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Baby poop: Pictures of healthy and unhealthy stools

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Photo credit: © Luke Mattson / Stocksy United

Baby poop comes in a variety of colors, and those colors can change depending on your baby's diet. Your newborn's very first poop, called meconium, is greenish-black and tarry. Breastfed poop is yellowish, soft, and seedy; while formula-fed poop is thicker and brownish in color. Solid food poop has more substance and a stronger odor. Babies can be constipated and have diarrhea, just like adults, which will make their poop look different than usual. These photos give you the full scoop on newborn poop. (A note for the squeamish: This gallery contains real photos. ) 

What should baby poop look like?

Baby poop comes in a wide range of colors and a variety of textures, and deciphering what's normal and what's not can be puzzling to a new parent. If you're spending more time than you'd ever imagined staring quizzically at the contents of your baby's diaper, you're not alone! Bowel movements are one of the most common concerns parents ask their child's doctor about.

This baby poop chart will give you the full scoop on your newborn's bowel movements. The following photos and information will help you understand which baby poop colors are normal and which ones warrant a call to the doctor as your newborn grows, drinks breast milk or formula, and starts eating solids. You'll find out what's harmless, and when there may be a cause for concern.

If you still have questions about your baby's bowel movements after reading this guide, don't hesitate to call or email photos of any questionable baby stools to your child's provider.   (And for more helpful tips on when to call your baby's pediatrician, as well as other great safety info, check out our <a href="https://www.babycenter.com/courses/sso?redirectUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fcourses.babycenter.com%2Fcourses%2Finfant-cpr-first-aid-video-course" rel="sponsored" target="_blank">All-in-One Baby Safety Course with CPR</a>.)</p> <div data-promo-variant="cpr3" data-transform="coursePromo"><img alt="" /></div> <p>Note:&nbsp;These are pictures of real baby poop! Please view only if you're comfortable looking at them. If not, you can read this&nbsp;<a href="/baby/diapering/baby-poop-guide_10319333">description without photos</a>&nbsp;instead, or&nbsp;<a href="/baby/diapering/baby-poop-guide-11-types-of-baby-poop_20000587">watch this animated video</a>.</p>

Newborn poop (meconium)

You may be surprised to learn that normal newborn poop doesn't look very normal at all. For your baby's first couple of bowel movements, expect to find a greenish-black, tarry, sticky sludge that kind of looks like motor oil when you open your newborn's diaper. Since meconium is made of mucus, amniotic fluid, dead cells, and other stuff your baby ingested in utero, it doesn't really smell – so you may not realize it's time for a diaper change.

When your baby is 2 to 4 days old, their poop will become lighter in color – sort of a yellowish green – and less sticky. This so-called transitional stool is a sign that they've started digesting early breast milk or formula and their intestinal tract is working just fine.

Photo credit: marima / Shutterstock.com

Breastfed baby poop

Normal breastfed baby poop, like as seen in this photo, is yellow or slightly green, and has a mushy or creamy consistency. It may be runny enough to resemble diarrhea, though baby diarrhea is usually very liquid in consistency. Breastfed poop typically looks like Dijon mustard and may be dotted with little seed-like flecks. Interestingly, it smells slightly sweet.

There are many shades of normal when it comes to breastfed baby poop. One you might see is a greener tone, which could signify that you ate something different than you normally do. If your baby isn't experiencing any other symptoms, there's no need to worry.

If you see bright green and frothy poop in your baby's diaper that almost looks like algae, they're probably getting too much foremilk – the low-calorie milk that comes first in a feeding – and not enough hindmilk, the higher-fat, super-nutritious stuff that comes near the end. It could mean that you're not feeding your baby long enough on each breast. To remedy this, start each new breastfeeding session on the breast you ended on the last time.

Formula-fed baby poop

Formula-fed babies have thick, pasty, peanut butter-like poop on the brown color spectrum. Its color ranges from tan-brown to yellow-brown or even greenish-brown.

The thicker consistency of formula is slightly harder to digest than breast milk, so some of its ingredients end up passing right through your baby's digestive system. Formula-fed baby poop is also more pungent than poop from breastfed babies, yet a little less pungent than poop from babies who are eating solid food, but you'll recognize the smell.

