The Mystery Of Solid Poop In Newborns Unveiled

when do newborns poop solid

Newborns have black, sticky, tar-like poops in the first 24 hours following birth. This is known as meconium, a build-up of ingested mucus, amniotic fluid, and other materials from the womb. After 24 to 48 hours, meconium transitions to yellow and seedy. Breastfed babies have the most variety in the frequency of poops, but the colour and consistency are typically soft, smooth, and mustard-like. Formula-fed babies tend to have slightly more solid poops, still soft, and occur about one to three times a day. Once babies start eating solid foods, their stools will become more solid and formed.

Characteristics Values
First type of poop Meconium
Description of Meconium Dark, sticky, tarry, hard to clean off
Timing of Meconium First 24 to 48 hours after birth
Transition from Meconium After 24 to 48 hours, Meconium transitions to yellow and seedy
Breastfed baby poop colour Yellow, bright or pale mustard, bright green and frothy
Formula-fed baby poop colour Yellow-brown, green-tan, brown
Baby poop colour after starting solids Brown, dark green, blue, orange, red
Baby poop colour to watch out for Red, black, white
Baby poop consistency Soft, loose, pasty, thick and firm, thick as peanut butter, mushy like cottage cheese or yoghurt
Baby poop frequency Varies, could be after every feeding or once in 2-3 days

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Newborns' first poop

Newborn's First Poop

The first time you change your newborn's diaper, you'll see something that looks like sticky, tarry, greenish-black poop. This is your newborn's first bowel movement, known as meconium. Meconium is a mixture of amniotic fluid, bile, mucus, lanugo, skin cells, and other substances that the baby has swallowed in the womb. It usually occurs within the first 24 hours after birth, although some babies pass meconium while still in the womb.

Meconium stools are typically thick, gooey, and mucus-y, with a tar-like consistency and motor-oil appearance. They last for 24 to 48 hours, after which they transition into "transitional stools." During this time, the meconium gradually changes into a thinner, looser, greenish-brown or greenish-yellow transitional stool. This occurs between the third and sixth day of life.

Transitional stools are a combination of meconium and the next phase of poop, known as milk stools. By the sixth day, your newborn should no longer have meconium in their body, and they will start having milk stools.

Breastfed Baby's First Poop

If you are exclusively breastfeeding, your baby's poop will often be a golden, mustard yellow colour, although it can vary from orange to green. This type of poop tends to be loose and unformed, with a mild odour, and may contain seed-like curds of milk. It is usually soft and smooth, with a puree-like consistency.

Breastfed babies can go days without pooping or may poop after every feeding, and both are considered normal.

Formula-Fed Baby's First Poop

Formula-fed babies' poop is typically firmer and has a stronger odour. The colour can vary from yellow-brown, green-tan, or brown. The texture is often thick and firm, similar to toothpaste. Formula-fed babies usually go about once or twice per day, every one or two days. However, they may not poop after every feeding like breastfed babies because formula takes longer to process through the digestive tract.

When to Be Concerned

While a range of colours, textures, and frequencies are considered normal for newborn poop, there are some things to watch out for. If your baby hasn't pooped in four days, it's a good idea to consult your paediatrician, as this could be a sign of constipation.

Additionally, black, red, or white poop colours can indicate more serious issues and should be addressed by a doctor. Black poop could be a sign of internal bleeding, while red may indicate bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract or constipation. White or grey poop could signal a problem with the baby's liver and their ability to digest food properly.

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Breastfed baby poop

What to expect

Almost all infants' first poops will be thick, black and tarry-looking. This is called meconium and is completely normal. Meconium is a baby's first stool, made from ingested mucus, amniotic fluid and other materials in the womb. After 24 to 48 hours, it will transition to yellow and seedy, like fancy mustard.

Breastfed babies have a lot of variety in the frequency of their poops, but the colour and consistency are typically soft, smooth and mustard-like. It's more of a purée consistency than an adult's poop. Babies fed with breast milk typically poop after each feeding, but the frequency can decrease as they get older. As long as the poop is soft and not hard balls, it's not constipation.

