BABY
Is My Newborn's Poop Normal?
Be prepared for weird-looking poo!
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
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BABY
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Bestsellers
Chalk up “baby poop” as just another topic you never thought you’d be Googling! But once you’re a parent, you realize there is so much out there that you know nothing about…and that’s okay. You’re not expected to know it all from the get-go. Here’s your TMI-by-design guide to all things baby poop!
While this “first” isn’t necessarily one for the baby book, it’s still important! Your brand-new bundle of joy will probably bless you with their first poop within 24 hours of birth. Your baby’s first bowel movement—and those that occur over the next few days—will be what’s called meconium. Meconium is, well, strange! It’s made up of everything your baby ingested while in the womb like amniotic fluid, dead skin cells, and water. This first poop is sticky, thick, and a dark greenish-black color—but you’ll be surprised to discover that it’s almost completely odorless. Within the next few days, your sweet baby’s poop will get waterier, lighten in color…and smelly!
If you’re breastfeeding your little one, their poop will be yellowish and runny with some particles mixed in. Some babies have a bowel movement after every breastfeeding session…while others only have three to four daily. By the time your baby is around 1 to 2 months old, their poop will thicken to the consistency of oatmeal and likely occur once a day or less. (The color of their poop will remain greenish, yellowish, or brownish as long as they’re nursing.) Don’t worry about calling your doctor unless your baby doesn’t have a seriously dirty diaper for more than three days…but call sooner if your baby has a weak cry, weak suck, or is acting sick.
If you’re formula-feeding, your bub’s poop will be thicker and firmer than what breastfed babies make. It’s almost like peanut butter. The color can range from yellow to tan to brown to green. Once your baby is around 1 to 2 months old, they may start to go a few days between bowel movements. This is normal!
Many parents begin introducing solid foods around 6 months of age. Once you do that, you’ll notice your baby’s poop changes. It will become browner and thicker…and—hold onto your hats—smellier! (Did you ever think you’ll miss these newborn poop days!?)
No matter if your baby is breastfed or formula-fed, if they’re passing hard, very dry, and/or pebble-y stools, that may be a sign that they’re not getting enough fluid or that they’re losing excessive fluid because of illness, fever, or heat. Hard, pebble-like bowel movements may also mean your bub is suffering from constipation. This can be quite common when your baby is first introduced to solid foods, but can also be a symptom of sensitivity to milk, soy, or lack of tolerance to something in breastmilk or infant formula.
While there’s a wide range of normal baby poop colors, there are certain hue clues that tell you something may be making your love bug ill. Odds are, you won’t have to call your doctor about your baby’s poop, but it’s good to know when to take that step. Here’s your guide to infant poop color…
On a good day, your little one’s stools are kinda soft and a little runny, too. Because of this, it’s not always easy to tell what’s mild diarrhea and what’s normal. To help, it’s good to keep in mind that a sudden increase in stool frequency—think more than one poop per feed—and unusually liquidy stool usually points to baby diarrhea. The reason doctors like me can be concerned about baby diarrhea is the possibility of dehydration. (Keeping your baby hydrated with formula or breastmilk is important!) Also, if your little one also has a fever and is less than 3 months old, call your pediatrician.
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.
