Of all the things to obsess over once you have a baby, one topic that may catch you off guard is how meticulously you will monitor another human’s bodily functions. The less glamorous side of making sure Baby gets enough milk is assessing what comes out the other end. Are you even a real parent if you haven’t cleaned poo off the walls, crib or, let’s face it, yourself? Different textures and colors may have you wondering whether what you see is normal. There’s a wide range of “normal,” but there are also a few signs and symptoms that need more in-depth evaluation.
Baby Poop Evolution: Changes over Time
Meconium is a fancy word to describe the first bowel movements. It is a dark green or black tarry-like substance composed of materials your baby ingested in utero, such as amniotic fluid and skin cells. This phase usually lasts one to three days before transitioning to the next consistency.
Breastfed babies usually have several bowel movements per day that are mustard yellow with a seedy and soft consistency at first. This can change depending on Mom's diet over the next weeks and months. Frequency also changes; anything from several times a day to just once a week is considered normal.
Formula-fed babies usually have more consistently tan or yellow-brown stools. They should be soft and easy to pass, but tend to have more form (think peanut butter consistency) than breast-fed baby poop. Formula-fed babies tend to poop less often than breastfed, but the normal range is still a few times a day to only one time per week.
Transitioning to solid foods brings new surprises. Once you start to add purees and other solid foods, baby poop undergoes another transformation. It may become thicker and take on brown, green or orange hues, depending on the foods you offer. It’s common for some foods to look almost the same going out as they did going in.
Poop Findings to Have Checked Out
A rainbow of stool colors and several consistencies are completely normal. If your baby is acting completely normal, there’s not much to worry about. However, it never hurts to call your pediatrician for some reassurance or recommendations if your little one is fussier than usual, not eating well or there are sudden changes in the bowel movements. Here are a few findings that should prompt a call sooner rather than later.
Color changes
White, pale or chalky stools could indicate digestion problems in the liver.
Red or black stools could be a sign of blood, which should always be evaluated by a health care professional. Blood sometimes looks black in poop when bleeding occurs in the stomach or upper intestines. (Just a note—some medicines and red foods can also change the color to a red hue.)
Consistency changes
Sudden changes in stool consistency are more concerning than gradual ones.
Watery diarrhea, especially if it occurs for more than two or three bowel movements can put your baby at risk of dehydration. It can also indicate infection, food allergy or other underlying issues.
Hard or pellet-like stools may indicate constipation and dehydration.
Snot-like mucus mixed in with poop is usually OK, but if the entire poop is that consistency, give the pediatrician a call.
Constipation
Babies can poop several times a day or once per week without your pediatrician getting too excited. However, consider any significant change from your baby's regular routines as cause for concern. If it’s been more than six or seven days, reach out to the pediatrician for recommendations.
Foul odor
While not known for its pleasant aroma, repeated extremely foul-smelling bowel movements may indicate an infection or other digestion issues.
Projectile vomiting
This last one’s not about poop at all. Babies spit up a lot, and most of the time it’s completely normal. However, if your little one’s vomit projects across the room, call the doctor’s office. There could be a more serious issue called pyloric stenosis, which means the milk isn’t able to pass from the esophagus into the stomach.
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Decoding dirty diapers is a messy but inevitable part of parenthood. Remember, every baby is unique, and there is a wide range of normal. Watch out for the red flags discussed above, trust your instincts and don’t hesitate to call your pediatrician when you have concerns.
References:
- Children’s Hospital Colorado, “Baby Poop Guide.”
- Banner Health, “Baby Poop: What’s Normal and What’s Not?”
Joleen Sams is a family nurse practitioner who lives in Shawnee with her family.