Baby’s First Poo
Among the most unusual baby poo is baby’s first poo. This is because it is made up of something called meconium, which is made up of everything mum ingested while baby was in the womb. This poo will likely be greeny-black and very sticky, even difficult to wipe away. This is normal and will likely last for a few days at least. After that, baby poo can vary depending on your feeding method.
Baby Poo when Breastfeeding
After baby has passed all meconium through their system, their poo will start to change from greeny-black to a lighter greeny-black and then on to a yellow. It is often quite bright. The texture will change too, from sticky to grainy, even loose. The biggest surprise is the smell, which is sweeter than most would expect. This is totally normal as long as baby’s poo remains soft and passes easily.
Baby Poo when Bottle Feeding
There are some slight differences between bottle fed baby food compared to breast fed baby food. The most obvious difference will be that bottle fed baby poo will most likely be bulkier than breast fed baby poo as it is more difficult for baby to digest formula than breast milk (see our breastfeeding benefits pages for more info). Compared to breast fed baby poo, bottle fed baby poo is also a paler yellow or yellowish brown and stronger smelling.
Baby Poo while Weaning
When your baby starts to move on to solid food, you will notice that the different foods they try will have an impact on their poo – especially the colour, which will often mirror the colour of the food. Baby’s poo will also become larger and thicker, more like an adults. You may also notice certain hard to digest foods pass straight through. This will change in time, as baby gets used to different food types. As they do, baby’s poo will also become smellier.
Baby Poo – Warning Signs
As already mentioned, baby poo comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes (not to mention smells and colours). Because of this, it is sometimes hard to tell when something is wrong. Nevertheless, there are a few signs you should watch out for that could be symptomatic of a greater problem.
- Diarrhoea – runny or even explosive diarrhoea could be a symptom of teething or an allergy, but you should check with your doctor in case of infection or other medical problem.
- Constipation – some babies don’t poo as often as others (especially if they are bottle fed), but if your baby is really struggling, crying and their poos are like rabbit droppings, you should contact your doctor. This is especially true if there is blood in baby’s poo. Read our how often should my baby poo guide for more info.
- Blood – blood is baby’s stool is usually a symptom of constipation and can normally be remedied quite easily. Nevertheless, you should always consult your doctor to be on the safe side.
- Green Poo – green poo is normal in newborns but could be a sign of infection in older babies. A common cause is baby is breast feeding often but not getting the rich milk at the end of the feed.
- Pale Poo – very pale poo is a sign of jaundice, which is common in newborns. If it lasts longer than a couple of weeks you should consult your doctor.
Now you are familiar with baby poo, you may also want to check out our guide on how to change a nappy.