If at some point you decide to switch formula brands, expect the look – and feel – of your baby's poop to change. Its aroma might change, too.

Iron-fortified baby poop

Green baby poop is a sign of iron in your baby's formula. The iron in formula doesn't absorb as well as the iron in breast milk – hence the greenish hue. If you give your baby an iron supplement, their poop may turn dark green or almost black. This doesn't happen often, but it's normal.

One thing: If your baby's poop looks blackish and they're not taking an iron supplement, it's a good idea to call their doctor. Rarely, blood in infant stool can turn poop a black color, which is called melena. Your child's doctor can make sure there's no stomach bleeding to worry about.

Solid food baby stool

Once you start introducing your baby to solid foods – infant cereal, pureed bananas, and so on – you'll almost instantly notice a change in their output, especially if your baby is breastfed. Solid-food poop tends to be brown or dark brown and thicker than peanut butter, but still mushy. Get ready: It's also much smellier than exclusively breastfed poop.

Expect the consistency of your baby's poop to change depending on what they've recently eaten. Some bowel movements may look hard and pebble-like, while others can have that runny, mustard-like consistency of breastfed poops. There's nothing to worry about unless your baby seems to be straining or goes more than a few days without going at all.

Baby stool with partially digested food

Occasionally your baby's poop will have identifiable chunks of food in it or be tinged with a surprising hue of the rainbow, like red, orange, or dark blue – this isn't something you need to worry about. Red could mean beets, orange suggests carrots, and dark blue implies blueberries (you may even see tiny pieces of blueberry skin in there, too). 

You're likely seeing this because certain foods are only partially digestible or travel so quickly through the intestines that they don't have time to completely break down. It also happens when your baby eats a lot of one food or doesn't chew a mouthful completely before they swallow.

The time to call the doctor is if your baby's poop consistently has undigested food in it. Your baby's doctor will check to make sure their intestines are properly absorbing food and nutrients.

Photo credit: Original Shutter / Shutterstock.com

Baby diarrhea

Newborn diarrhea is very runny and looks like it's made up of more water than solid food. It can be yellow, green, or brown, and often can seep or "explode" out of their diaper.

Diarrhea can be a sign of an infection or allergy. If it lasts for a while without being treated, it can lead to dehydration. Call the doctor if your baby:

  • Has signs of dehydration, such as crying without tears, dry lips, peeing less often than usual, or excess sleepiness
  • Has diarrhea that doesn't go away after a few days
  • Has visible blood or mucus in their diarrhea
  • Has a fever along with the diarrhea

Photo credit: nutthapol Samjai / Shutterstock. com

Constipated baby poop

If your baby's poop is hard and looks like little pebbles, they're probably constipated. Your baby may look visibly uncomfortable when they're pooping, and the poop may be tinged with blood from irritating the anus on the way out. One or two pebbly diapers isn't a concern, but if the constipation doesn't improve, your baby is irritable, or you see blood in their stool, it's best to call their doctor.

Constipation often happens in babies who are being introduced to solid foods, or it can be a sign that your baby isn't getting enough fiber in their diet. Your doctor may recommend giving your baby water, pear, or prune juice to help move things along.

Baby poop with mucus

Does your baby's diaper look like it's been slimed? Greenish poop streaked with shiny, glistening strings means there's mucus in it. This sometimes happens when a baby is especially drooly, since mucus in saliva often goes undigested. Drooling can be a sign that a tooth is about to pop.

Mucus in poop can also be a telltale sign of an infection or food allergy. Rarely, it could mean your baby isn't absorbing enough nutrients from breast milk or formula. If the mucus is accompanied by any other symptoms (such as diarrhea or a fever) or it shows up in your baby's diaper for two days or more, call their doctor to rule out any problems.

Photo credit: Katarzyna Uroda / Shutterstock.com

Blood in baby's poop

Seeing red in your baby's diaper can be frightening, to say the least. Many of the possible causes of blood in baby stool aren't serious, like small tears in the baby's anus from passing large poops, or a cow's milk allergy. (Despite its name, a cow's milk allergy is more of an intolerance, and most babies grow out of this by age 1. It will require you eliminating cow's milk from your diet, if you're breastfeeding, or switching your baby to a formula without cow's milk.)

