Let’s Talk About Baby Poop

Have you noticed changes in your little one’s poop lately? Change in color, texture and smell can hint at a variety of things related to your child’s wellbeing. Here we share everything you need to know about what your baby’s poop really means…

What color is baby poop? The rainbow of possibilities:

Baby’s poop color is often the first thing to grab your attention when cleaning a dirty diaper. So, what do all these interesting hues actually mean?

Black – A baby’s first poop, also known as a meconium poop, is usually black and sticky and can last between 1 and 3 days after a baby is born. Made up of all the things ingested while in utero, this tar-like substance should change in color and texture around day 3 or 4 of life, which will indicate that baby is feeding and digesting milk properly. If baby’s stool remains black after day 3, call your doctor.

Mustard Yellow Seedy – Once the meconium poop passes, it should change to a mustard yellow tone, which is normal in exclusively breastfed babies. The consistency may vary depending on the mother’s diet, but the color is often more yellow than brown, and it may present with a seed-like texture. Mustard Yellow poop also means that milk is being digested with ease. If milk digestion slows down, the color may darken.

Bright Yellow – If your baby’s poop becomes runny, more frequent, and bright yellow, this could suggest diarrhea. It could also be a side effect of any medications that mom is taking. Call your doctor to discuss your concerns as diarrhea in infants can quickly increase their risk of dehydration.

Bright Green – A baby’s poop may become bright green and almost algae-colored if they are receiving too much foremilk and not enough fatty hind milk when breastfeeding. Bright green poop could also signify that the milk or food has travelled quickly through their system, which may be a result of a slight stomach bug. If it is frothy and smelly, it may be a sign that bright green bile has not had a chance break down during the digestive processes.

Tan Brown – Different from the mustard tones of an exclusively breastfed baby, it is normal for formula fed babies to have tan-brown poop which often looks like peanut butter.

Dark green – If you are starting to introduce your little one to solids, and particularly green leafy vegetables, then their poop may appear dark green. However, if mom is taking iron tablets, this too could change baby’s poop to a darker green shade.

Greenish Tan – Your baby’s poop may become a greenish tan color when they are teething and swallowing drool. Excessive amounts of saliva in the digestive tract often discolors the poop to this tone.

Red – If your baby’s poop turns red, this is often caused by coloring in foods such as tomatoes and beets. However, if your little one is breastfed, and you have been feeding with cracked or bleeding nipples, the red color could indicate blood in the poop. Blood in your baby’s stool may also be a result of milk allergies or an anal fissure. Chat to your pediatrician if you have any concerns.

White – If you notice a lighter shade of white poop in your child’s diaper, this is cause for concern and may suggest a health-related issue connected to their liver functionality. Please seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Chalky-gray – If your little one’s poop is chalky gray it could indicate that your baby is not digesting food properly. Pale stool may also result from antacids or medications so it would be best to speak to a doctor to discuss these diaper changes.

Poop texture changes as they grow

For the first few months of life, a baby relies on liquid nutrition to thrive and their stool may be a lot looser than an older baby who has been introduced to solid food. Depending on their age and nutritional needs, your child’s poop may begin to change in terms of texture and consistency. Here’s what you can expect…

Newborn Poop – As mentioned, a newborn’s first poop is often sticky and thick like tar. This meconium poop is often made up mucus, amniotic fluid, bile and water which results in its distinct color and texture. The appearance should change after a few days.

Breastfeeding Poop – Babies who are exclusively breastfed often have looser stools. Exclusively breastfed babies do not typically suffer from constipation. In fact, breastmilk contains exactly what your baby needs, and there may be little waste to poop out. This means that your breastfed baby could go for a couple of days, or even a week or more, without a bowel movement.

Formula-feeding Poop – Babies who are formula fed often have firmer stools that are more paste-like. Formula-fed babies usually pass stool up to three or four times per day but may go without a bowel movement for as long as three to four days. It is important to monitor that your baby’s poop remains soft and that they do not strain during a bowel movement. If they experience hard, pellet-like stools or they struggle to poop, they may be constipated.

Solid-food Poop – Once your baby begins to eat solid food, the consistency, color and smell of their poop will begin to change. This happens as new bacteria makes its way into the gut which causes browner, smellier poop that is often more solid and similar in appearance to an adult’s poop.

Teething Poop – Once your baby begins to teethe, they may start to drool and swallow excessive amounts of saliva which can affect the consistency of their poop. A frothy or mucus-like poop can sometimes occur during this time.

Does baby poop smell?

As a baby develops and their digestive tracts mature, you can expect all kinds of interesting smells from their daily diapers. The smell of your baby’s bowel movements can be a warning sign that they are not well, but this will be accompanied by other signs too. Here’s what you can expect…

In the early days, a newborn’s poop does not typically have an unpleasant smell.  The scent often comes from the fermentation of sugars in mom’s milk, similar to the fermentation process of yeast when making bread. Once your baby begins to eat and digest solid food, the smell will change as new foods are broken down and excreted.

Evident aromatic changes to a young child’s poop may be related to how long the poop has stayed in the digestive tract. If milk passes slowly through their system, the consistency may be firmer and the smell more unpleasant. However, if your little one’s stool is very sour or foul smelling, it could indicate an intolerance or allergy. Gas accompanied by frothy poop may also be a result of an upset tummy. If concerned, speak to your doctor and be sure to mention the changes you are identifying in your child’s bowel movements.

Who knew that your baby’s dirty diaper could tell us so much! It is important to monitor every diaper change and ensure the overall health of your child.