Baby Poop

Never in a million years pre-baby me, would I have thought I would think about my baby's poop on a daily basis (how things have changed). Your baby's bowels can be the first indicator if there is something wrong with him/her. From your baby's first poop (meconium), to when he/she starts eating solid foods, each bowel movement will be different in consistency depending on the stage your baby is in.

Baby Poop Types

​Newborn Baby Poop - this is the meconium. Don’t be alarmed because this will look black to dark green and has the consistency of sticky tar. The poop will look like this the first 1 or 2 days after birth.

​Breastfed Baby Poop - this will look like a seedy mustard yellow color. It may also be runny and resemble diarrhea. Healthy breastfed stools will have a sweet smell.

Formula Fed Baby Poop - these stools will have the color of brown or yellow, and has the consistency similar to peanut butter. Formula fed babies tend to pass fewer stools than breastfed babies.

Partially Digested Food in Baby Poop - since your baby's digestive track is still maturing, certain foods may not be fully digested and can cause partially digested food to pass through the stool. This can cause your baby to have different color poop and different consistencies.

Baby Poop by Color

Green Poop - babies that are 4-6 months old that have been introduced to solids (peas/ spinach) can have green poop. Also babies that are given iron-supplements can have green stools.

Orange, Yellow, and Brown Poop - these are the normal colors of poops.

Red Poop - there are two causes to have red stools in your baby. First cause - if your baby is eating solids that has anything that is red (tomatoes or strawberries), then this can cause your baby to have red stools. Second cause - there could be blood in your baby's stool. If you are concerned, please take the diaper to the doctor so they are able to check to see if there is any blood present.

Black Blood Poop - If you see black blood specks, this means your baby has digested blood while breastfeeding (from mom's cracked/bleeding nipples). This does not cause any issues for your baby. If you are concerned, please take your baby to the doctor.

Baby Poop Warnings

*If you see any of these signs, please call your doctor immediately and take the diaper with you to the office.

Runny Poop - if your baby's poop is runnier than normal, or has more of a water texture, then your baby may have diarrhea. The color of the poop can vary from yellow to green. Call your doctor and see if your baby is sick or if he/she may be allergic to something. Do not wait as this can lead to dehydration. Keep offering liquids (unless the doctor tells you not to).

Red Blood Poop - this can be caused by a food allergy or if your baby has a bacterial infection. Always take your baby to the doctor if you suspect blood in your baby's stool.

Hard, Pebble-like Poop - your baby is most likely constipated. If you see your baby pushing hard to pass the poop, then this is another indicator that he/she may be constipated. Constipation can be caused by many factors (introduction to solids and/or sensitivity to milk). Constipation can also cause your baby to have blood in his/her stool because he/she has an anal fissure. The blood will be bright red in color and on the outside of the stool.

Mucus in Poop - if your baby has green slimy streaks in his/her poop, then he/she has mucus in the poop. Mucus in stools can be caused by excessive drooling (teething) or your baby is fighting off an infection.

White Poop - GO TO THE DOCTOR immediately. If your baby has white/gray chalky poop this could be a sign your baby's digestive track is not working correctly. If there is a lack of bile in the liver to digest the food this will cause white poop.