Sometimes the blood in infant stool is bright red from bleeding closer to the surface, and sometimes it's black (which means it's been digested). Sometimes, red dye in food or medication can also turn stool slightly red.

Call your doctor if you notice:

  • Normal poop tinged with red blood, which is often a sign of a cow's milk allergy
  • Constipated poop with a hint of red blood, likely a result of tears in the anus or hemorrhoids
  • Diarrhea mixed with red blood, which can signal a bacterial infection

When black blood appears in a baby's diaper – usually in little flecks that look like black poppy or sesame seeds – it's often because your baby is breastfed and swallowing blood from your cracked and bleeding nipples. While this is a sign that you need some pain relief, it doesn't pose a threat to your baby. Still, it's best to call your baby's doctor to make sure it's not something more serious, like bleeding from their intestines.

Photo credit: Vadi Fuoco / Shutterstock.com

Chalky or white baby poop

Lots of seemingly frightening signs in your newborn's poop are nothing to worry about. Others, like white, grey, or pale-yellow stools, are good reason for concern. Pale stools can be a sign of biliary atresia – a blockage in the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. Bile is the greenish fluid that helps us digest food and gives poop its brown color.

If your baby's stool looks especially pale, call their doctor right away. Biliary atresia is rare, but babies diagnosed with it need surgery to fix the blockage. The procedure works best when it's done before a baby reaches the 2-month mark.

Photo credit: © Holly Clark / Stocksy United

Read more

Is it normal for my baby to poop after every feeding?

How to treat diaper rash

The best diapers

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Stephanie Watson

Stephanie Watson is a freelance health and lifestyle writer based in Rhode Island. When she’s not busy writing, Watson loves to travel, try new cuisines, and attend as many concerts, shows, and plays as she can fit into her busy schedule.

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Mucus in baby poop, baby poop colors, newborn poop, and more

Normal baby poop can be a rainbow of different colors – and varying consistencies, too. Your baby's first poops will consist of a greenish-black, sticky substance called meconium. Depending on whether your baby is exclusively breastfed or formula fed, their poop may be yellow, green, or brown. What you find in your baby's diaper can give you important clues about their health – so call their doctor any time you're concerned about the color, amount, or consistency of your baby's poop.

When it comes to baby poop, most new parents don't know what to expect. You may have a lot of questions. How often should your baby poop, and what should it look like? Does breastfed baby poop smell? Is green baby poop normal? Baby poop has so many shades and consistencies that even experienced parents may not have seen them all.

This complete guide describes the various types of baby poop and explains what's normal and what's not. Also, you'll learn what to expect whether your newborn drinks breast milk or formula, and what changes you'll see when your baby eventually starts eating solids.

What does newborn poop look like?

Your baby will most likely produce their first poop within 24 hours after birth. For your baby's first few poops, expect to see a greenish-black, tarry, sticky substance (called meconium) that looks like very thick motor oil. Meconium is hard to clean off, so you may want to smear your baby's bottom with some petroleum jelly – which acts as a barrier – beforehand, if you can.

Meconium is made of amniotic fluid, mucus, and skin cells. What it doesn't contain is the bacteria that will colonize your baby's intestines – and give their poop an odor. (That bacterial colonization will start with your baby's first meal.)

When your baby is 2 to 4 days old, their poop will become lighter in color – transitioning from dark green to yellow/green to tan or mustardy yellow – and less sticky. This transitional stool is a sign that your baby has started digesting early breast milk or formula and that their intestinal tract is working as it should.

If your baby doesn't have a bowel movement in the first 24 hours, their doctor will make sure there's no problem, such as an intestinal blockage.

Does breastfed baby poop look different than formula-fed poop?

Yes, your baby's poop will look different depending on whether they're breastfed or formula-fed.

There are many shades of normal when it comes to breastfed poop, including mustard yellow, green, or brown. Breastfed baby poop has a mushy or creamy consistency – maybe runny enough to resemble mild diarrhea, but typically like Dijon mustard and cottage cheese mixed together. It may also be dotted with little seed-like flecks. Most parents find that it has a slightly sweet, not unpleasant odor.

