Baby keeps pooping after every feed

How often should a newborn poop?

Yes, it's normal if your baby is pooping after every single feeding. You’ll quickly discover that when it comes to newborns, poop frequency comes in a wide range of normal.

Some babies are just more productive poopers than others. It’s perfectly okay to end every feeding with a diaper change, or to not see a single bowel movement for a few days. Your baby pooping a lot probably isn’t an issue, unless you’re changing three or more extra-watery diapers a day. In that case, it could be diarrhea, which is something to let your baby's doctor know about.

How often should a newborn poop?

It varies. Poop habits differ a lot from baby to baby. The average frequency is one or more bowel movements daily. But some newborns produce five or more dirty diapers a day in their first 2 weeks of life, while others go for days without pooping.

It’s not unusual for newborns to poop a lot, since they spend most of their waking hours eating. In general, breastfed babies poop more than formula-fed ones. In fact, your baby may poop while nursing and again once they’re done – which is why you may want to wait a few minutes after you're finished breastfeeding before swooping in with a clean diaper.

Because breastfed poops contain more liquid, they’ll look more watery than the stools of formula-fed babies. (See real photos of the different kinds of baby poop here.)

When a breastfed newborn poops after every feeding during the first few weeks, take it as a good sign – it means they’re getting plenty of milk. Even though formula-fed babies may have less frequent bowel movements than breastfed babies, it's normal for them to poop after every feeding as well.

The frequency of your baby's bowel movements may start to slow down by the time they're around 6 weeks old, but some babies continue their pattern of pooping after every feeding for much longer. (It’s not uncommon for some 1-year-olds to poop five times a day. )

How long can a baby go without pooping?

If your baby hasn’t had a bowel movement in a few days, there’s no need to immediately fear the big “C” (aka, constipation). Babies can go days, or even a week, without producing a dirty diaper. A breastfed baby can go even longer – as long as two weeks without pooping if they haven’t started on solid foods yet.

If the bowel movements your baby does make are soft, constipation probably isn’t an issue. Exclusively breastfed babies rarely get constipated because breastmilk is an economical food. Your baby gets just what they need, with little waste leftover to poop out.

True constipation in babies typically happens from a change in diet, a lack of fluids, or an illness. The telltale sign is hard, dry stools. If your baby is constipated, they may get extra fussy and look like they’re straining uncomfortably when they try to go.

Should I ever be worried about my baby pooping a lot?

Generally, if your baby's bowel movements are fairly consistent and they’re acting like their usual self, frequent poops aren't a cause for concern. However, if there's a sudden change in your baby's pooping pattern and their stool becomes watery, check with their doctor. Very watery bowel movements could be a sign of an infection.

Call the doctor if your baby has any of these other poop-related symptoms:

Pulling their legs up to their stomach (a sign that their tummy hurts)
Straining to have a bowel movement
Poop that looks like small, hard pebbles or is extra watery
Irritability
A swollen belly
Blood in their poop

If my baby is pooping a lot, are they more prone to diaper rash?

Babies who have frequent bowel movements can be more susceptible to diaper rash. Constant contact with stool can irritate the sensitive skin on their bottom.

The best way to prevent diaper rash is to keep your baby’s bottom clean and dry. To start, change their diapers more often. Wash their skin clean with warm water during each change.

You may want to coat the area with a diaper rash cream or a product containing zinc oxide or petroleum jelly to create a barrier. And instead of putting on a new diaper right away, let your baby go diaper-less for a little while each day so their bottom can fully air dry. If these tips don’t relieve the diaper rash, give your baby's doctor a call.

Read more:

A new parent's guide to baby poop

Age-by-age guide to feeding your baby

How much formula newborns and babies need

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Why Does My Baby Poop Every Time He Eats?

As a new mom, you may be concerned and anxious to see your baby poop every time after feeding them. You may be wondering if it is normal for your baby to poop after every feed or if your baby poops too much.

Just relax because it’s normal for babies to poop after every feed. Pooping after every meal is actually a good sign that your baby is getting plenty of milk. To know more about this keep reading.

Is it Normal for My Baby to Poop After Every Feed?
Do Breastfed Babies Poop More?
How Many Times a Day do Formula Fed Babies Poop?
How Often Does a Baby Poop After Starting Solids?
Frequent Pooping and Diaper Rash in Babies
When is Frequent Pooping in Babies Not Normal?
FAQ’s

Is it Normal for My Baby to Poop After Every Feed?

Yes, it is perfectly normal for babies to poop after every feeding session. Some babies poop after every feed and sometimes a little later. In fact, pooping after every feed indicates that your baby is in good health and getting enough milk. The frequency of stools can slow down after 3 to 6 weeks of birth as your baby’s stomach grows and they settle into a routine.

