Know What Your Baby’s Poop Is Telling You: Colour, Frequency, Quantity & Much More

Parenthood has a way of making the seemingly weird things feel normal such as discussing your baby’s poop routine.

You’ll often find yourself talking about how much your little one poops and how many times in a day. It is completely normal and a part of your parenting journey. In fact, your baby’s poop says a lot about their health and whether you are feeding them right. By understanding what you should be expecting at what age, it becomes easier for you to figure out when you should be concerned and when you shouldn’t. Reading this blog is going to help you with it. 

Baby’s First Poop - Meconium

Initially, your baby’s poop looks nothing like yours and you will witness it change as time passes by. Baby’s first poop is known as meconium, which is dark (black or dark green), sticky, and has a tar-like, greasy texture. It is the first thing that builds up inside a baby’s intestines and is basically a mixture of amniotic fluids, mucus, lanugo, and cellular debris. Most babies will pass it out within 24 to 48 hours of being born, however, some can pass it out in the womb, resulting in a medical emergency called Meconium Aspiration Syndrome.  

Changes In The Baby’s Poop 

Once your baby passes out the meconium, you will see a noticeable change in their poop in terms of colour, consistency, and smell. It is important to note that the texture may vary depending on whether the baby is solely fed breast milk or is formula-fed (owing to underlying reasons). 

Your baby’s poop will become yellowish-green as they pass out the meconium. This is the transitional poop and it is a combination of meconium and milk stool. If the baby is given only breastmilk, their poop is likely to have a softer texture, mild smell, and yellow colour. Breastfed babies can poop a couple of times in a day however, you shouldn’t be surprised if your little one doesn’t poop for 7 to 10 days in a row. If you notice curdled milk seeds in your baby’s poop, there is nothing to worry about as it is still normal.

Babies who are formula fed are likely to have smellier poop that is firmer and darker in colour (yellow or tan with hints of green). The consistency is that of a soft clay dough. 

After 6 months, when you start complementary foods, the colour and texture will further change. 

Colour Of A Baby’s Poop: What Does It Mean

Dark blackish green poop 

This is the first poop of your baby, commonly known as meconium, which has a tar-like texture. It is completely normal. Following the first few days, your baby’s poop should not ideally be that dark. 

Yellowish green poop

This is a transitional poop, i.e. when the meconium in your baby’s intestine is decreasing and mixing up with milk stools. It still has a sticky consistency, which is a little softer than meconium. 

Yellow poop

Your baby will pass yellow, seedy stools as soon as the meconium clears out. This is commonly referred to as milk stool as the baby is solely fed on breast milk. 

Yellowish brown/ greenish tan poop

This is likely to be seen if your baby is being fed formula and there’s nothing to worry. The poop has a peanut butter-like texture and strong smell. 

Brown poop

Your baby’s poop will become brown, somewhat like a clay dough, when you start them on solids. The only concern here is that your baby’s poop will somewhat start smelling like adult poop, so you will have to prepare yourself for the new sensory experience. 

White grey poop

Whitish grey or chalk white poop is something you should be worried about as the lack of colour is a sign of decreased bile production. This happens in case of a severe liver or gallbladder problem. 

Black poop

Black poop is normal only as long as your baby is just 1 or 2 days old. Once the meconium has cleared out, it is not normal for a baby to pass black stools and it is potentially an indication of internal bleeding. 

Red poop

Baby’s poop can be red because of two reasons. It’s either because of something they have consumed like beetroot, medication or food colour, or it could be a result of internal bleeding. The best way to find out is by consulting a specialist. 

How Many Times Should A Baby Poop? 

A baby is likely to pass meconium within 24 to 48 hours of being born. Breastfed babies can poop 3 to 5 times in 24 hours during the 1st few weeks. Some may even poop soon after they are breastfed and this is nothing to worry about. By the time your baby is 6 weeks old, the frequency of passing stools decreases and they might do it at a gap of 4 to 7 days. It is important to note that the frequency of pooping varies depending on what you feed them, Breast fed babies are likely to poop more than those given formula. It is not the frequency of pooping that you should be concerned about, but rather the texture and consistency. 

Signs That You Need To See A Doctor For Baby Poop

It is advisable to consult a doctor in the following cases:

1. If your baby’s poop is white, which indicates reduced bile production. 

2. If your baby’s poop is black, which indicates internal bleeding in stomach/intestine

3. If your baby’s poop is red, which is linked to colon or rectal bleeding

4. If your baby becomes cranky or screams while passing stools

5. If your baby’s poop contains mucus, which can be an indication of infection 

6. If you notice significant change in your baby’s stools after introducing new foods to them

7. If your baby’s poop has a watery consistency even after they cross 1 year of age.

8. If your baby has diarrhoea and is presenting with the symptoms of dehydration. 

Note: Early medical intervention makes it easier to manage any concerning health issue, hence it is advisable to get in touch with a paediatrician as soon as you witness and concerning change.

Diarrhoea In Babies

Babies can poop a lot and it is normal only as long as the consistency is good, their weight is on track and they are not cranky when passing stools. However, if your baby’s poop is too frequent, watery and accompanied by symptoms like fever, it could be diarrhoea and hence it is advisable to see a doctor if it lasts for more than 24 hours. 

Constipation In Babies 

Your baby might be constipated if they are passing hard stools and making grunt faces. The poop is likely to be dry and darker in colour. Usually, it happens when there is excessive absorption of water in the baby’s digestive tract. However, constipation in babies could sometimes be linked to other medical reasons like dehydration and food allergies. In rare cases, it is caused by underlying medical conditions like metabolic disorder and thyroid dysfunction. 

Do you have any questions or concerns related to your baby’s poop? Discuss them with our experts.