Formula-fed babies have pasty, peanut butter-like poop on the brown color spectrum: yellow-brown, tan-brown, or green-brown. It smells a little more pungent than poop from breastfed babies and a little less pungent than poop from babies who are eating solid food. You'll definitely notice it and realize it's time for a diaper change.

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How often should my baby poop?

Normal pooping patterns vary widely among babies, from after every meal to only once or twice a week. Here's what's pretty typical:

  • Younger babies tend to poop more than older ones. Newborns usually have one or more bowel movements daily, and some newborns produce five or more dirty diapers a day in their first few weeks of life.
  • Newborns and young infants tend to have several small poops in a row (so give them time to finish before changing them!).
  • Breastfed newborns often poop after every feeding (roughly six to 10 times a day), but after three to six weeks, they typically slow down and start having bowel movements less frequently. Some breastfed babies may have just one bowel movement a week. That's because breast milk passes through your baby's digestive system without leaving much solid waste.
  • Once they're a month or two old, formula-fed babies can also range from several bowel movements a day to several days between bowel movements. Their stools are usually bigger – and smellier – than breastfed babies' stools.

The texture of your baby's poop is more important than frequency. There's no need to worry if your baby's pooping pattern stays fairly consistent, their stools are reasonably soft, and they're acting like their usual self.

Why is there mucus in baby poop?

You may notice mucus in your baby's poop that's stringy; slimy; and yellow, green, or brown in color. The intestines produce mucus during digestion – to help the stool move through the intestine. Some of this may show up in your baby's diaper, and this is perfectly normal, especially for breastfed babies.

There might also be an underlying cause for mucus in your baby's poop, such as:

  • Teething. If your baby is teething, the mucus may be the result of swallowing a lot of saliva.
  • Infection. If your baby has a viral or bacterial infection, inflammation in the intestines can cause mucus in their poop, which may also be green. They may also have some blood in their poop if they have a bacterial infection.
  • Milk allergy. If your baby is allergic to something in their milk or formula, their intestines may become inflamed, leading to increased mucus production.
  • Cystic fibrosis. Your baby's intestines and other organs will produce more mucus if they have cystic fibrosis. The mucus may look greasy and have a bad odor.
  • Intussusception. This is a blockage of stool in the intestine that prevents anything other than mucus to pass beyond the blockage. Any stool that's passed may contain mucus. It may also contain blood. Your baby would have other symptoms, such as vomiting, lethargy, and abdominal pain. Intussusception is a medical emergency.

Mention mucus to your baby's healthcare provider right away if your baby has any other symptoms – such as tummy trouble, feeding difficulty, vomiting, bloody stool, or fever. If your baby is teething and seems otherwise fine, there's probably no need for concern.

If you notice that your breastfeeding baby's poop is frothy (it may also look green), it may mean that they're not getting enough full-fat breast milk. Because the fatty hindmilk is at the end of a feeding, this can happen if you switch breasts often, without having your baby empty one or both breasts. They may also be fussy and gassy. Try having them empty one breast before switching to the other.

Baby poop colors

Baby poop comes in a wide range of colors – and textures. While the variation is usually perfectly normal, it can sometimes mean that something's amiss. And occasionally it can signal a problem. Here are some common baby poop colors and what they might indicate.

Yellow baby poop

Transitional stool – as your baby goes from that first meconium poop to regular poop – is often brown/yellow/green as your baby's body starts digesting breast milk or formula. Breastfed babies typically continue to have yellowish poop that's mustardy or even bright yellow. Yellow poop is often loose and smells just fine.

Brown baby poop

Babies who drink formula will have poop with more brown in it than breastfed babies. It may be yellowish-tan/brown, or greenish-tan/brown, or even just brown. If your baby breastfeeds and formula feeds, their poop may be anywhere from dark yellow to brown.

When your baby starts eating solid foods, their poop will become firmer, browner, and smellier, thanks to the healthy bacteria breaking down the food in their intestines. Their poop may also contain colors (red, blue, orange, green, yellow) reflecting what they ate, as well as pieces of undigested food.