But then some babies still continue pooping after every feed for as long as one year. Every baby is different. So, if your baby’s bowel movements are fairly consistent and they are their usual cheerful self, there is nothing to be concerned about frequent poops.

Do Breastfed Babies Poop More?

Pooping after every feed is common among breastfed babies. They poop more frequently than formula-fed babies. This is because breast milk contains immunoglobulins. These are substances produced by the body’s immune system. They also work as a natural laxative and are very helpful for clearing meconium in the initial days. They also prevent constipation in breastfed babies.

It’s quite normal for some babies to have fewer bowel movements after 6 weeks. There may be cases where your baby may be pooping only once a week. But there is nothing to be alarmed about unless their stools are hard or are constipated. Your baby is getting the right balance of foremilk and hindmilk if they produce soft and easy-to-pass stools.

How Many Times a Day do Formula Fed Babies Poop?

Formula-fed babies generally pass fewer stools than breastfed babies. This is for the simple reason that formula can be harder to digest, and, as a result, it takes longer to pass through your baby’s system. But there may be instances where formula-fed babies will be pooping after every feed, especially during their early weeks.

How many times a formula-fed baby poops in a day differs from baby to baby and this also changes as your baby grows. For some formula-fed babies, during the first month, three bowel movements are considered normal while for others the frequency can go up to 5 poops a day.

Between 1-2 months, the frequency of bowel movements changes in babies. For some babies, passing stool once every two days is also considered normal. Just keep in mind that as long as the poop has the consistency of peanut butter, there is nothing to worry about.

How Often Does a Baby Poop After Starting Solids?

Once your baby starts solids around six months, the frequency of his poop will be affected. The frequency, color, and smell of the poop will change once your baby is on solid feed. Your baby may poop, several times in a day or he may go without a bowel movement for several days.

We can attribute this to their immature digestive system. When your baby’s system is matured enough to process solid food efficiently, you will notice that the bowel movement of your baby returns to normalcy once again.

Frequent Pooping and Diaper Rash in Babies

Babies who pass frequent stools after every feed are more prone to diaper rash. Use a diaper rash cream in case your baby develops a rash and the area has turned red. Also, try and let your baby go without a diaper for a little time each day so that their bottom dries fully. All this will help the diaper rash to get better, but if nothing works, do consult your baby’s doctor.

When is Frequent Pooping in Babies Not Normal?

As we mentioned earlier that if your baby’s poops are soft and easy to pass, there is nothing to worry even if your baby is pooping after every feed. However, frequent pooping can also be a sign of diarrhea. Your baby may have diarrhea if:

His poops are runny or liquid in consistency.
Your baby is pooping more often than usual and passing large amounts of stool.
Their poops are explosive and spurting out of his bottom or running down his leg.

In such cases, you will also need to figure out the cause of diarrhea. Now, there can be various causes of diarrhea in babies:

Digestive tract infection
Allergic reaction to a food
Intake of too many fruits or juices
Reaction to a medicine

Diarrhea should go away without treatment within a period of 24 hours. However, if it lasts longer than that and is accompanied by fever, then it is advisable to check with your baby’s doctor to avoid dehydration in your baby. In the meantime, keep feeding your baby with milk and food and keep a close eye for any signs of dehydration in your baby.

Did your baby also poop every time he ate? How often did your baby have a bowel movement? Do share your experience in the comments section below.

FAQ’s

1. Do all Babies Poop During Breastfeeding?

Many babies do. Their bowels are relaxed when their stomachs are full. The digestive system is getting into a routine.

2. Does Breast Milk Cause More Poop Than Formula?

Yes, it does. Breast milk contains natural laxatives to help remove the meconium. This is very common and nothing to worry about.

3. Do Formula Fed Babies Struggle to Poop?

Formula milk can be hard to digest for some babies. Some babies poop freely. It depends on how each baby digests the formula.

4. Can Babies Have Diarrhea Due to Milk?

Yes, to an extent. However, if your baby is pooping too frequently or is very watery, consult your doctor. This could indicate a health issue.

What to do if the child poops after every meal?

A child's stool is one of the most important indicators of the functioning of his digestive system. It perfectly reflects what the baby ate, how much food he ate and how his body reacted to it. That is why young parents need to constantly check the contents of a newborn's diaper or the discharge of an older child.

However, with such control, many mothers ask - why does the child poop after almost every meal, and is this normal? It’s worth starting with the fact that each baby is individual. How many times he defecates can depend on many factors.

