Just like your baby’s pee count, baby poop is also an indicator of your baby’s health. During the first year of their life, your baby’s poop will undergo a lot of changes due to the diet variation. Being a parent, you will see different colors on your baby’s diaper and some of them may alarm you. So today, we are here with a detailed study of baby’s poop color, it’s meaning and the related concerns.
How often do babies poop?
A lot. Mine used to poop quite a number of times in a day. But if your little one doesn’t pass stool every day, it doesn’t mean there’s a problem. Initially, your baby may have fewer bowel movements and it will settle down once their digestive system gets fully developed.
Breastfed babies usually poop a little less. Your baby may only poop once a week. The frequency increases once they reach a three month mark. If your baby is on formula, then you will see a daily bowel movement.
Once your little human starts weaning, he will have a daily bowel movement. But, if your baby is pooping more than once after every feeding, it could be a sign of diarrhea.
Baby Poop Color Chart
| Poop Color | Diet | Is it Normal |
| Black | Seen in breastfed or formula fed newborns | Normal in first few days of life. Not normal if it comes back later in infancy. |
| Mustard Yellow | Seen in breastfed babies | Normal |
| Bright Yellow | Seen in breastfed babies | Could be a sign of diarrhea if it is runny |
| Orange | Seen in formula fed and breastfed babies | Normal |
| Red | Can be seen in any diet. Usually if baby is introduced to solids and given red colored food | If you have not given any red colored food to baby, its time to call paediatrician. |
| Greenish Tan | Seen in formula fed babies | Normal |
| Dark Green | Seen in babies taking green colored food or iron supplements | Normal |
| White | Seen in any diet but may indicate a liver problem | Call paediatrician |
Black: Your baby’s first stool is going to be black. It has a tar like consistency and is called meconium as it has mucus and amniotic fluid. It lasts for a couple of days.
Mustard Yellow: Common in breastfed babies, baby’s stool get mustard yellow once meconium passes.
Bright Yellow : Normal is both breastfed and formula fed babies. If it is frequent and has runny consistency, it could be a sign of diarrhea.
Orange : Common in both breastfed and formulafed babies.
Red : If your baby has just started solids and you have fed him with dark-red foods or drinks, poop can turn to red. But if your baby has not consumed any red food, then red or dark red stool is a sign of blood in your baby’s stool. It can be due to intestinal infection, milk allergies or anal fissure. It is advisable to visit your paediatrician if you notice red stool in baby’s stool.
Greenish tan : Common in formula fed babies.
Dark Green : Most common in babies who have started taking solids and are on iron supplements.
White : A serious problem that needs to be addressed by paediatrician. It indicates that your baby isn’t producing enough bile to digest food.
In a Nutshell
Baby poop varies in color. Baby’s food intake also determine the color and consistency. But you should always stay in touch with paediatrician in case of concerns.
If your baby is passing extremely hard or dry stools, it is a sign of constipation. If your baby is vomiting and passing runny stools, it indicates diarrhea which can often leads to dehydration. Watch for other symptoms like:
- Fewer wet diapers
- Fussy baby
- Crying without tears
- Extreme fatigue
- Sunken soft spot
- Sunken eyes
Your baby’s poop color can be an indicator to health problems. If you have any concerns, it’s better to talk to your paediatrician.
If you did not know about your baby is developmentally ready for potty training or not then get Potty Training Tips For Kids from here.
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