Black baby poop

Your baby's first poop will be black and tarry, and that's perfectly normal. But black poop after this initial cleaning out may signal a medical problem.

Because blood usually turns from red to black over time in the intestinal tract, black poop may indicate intestinal bleeding. If your baby's poop had transitioned to yellow/green/brown but then appears black, contact their doctor right away.

It doesn't usually happen, but iron supplements can turn your baby's poop very dark green, which may look black at first glance.

White or light gray baby poop

A baby rarely has white poop, and you'll want to contact your baby's healthcare provider right away if you see white or chalky gray poop (called acholic poop) in your baby's diaper. It may look similar to whitish modeling clay.

In some cases, white or light gray poop can be caused by medicines a breastfeeding mom takes, but it may also mean that your baby has an intestinal infection or serious liver or gallbladder problem, such as biliary atresia, a blockage in the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. (Bile is the green fluid stored in the gallbladder. It helps digest food and makes stool yellow-brown.)

Red baby poop

Once a baby is eating solids, the most common cause of red poop is something red colored that they ate or drank, such as tomatoes. Some medicines that contain red dye, like amoxicillin, can also turn stools red.

But occasionally red poop can mean that there's blood in your baby's stool. Blood might be from:

  • Delivery. A newborn baby might have a little blood in their poop (or spit up) if they swallowed some blood during delivery.
  • Cracked nipples. If your breastfeeding baby nurses while your nipple is bleeding, they may swallow some of that blood and pass it in their stool. It may appear as little flecks.
  • A milk allergy. If your baby is allergic to cow's milk, their poop may be blood tinged from milk protein in breast milk (if you eat dairy) or formula. It may also contain mucus. Your baby may have other symptoms, too, such as abdominal cramps, constipation or diarrhea, and hives.
  • An intestinal infection. The hue of the blood can give your baby's doctor a clue about what's going on. For example, bright red blood may mean that there's a problem near the end of the gastrointestinal tract, while black stools probably mean a problem earlier on. If your baby has red blood in their diarrhea, they may have a bacterial infection.
  • Constipation. If your baby has anal fissures (little tears in the anus) from being constipated, it can cause little flecks of red in your baby's stool.

Orange baby poop

Orange poop is normal in babies. Orange foods – those with beta carotene, such as carrots, oranges, and sweet potatoes – can color baby poop.

Green baby poop

Green poops are usually normal in an otherwise healthy baby. In fact, greenish/tan poop is common for formula-fed babies. Sometimes, though, there's an underlying cause, such as:

  • Medication. If you're breastfeeding and taking certain medications or iron supplements, or if your baby is on medication or taking iron supplements, it may turn their poop dark green.
  • Illness. A stomach virus or cold can turn your baby's poop bright green.
  • A milk allergy or intolerance. Your baby may have an allergy or intolerance to the milk proteins in their formula, for example, or to the dairy you're consuming if you're breastfeeding.
  • Not enough full-fat breast milk when nursing. In this case, the poop may be bright green and frothy or foamy, similar to algae.
  • Diarrhea. Because stool travels more quickly through your baby's intestines when they have diarrhea (and the bile hasn't had time to break it down), it may be green rather than brownish.

Check out our photo guide to baby poop to see pictures of some types of baby poop described above. (Yes, the photos are real!)

How does baby poop change once we start solids?

Once you start giving your baby solid foods at around 4 to 6 months, you'll almost instantly notice a change in their poop, especially if they were exclusively breastfed.

Poop from babies who eat solid food tends to be brown or dark brown and thicker than peanut butter, but still mushy. It's also smellier.

Occasionally your baby's poop may be tinged a surprising hue, like red, orange, or even dark blue if you give your baby blueberries. Red could be from eating beets, while orange may be the result of eating carrots.

Once your baby starts eating certain solids, you may even notice identifiable chunks of food in their poop. Not to worry! You're probably seeing this because certain foods are only partially digestible or travel so quickly through the intestines that they don't have time to completely break down. It also happens when your baby eats a lot of one type of food.

What you find in your baby's diaper can give you important clues about what's going on with their health. Some common changes to watch for:

Watery, runny poop may mean that your baby has diarrhea. Baby poop tends to be soft and even a little runny before a baby starts eating solids, so it can be hard to tell when a baby has mild diarrhea. Look for more frequent bowel movements and watery poop. The poop may be very runny and seep or "explode" out of the diaper. It may be yellow, green, or brown.