There is no strict standard for this indicator. Of course, constipation or diarrhea are manifestations of indigestion, but there is no need to immediately panic. It is worth understanding the reasons for this phenomenon and consulting with a specialist.

Contents

How many times should a baby poop?
Age norms for defecation of children
Additional criteria for normal stool

How many times should a baby poop?

The first thing young parents should remember is that their child owes nothing to anyone.

The number of visits to the child's toilet depends on many factors

Moments that directly affect the number of bowel movements in a child are:

Age. The older the child, the less often it defecates;
The degree of development of the digestive system. This is especially noticeable in newborn boys and girls;
Power type. Formula-fed babies poop a little less than breast-fed babies;
Presence of concomitant pathology. A variety of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract can bring an imbalance in the normal mode of defecation from an early age of the baby.

In connection with these nuances, it is necessary to understand that if a child poops after each meal or 1 time in 2 days, then this may be normal in both cases.

The main criteria by which it is worth evaluating the physiology and "normality" of this process are:

General well-being of the baby. It is necessary to pay attention to the facial expression of the crumbs at the time of defecation, to the sounds that she makes. When instead of the usual groaning there is a loud cry, then something definitely disturbs her;
Regularity. 8-10 times after each feeding indicates good intestinal motility. However, 1 bowel movement, but every 2 days, is also an indicator of the stability of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The main thing is the well-being of the child;
Presence of pathological impurities. The usual feces are mushy, yellowish in color. If particles of pus, mucus, blood or undigested fragments are found in it, look for it, then you should consult a pediatrician.

Age norms for defecation of children

The older the child, the fewer trips to the toilet should be.

It must be understood that over time, the digestive tract matures more and more and begins to function like in adults. This is manifested by a decrease in the frequency of bowel movements.

To avoid confusion about how many times a baby should poop, there are conditional normative indicators of this process, depending on age.

They look like this:

1-3 months - 10-12 times a day. The child can defecate after each meal;
3-6 months - 4-7 times a day;
6-12 months - 2-3 times;
In children after 12 months, defecation occurs on average 1-2 times a day. If a child poops after every meal for a year, then you should carefully monitor his diet. Such an increase in the number of bowel movements may indicate the presence of a disease, so it is better to consult a doctor.

Additional criteria for normal stools

In addition to the number of trips to the toilet, parents need to monitor the nature of the feces. This is especially important during the neonatal period. In the first 3 days, when the baby is still in the hospital, doctors constantly ask mothers if he pooped, and how.

stools in children can be both frequent and not very

Important criteria to pay attention to are:

Number of stools. The first days one bowel movement is approximately 5 g. At 6 months 40-50 g, and closer to a year - 100-150 g;
Colour. The original feces (meconium) are green in color. During breastfeeding, yellow remains the most characteristic color. There may be different variations of it, which is due to the individual characteristics of the organism. After the introduction of complementary foods, it begins to darken and closer to the year it can become completely brown;
Smell. In infants who are breastfed, the stool has a slightly acidic odor. Then, as with artificial nutrition, it is more rotten;
Additional components in the stool. If the mother saw undigested food particles (vegetables, fruits: bananas, apples), white lumps (clots of fat), green streaks of mucus in the feces of a newborn, then you should not immediately panic. In most cases, this is due to the continuing adaptation of the infant's body to the environment. However, impurities such as pus or blood should alert parents. In any case, it is better to contact the local pediatrician for advice.

Watching your baby's bowel movements is a very serious responsibility in the early stages of his life. Therefore, it is very important to understand what is worth paying attention to. If the child poops after every meal, he may be ill and needs the help of a doctor. The health of children is the most precious thing for their parents.

Baby poops after every feeding - Pediatrics - 07/09/2013

Anzhelika Serchkova

Good afternoon! My baby is 1.5 months old, we eat completely with the mixture, the stool was regularly 2 times a day, and today he poops after each feeding, nothing has changed in the diet. Tell me what is it? You gave me an answer yesterday, but with GV, and we are completely on the mix.

Ruzhenkova Irina Viktorovna answers

pediatrician

This can be a mild form of intestinal infection, a reaction of the baby to changes in the weather or atmospheric pressure, an allergy to something, or simply a manifestation of functional dyspepsia, which often occurs in children from 2 to 3 weeks (and even 6) months. I understand that what scares you the most is the possibility of an intestinal infection. To exclude it, you need to pass the feces for bacteriological analysis. Usually, fermented milk mixtures with probiotics are prescribed to normalize the stool. Anti-reflux mixtures with starch have some fixing effect. Check with your local doctor. He sees the child "in real life" and can decide whether he needs enzymatic (often prescribed mezim or festal) or substitution (primadophilus, bifiform) therapy. Good luck!