Understanding Newborn Poop: Frequency And What's Normal For Babies

Newborns can poop anywhere from after every meal to every few days, and this frequency can be an indicator of their health. In the first few days of life, a newborn will pass meconium, a black, sticky, tar-like substance. After this, their stool will transition to a lighter, runnier stool, which may be light brown, yellow, or yellow-green in colour. Breastfed newborns typically have several bowel movements each day, while formula-fed newborns may have fewer. It's important to monitor your newborn's diapers, as this can indicate whether they are consuming enough milk, and if they are dehydrated or constipated.

Frequency of newborn poop

The frequency of a newborn's bowel movements varies from baby to baby. Some newborns poop every time they eat, while others only poop every few days. This can be as frequent as several times a day or as infrequent as once every two to three days. Neither situation is cause for alarm.

Breastfed vs Formula-Fed Newborns

Breastfed newborns typically have more frequent bowel movements than formula-fed newborns. Breastfed babies may have seedy, loose, mustard-coloured stools, while formula-fed babies' bowel movements are often firmer and more paste-like. However, the stool shouldn't be firmer than the consistency of peanut butter.

Meconium

In the first few days after birth, newborns pass meconium, a black, sticky, tar-like substance. After about 24-48 hours, newborn bowel movements transition to a lighter, runnier stool, which may be light brown, yellow, or yellow-green in colour.

First Six Weeks

Until about six weeks of age, most newborns will pass stool roughly two to five times per day, typically after every meal. During this time, it's important to monitor the baby's pooping frequency to ensure they are receiving enough food, especially if they are breastfeeding.

Six Weeks to Three Months

Between six weeks and three months of age, the frequency of pooping typically decreases. Many babies poop only once a day, and some may go as long as a week without a bowel movement. This is usually not a cause for concern as long as the baby maintains a healthy weight.

When to See a Doctor

If your newborn hasn't had a bowel movement in four days, or if they are showing signs of constipation or dehydration, contact your pediatrician. Other signs to look out for include unusual stool colour, such as red, black, or white, and stool with a large amount of mucus or water.

Breastfed vs formula-fed babies' poop

The frequency of a newborn's bowel movements depends on whether they are breastfed or formula-fed. Typically, breastfed babies tend to poop more often than formula-fed babies.

Breastfed Babies

Breastfed newborns typically have several bowel movements each day, and their stool may be seedy, loose, and mustard-coloured. It is normal for a breastfed baby to have a stool after every feed or as little as once every seven days. The consistency is usually soft and somewhat runny.

Formula-Fed Babies

Formula-fed newborns may have fewer bowel movements, with an average of two bowel movements per day. Their stool is usually firmer and more paste-like, with a consistency similar to peanut butter.

When to Be Concerned

If your newborn hasn't pooped in four days, you should contact your pediatrician as this could be a sign of constipation. Other signs of concern include very loose or watery stools, which could lead to dehydration, and hard, pellet-like stools. Additionally, if you notice any blood in your baby's stool or if the stool is white, black, or grey, you should seek medical advice.

Poop colour

The colour of a newborn's poop can be surprising for new parents, but it can tell you a lot about their health.

Meconium

The first poop of a newborn is called meconium, which is a black, sticky, tar-like substance. This is completely normal and is passed within the first few days after birth.

Transitional Poop

After meconium, a newborn's poop will transition to a lighter, runnier stool. It may be light brown, yellow, or yellow-green in colour. This is the typical colour of poop for both breastfed and formula-fed babies.

Breastfed Babies

Breastfed babies' poop is usually light yellow, watery, and sometimes seedy. It may be similar in appearance to mustard, cottage cheese, or scrambled eggs. It is normal for breastfed babies to have runny poop, and they often poop after every feed.

Formula-Fed Babies

Formula-fed babies' poop is typically yellow-green or light brown. Their bowel movements are usually firmer and more paste-like than breastfed babies' poop but should still be very soft, similar to the consistency of peanut butter.

Solid Foods

Once a baby starts eating solid foods, their poop will change dramatically. It will be firmer, darker, and smellier. Depending on what the baby has eaten, their poop can also be red, orange, green, yellow, or blue. Undigested food chunks may be visible in the stool, which can be very smelly.

Colours to Watch Out For

While most colours are normal, there are a few that may indicate a problem:

• Red – This could be due to red food or medicine. However, it may also indicate bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, so it is important to call your doctor if you see blood in your baby's poop.
• Black – After the meconium stage, black poop could be a sign of internal bleeding. Look at the poop under a bright light, and if it is black, contact your doctor.
• White or Grey – This is the most concerning colour and could signal a problem with the baby's liver or that they are not digesting food properly. Contact your doctor if you see white or grey poop.