Your baby may have diarrhea due to an infection, a food intolerance or allergy, or a medication they're taking. Too much fruit juice can also cause diarrhea, but fruit juice isn't usually recommended for babies anyway.

Untreated diarrhea can lead to dehydration. And the frequent, runny pooping it causes can irritate your baby's tender skin and lead to diaper rash.

Hard, pebbly poop means your baby is probably constipated. The poop may be dark brown or even black. Your baby may be visibly uncomfortable when they're pooping, and the poop may be tinged with blood from irritating the anus on the way out.

Constipation often happens when babies are first starting solid foods, as your baby's system gets used to digesting solids. It can also be a sign of a food allergy or intolerance. Your doctor may recommend giving your baby water or fruit juice as well as extra fruits (especially stone fruits and fruits containing sorbitol) if they're eating solids, to help move things along. If constipation persists, they may recommend changing your baby's diet or switching formulas.

If your baby's constipation is severe and doesn't respond to changes in diet and medications, their doctor may look into serious but unusual causes, such as thyroid problems, metabolic disorders (such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, or hypercalcemia) or anatomical disorders (such as an imperforate anus or a displaced anus), and Hirschsprung's disease.

Very dry, hard stools may mean that your baby is dehydrated. Whether you breastfeed or use formula, dry, hard poop may be a sign that your baby isn't getting enough fluid or is losing too much fluid due to illness, fever, or heat.

You can correct a mild case of dehydration by making sure your baby gets enough fluids, but severe dehydration can be life threatening. If your baby shows signs of serious dehydration, such as sunken eyes, cold and splotchy hands and feet, excessive sleepiness or fussiness, sunken fontanels (soft spots on their head), wrinkled skin, or they have less than one or two wet diapers in a day, take them to the emergency room immediately. For milder dehydration, call your baby's doctor.

Mucusy, stringy poop. Poop streaked with shiny, glistening strings means there's mucus in it. Again, this sometimes happens when a baby is especially drooly, because mucus in saliva often goes undigested. But mucus in poop can also be a telltale sign of an infection, allergy, or another condition (see above).

Bloody poop. Blood in poop can be bright red to black, and it can show up for a number of reasons, from swallowing blood from delivery or your cracked and bleeding nipples to a milk allergy, constipation, or intestinal infection (see red poop and black poop, above).

When should I call the doctor about my baby's poop?

As a general rule, call the doctor any time your baby starts to poop more or less often than is typical for them, or whenever you see anything unusual in your baby's diaper. For example, call their doctor if:

  • Your baby seems uncomfortable or unhappy when pooping.
  • Your baby is 3 months old or younger and has more than two diarrhea-filled diapers, or continues having diarrhea for longer than a day or two.
  • You see blood in your baby's diarrhea.
  • You see mucus in your baby's diaper for longer than a day or so, or your baby has any other symptoms along with mucus in their poop.
  • Your baby's poop looks blackish and they're not taking an iron supplement.
  • You see flecks of digested blood that look like poppy or sesame seeds in your baby's poop, especially if you're having breastfeeding difficulties.
  • Your baby has hard pebbly stools in their diaper three or more times.
  • Your baby eats solids and consistently has undigested food in their poop. (Their doctor may want to check to make sure your baby's intestines are absorbing food and nutrients properly.)

Some rare types of baby poop could suggest a more serious problem. These happen infrequently, but get medical attention right away if your baby has:

  • Thick black poop (made up mostly of digested blood) that's dark and tarry like meconium but a bit firmer and less sticky. This can be a sign of intestinal bleeding.
  • Poop consisting almost entirely of red blood, known as "currant jelly" poop, which indicates a severe intestinal problem.
  • White or pale, chalky, clay-colored poop, which may signal liver or gallbladder problems.

Learn more:

  • Yeast diaper rash
  • Is it normal for a baby to poop after every feeding?
  • What to put in your diaper bag

Disturbed stool in a child, causes and treatment of stool in children

Disturbed stool in a child

In childhood, stool disorder is the most common reason for visiting a doctor. In children, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract may manifest as diarrhea, constipation, or fatty stools.

