated.

Breastfed babies don’t typically get constipated since breastmilk has the perfect balance of fat and protein. If baby is formula fed and not eating solids yet, you should talk to your pediatrician who may suggest switching formulas.

Beginning solids may bring on constipation. Don’t introduce solids until at least 6 months, and make baby is showing signs of readiness before you do. Baby’s digestive tract needs time to adjust to what he’s eating. Back off on the solid foods and breastfeed on demand.

Baby or newborn diarrhea

Alternately, if baby is suddenly passing especially loose stools, you may be looking at diarrhea. Call your pediatrician, who can run tests to rule out bacterial infection.

If baby is already eating solids, put him on a BRAB diet (a variation of the BRAT diet):

• Bananas
• Rice
• Apples/apple sauce
• Breastmilk

Bananas, rice, and apples have qualities like tannins that can help firm up stool; breastmilk is great at balancing your baby’s diet and healing the gut.

Frothy or mucousy baby poop

Baby poop that is frothy or especially mucousy can signify that something isn’t quite right. It could be the foremilk/hindmilk imbalance that we talked about earlier, or it could be a bacterial infection.

On the other hand, sometimes mucousy poop is just the product of a teething baby who is drooling more (and swallowing that drool). If you are concerned, or baby is showing signs of illness, talk to your pediatrician.

Red or bloody baby or newborn poop

Once again, red baby poop isn’t necessarily something serious. For example, it can happen after eating beets.

If baby’s poop is otherwise normal but contains flecks of red, it’s most likely caused by a dairy allergy. Best to eliminate and see if it improves. Of course, check with doctor as well.

If baby’s poop is hard and dry (a sign of constipation) and contains red streaks, it’s likely caused by small tears in the skin created by straining to poop.

If baby’s poop is thin and watery and has red streaks or her poop is a raspberry color that looks like congealed fat, you may have a bacterial infection on your hands. Call your pediatrician right away.

Baby Poop: Frequency
How often should breastfed babies poop?

If baby isn’t uncomfortable or fussy, there’s probably nothing to worry about.

Your breastfed baby should have two or more good sized poops a day for the first 6-8 weeks. After two month of age, anything from daily poops to once a week poops is considered normal. This is because breastmilk is so well absorbed and there’s very little waste leftover.

Having said that, I was always grateful that my babies went daily!

How often should formula fed babies poop?

Because formula is denser and less absorbable than breastmilk, a formula fed baby’s range of normal is 1-4 times a day.

And keep in mind that frequency isn’t the sign of constipation, texture is.

And newborn baby poop smell…

Breastfed baby poop typically smells sweet.

Some mom’s have noticed that baby’s poop has a slightly vinegary smell that occurs just before a tooth pops through. I think it smells like yogurt!

Formula fed baby poop tends to smell stronger.

Foul-smelling poop could be a sign that something is not quite right, but usually it’s just a sign that baby has started eating solids (lucky you!).

Again, if the smell is extremely foul, consider doing a stool test to rule out any other potential issues.

SOURCE: Mamanatural
ghr.nlm.nih.gov
www.webmd.com
mayoclinic.org

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