Summary

In summary, while the colour of a newborn's poop can vary, it is important to watch out for red, black, white, or grey poop, as these may indicate a health issue. Most other colours are normal, but if you are ever concerned, it is best to consult your doctor or paediatrician.

Poop consistency

The consistency of a newborn's poop can vary depending on various factors such as their diet and age. In general, breastfed babies tend to have softer and more liquid stools compared to formula-fed infants, whose poop may be firmer and more paste-like.

Meconium

The first few poops of a newborn, known as meconium, are usually thick, sticky, tar-like, and black or dark green in colour. This is normal and is caused by substances ingested by the baby in the womb.

Transition to Regular Stool

Within the first few days, newborns transition to regular stool, which is typically yellow or light brown in colour. The texture of breastfed babies' poop tends to be very seed-like and soft, almost liquid-like. Formula-fed babies' poop may be firmer and more paste-like, but it shouldn't be harder than the consistency of peanut butter.

Frequency and Consistency

The frequency of poop can vary greatly from baby to baby. Some newborns poop every time they eat, while others may go a few days without pooping. On average, newborns have one or more bowel movements daily, but this can range from five or more dirty diapers a day to going several days without pooping.

Breastfed babies may pass loose, seedy stools that look like mustard in colour and texture. This is a good sign, indicating that the baby is absorbing solids from the breast milk.

Formula-fed babies' poop may be yellow-green or light brown. Their bowel movements may be less frequent and firmer after the first few weeks, but they should still be soft.

Signs of Constipation

True constipation in babies is typically the result of a change in diet, a lack of fluids, or an illness. The telltale sign is hard, dry stools. If your baby is constipated, they may be fussy and appear uncomfortable when trying to pass stool.

Signs of Diarrhea

If your baby is passing three or more extra watery stools per day, it could be diarrhea, which may be a sign of an infection. Very watery bowel movements could also lead to dehydration, so it's important to monitor your baby's hydration levels.

Changes in Diet

As your baby starts eating solid foods, you may notice small pieces of food in their stool, and the colour and consistency may change. Introducing solids usually leads to an increase in the number of bowel movements.

When to Seek Help

If you are concerned about your baby's poop consistency or frequency, or if you notice any of the following, contact your pediatrician:

• Maroon or bloody stools
• Black stools after the initial meconium (usually after day four)
• White or grey stools
• More stool per day than is normal for your baby
• Stool with a large amount of mucus or water
• Hard, dry stools or small, hard pebbles, indicating constipation
• Watery bowel movements, indicating diarrhea
• Pulling their legs up to their stomach, indicating a sore tummy

When to call the doctor

Signs of inadequate nutrition

If your baby is not receiving enough food, they may not have at least one bowel movement per day, produce fewer than five wet diapers daily after the first few days of life, or show signs of dehydration, such as dry lips or sunken eyes. If you are breastfeeding and are concerned about your baby's nutrition, a lactation consultant can help increase milk supply.

Diarrhea

If your baby has diarrhea, or very watery bowel movements, for more than one day, contact your doctor. This could lead to dehydration, so look out for signs such as a dry mouth, tongue, and lips, a faster heartbeat than usual, no tears when crying, and dry diapers for three or more hours.

Constipation

If your baby is constipated, they may get extra fussy and look like they're straining uncomfortably when they try to go. Their stool may be hard, dry, and resemble small, hard pebbles. True constipation in babies typically happens due to a change in diet, a lack of fluids, or an illness.

Blood in stool

If you see blood in your baby's stool, call your doctor. This could be a sign of allergies, bleeding in their gastrointestinal tract, or irritation of the rectum. Maroon or bright red blood in the stool is typically a cause for concern. However, it is not uncommon to find small specks of black blood in the stool as a result of breastfeeding with cracked, bleeding nipples.

White or grey stool

White or grey-coloured stool could indicate that your baby has a problem with their stomach enzymes and isn't digesting food properly. This is one of the shades of stool colour that should alert you to a potential problem.

Other signs

Call your doctor if your baby exhibits any of the following:

• A fever of at least 102°F
• Irritability and sleepiness
• Sunken cheeks or eyes
• A depression or dip in the soft spot on top of their head
• Abdominal pain or discomfort

Frequently asked questions