In childhood, stool disorder is the most common reason for visiting a doctor. In children, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract may manifest as diarrhea, constipation, or fatty stools. nine0003

Parents need to remember that a violation of the stool in a child can signal serious illnesses, which means that it is necessary to immediately contact a gastroenterologist who will identify the causes of the disorder and prescribe adequate treatment.

Types and causes of stool disorders in children

Diarrhea

Most often, diarrhea in children occurs against the background of intestinal infections. An increase in the incidence is observed in the summer period. In young patients, diarrhea may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and fever. In the event of an acute attack of diarrhea, the child should be taken to the doctor immediately. It is important to contact the nearest medical center for medical care for children. nine0003

Such a center is the Baby Plus children's medical center, which is located in the village of VNIISSOK (Odintsovo district, residential complex "Gusarskaya ballad"). Since it is very important to see a doctor in the first hours of a child's illness, especially when the body temperature rises, residents of Odintsovo can call a doctor at home for a timely examination of the baby.

Constipation

Many parents do not pay due attention to constipation in young children. Indeed, with constipation, dehydration of the body is not observed, there is no loss of useful trace elements and vitamins, as with diarrhea. However, constipation, especially frequent, may indicate many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. nine0003

In order that later these diseases do not bring irreparable harm to the health of the baby, parents need to show the baby to a specialist. The gastroenterologist will quickly determine the causes of the disease and prescribe the appropriate treatment, which is most often limited to a special diet and the introduction of certain foods into the child's diet. Medications may also be prescribed.

Fat stool

Fatty stools can occur with both diarrhea and constipation in a child. If your baby has feces that are poorly washed off the walls of the potty or toilet, and also leaves greasy stains that do not wash off on diapers or panties, you should urgently seek advice from a pediatric gastroenterologist. The doctor, first of all, must exclude a violation of the digestion of fats contained in food, and determine the cause of this disease. nine0003

For this, the child is prescribed an examination, which is most often carried out in a hospital. Based on the results of the examination, the doctor prescribes adequate treatment, which includes a certain diet and medication.

Specialists of the Baby Plus Medical Center strongly recommend contacting qualified doctors in case of any stool disorder in children. This is due to the fact that the child's body cannot fight many disorders on its own, and uncontrolled self-medication can aggravate the situation, and in this case, treatment can be delayed for a long time. Remember that a child's stool is an indicator of his health. nine0003

Publication date: 12/13/2018 5:05:15 PM

Baby poop: everything you need to know

Has anyone ever told you a wide variety of poop What can you find in a baby diaper?

Liquid or solid, black, green or yellow, baby poop can have many tones and textures different.

These diaper changes are an important part of any parent's daily routine, but they can also be way to monitor the health of child.

Today we will learn to distinguish what the color, texture and frequency of baby poop can tell us about a baby's health and development.

Index

  • 1 Baby poop: what's normal?
    • 1.1 Meconium
    • 1.2 Baby poop depending on how we feed them
  • 2 Green, gray, red - what can the colors of baby poop mean?
    • 2.1 Warning colors
  • 3 How often should the baby poop?
    • 3.1 If we are breastfeeding
    • 3.2 If we are drinking formula
  • 4 When can we tell if a baby poops too much?
  • 5 When can I tell if I'm constipated?
    • 5.1 What can be done about constipation?
  • 6 How do you know if a child has pooped?

Baby poop: what's normal?

Have you ever wondered what the feces of a healthy baby should look like . This is normal because the color and consistency of a baby's stool changes over time depending on several factors, especially what they eat.

I leave you a guide to what you can find in baby diapers during the first days, weeks and months after birth.

Meconium

Your baby's first diapers will most likely contain a sticky, dark green substance, is similar to resin, and is virtually odorless. It's called meconium .

This special type of stool is made up of things like skin cells, mucus, hair, and other particles that the baby swallowed along with the amniotic fluid while still in the womb.

It will take a few days to clear all the meconium from your body, but then you will start having regular bowel movements. By this point your poop will have changed from almost black to a shade. yellowish green .

