Deciphering Baby Stools: What Color Stools and Textures Warrant a Call or Visit to the Health Care Provider?

What is revealed from your baby’s diaper may change day-to-day? There can be a wide range of colors and textures you’ll encounter and you may wonder, “Is this normal?”.

Deciphering What Colors Are Not Normal 

The main colors that are cause for concern are white, red, and black. Meconium (greenish-black colored stool) is normal solely for the first 48 hours after birth. 

Black stools after this point can signify internal bleeding. Red stools can signify constipation, blood in the stool, or something more serious. White stools indicate that your baby is no longer producing bile.  

What color stools are considered normal for newborns/toddlers? 

If your little one is breastfeeding, tan to yellow are the colors you should expect. The stool will likely be mushy with a mild smell.  If your little one is formula-fed, medium brown to dark brown are the colors you should expect. The stool will likely have a strong smell and be solid.  

What color stools are normal for babies that eat solids? 

The stool will likely be dark brown and firm. This occurs when solids are introduced from 6 months of age to 1 year old. 

What Textures Should You Watch For

Too Hard

Missing one or two daily bowel movements doesn’t necessarily indicate that a baby is constipated. Most newborn babies eliminate after each feeding, but the frequency of the bowel movements gradually decreases between 1 and 2 months of age. 

Stool that is dry, brown, and shaped like little rabbit pellets, or quite large signify constipation. Sometimes, a baby’s digestive tract absorbs too much water. A natural treatment for constipation in infants is prune juice. This is safe for babies older than six weeks. Mix 1-ounce prune juice with 1-ounce water and feed the baby two times a day. You can also give your baby a warm bath with some Epsom salts. Lay your baby on his/her back after the bath and massage a small amount of olive oil clockwise around their belly button to stimulate the digestive tract. 

Diarrhea 

While baby poop isn’t as solid as adult poop, it shouldn’t be loose and watery, this signifies diarrhea. Diarrhea in babies should not last longer than 2 days. If it persists, call your health care provider. 

If your baby has diarrhea and you are a nursing mother, make sure your diet isn’t triggering it. When breastfeeding, some of the foods the mother eats can result in diarrhea. Eat a well-balanced diet free of processed sugary or greasy foods. Also, rule out any common food allergies like dairy, soy, wheat, and eggs. If your baby is being fed with formula, you may need to try a new one that your baby responds better to. 

Since it’s not always easy to tell what’s normal and what’s not, it’s best to call your health care provider if you have any doubts regarding your baby’s bowel movement.