Tell your pediatrician if you don't have your first bowel movement. nine0037 within the first 24 hours after birth!.

Baby poop depending on how we feed them

Once meconium is passed out of a baby's body, the feces can vary greatly. depending on how we feed him . Here is what we are likely to find in diapers on different occasions:

  • Breastfed babies If we are breastfeeding, the baby's stool may look a little like 9 in the first months0037 mustard from Dijon, with consistency slightly runny and possibly off-white seed-like fat particles. Your child's stool color may also change depending on what he eats. For example, if you eat green vegetables such as spinach, they may have a green tint.

  • Formula-fed children. In this case, your feces will not be as thin as those of a breastfed baby. He will have sequence is more spreadable than (although it should not be harder than peanut butter) and dark yellow or roasted.

  • Infants at weaning stage . When we start introducing food solid , which is recommended after 6 months, we will see (and smell!) some important changes in the composition of diapers. Your stool will become harder than and its color will also be different. We can see pieces of food undigested, such as pea skins or tomatoes. This is because your little one's digestive system is still learning to digest all these new foods. During the weaning period, feeds also begin to smell more strongly due to additional fats and sugars in the diet.

Green, grey, red - what can the colors of baby poop mean?

La green turd In particular, it may be alarming when we first see it, but it is usually harmless. This can be caused by various reasons, from certain drugs (taken by the child himself or even by us if we are breastfeeding him) as long as green foods the child swallows directly or passes through breast milk.

As a general rule, all earth tones of (yellow, green, and brown) will do, but if you ever need to be sure, don't hesitate to ask your pediatrician for advice.

Warning colors

There are certain stool colors that could be a sign a possible health problem :

  • Red. Traces of red may be associated with blood in the stool . A newborn baby may have swallowed some blood during childbirth. If we are breastfeeding, the nipples may bleed a little and the blood may mix with breast milk. If the baby is already eating solid food, this may be due to the color of certain foods, such as beets, which can stain feces. In any case, you will have to go to the pediatrician to determine what it is. nine0003

  • Blacken. In some cases, black stools may be caused by blood which may change from red to black in the intestines over time. It is important to know that dark green stools can sometimes appear black. Green baby poop, even with a dark shade of color, is nothing to worry about at all. Meconium may also look black, and this is not a problem.

  • White or grey. Very pale white or clayey stools are very rare, but if we see feces of this color on a diaper, we must call pediatrician as this could be a sign of a liver condition that needs treatment.

How often should the baby poop?

La frequency The way a baby defecates will change as his digestive system grows and develops, but this will also depend on the feeding method he uses.

If we are breastfeeding

He will probably defecate more often than if we formula feed him. As a rule, after a few days you can 2 to 5 bowel movements per day until he is about 6 weeks old.

At 3 to 6 weeks of age, if we are breastfeeding, they can spend a few days between bowel movements . This is because a baby's digestive system can process breast milk very efficiently, leaving very little solid waste.

After 6 weeks, you can download less than before. One of the reasons for this is that at that time breast milk usually no longer contains colostrum , which can act as a laxative.

If you drink formula

Whether we give him all formula or just part of it, after the first few days he may start stuffing his diaper at least once a day. Although usually a day or two do not defecate. It is normal if the stool is soft.

When can you say that a child poops too much?

The amount of poop you do each time can be different. While you're gaining weight and their soft chair , everything is probably fine.

If a little boy's poop seems to be Aguada especially if you poop much more often than usual , or if you have other symptoms such as high fever is about diarrhea. You need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Newborns and infants are more likely to get sick poop less and more times . If the baby has just had a bowel movement, we may be able to save on extra diaper changes by waiting a little longer...

When can I tell if I have constipation?

Constipation is more common after administration of solids but can also occur in infants. Here are some typical signs of constipation:

  • In a newborn. Hard stools and less than once a day.

  • In an older child or a small child. Hard and compact stools than every three to four days.

  • In an infant or child of any age. nine0134 Profuse, hard, dry stools, painful on defecation. If there is blood in the stool or if the child strains for more than 10 minutes without a bowel movement.

What can be done for constipation?

First of all, you should consult your pediatrician or pharmacist.

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