Colour

The colour of a breastfed baby's poop will stay in the green-yellow-brown palette as long as they continue breastfeeding. It can be bright or pale mustard-coloured, or bright green and frothy if the baby is nursing for only short periods of time on each breast and getting more foremilk than hindmilk.

Texture

The texture of a breastfed baby's poop is loose and runny, but not diarrhoea-like. It may contain seed-like or lumpy pieces, and tiny white spots or clumps within the yellow poop.

Frequency

Exclusively breastfed babies can go days without pooping, or they could poop with every single nursing session—both are considered normal.

When to call the doctor

If your baby hasn't pooped in four days, you should call your paediatrician as this could be a sign of constipation.

White, black or red poop should also prompt a call to the doctor. White poop could signal a liver condition; black poop after the very first poops could be a sign of stomach bleeding; and red poop could be a sign of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract or an allergy.

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Formula-fed baby poop

The first poop of a newborn is called meconium, which is a sticky, tarry, greenish-black stool made of amniotic fluid, mucus, and skin cells. This first poop typically occurs within 24 hours of birth. After the meconium, the baby's poop will transition in colour and texture, usually within 2 to 4 days. Formula-fed babies tend to have slightly more solid poop than breastfed babies, with a colour range of yellow-brown, green-tan, or brown. The poop is typically thick and firm, similar to the consistency of toothpaste or peanut butter.

Formula-fed babies usually poop one to three times a day. However, it is not uncommon for them to go several days without a bowel movement. As long as the poop is soft, even if it has been a few days, the baby is not considered constipated.

The frequency of formula-fed baby poop may vary, and it is important to be in tune with what is normal for your baby. If your baby has not pooped in two days and this is unusual for them, it could be a sign of constipation. Other signs of constipation include hard, pebble-like poop, straining for more than 10 minutes without results, blood in the stool, fussiness, and increased spitting up.

Once your baby starts eating solids, their poop will become thicker and smellier, and the colour may darken or lighten depending on their diet. It is common to see bits of undigested food in their poop. However, if the poop is white or pale and chalky, it could indicate a liver or gallbladder problem, and you should contact your doctor.

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Baby poop after starting solids

Once your baby starts eating solid foods, usually around the six-month mark, their poop will change due to their new diet. The introduction of solid foods will lead to several changes in your baby's poop, including texture, frequency, smell, and colour.

Texture

The texture of your baby's poop will become firmer and more formed, resembling the texture of a cooked sweet potato or oatmeal. This change is due to the bulk-adding nature of solid foods and the fact that babies tend to drink less fluid when they start eating solids. However, it's important to ensure that your baby's poop remains soft and not hard, as this could indicate constipation.

You may also notice bits of undigested food in your baby's diaper after starting solids. This is completely normal, especially for foods higher in fibre, such as corn, carrots, and blueberries. Your baby's digestive tract is shorter than an adult's, so there may not be enough time for their body to fully break down all the food they're eating.

Frequency

The frequency of bowel movements will usually decrease after starting solids. This is because solid foods bulk up the stool, and babies tend to drink less fluid when they start eating solids. It may also take some time for your baby's digestive system to adjust to the new diet.

Smell

Solid foods will also lead to a stronger odour in your baby's poop. This is natural and to be expected when introducing new foods.

Colour

The colour of your baby's poop will become more varied after starting solids. It may even take on the colour of the latest coloured food they ate! Here are some common colour changes and their possible causes:

  • Brown: This is the standard colour for babies eating solids and occurs naturally.
  • Dark green: This can be caused by green foods like spinach or peas, iron supplements, or a high intake of iron-rich foods.
  • Blue: This is typically the result of eating blue or purple foods like blueberries.
  • Orange: This can be caused by orange-coloured foods or, in babies who haven't started solids, the absorption of pigments from the digestive tract.
  • Red: This could be due to red-coloured foods like beets or a milk allergy/anal fissures (stringy or mucous-like blood in stool).

What to Watch Out For

While most changes in your baby's poop after starting solids are normal, there are a few things to look out for:

  • Dramatic changes in consistency, frequency, or pain could indicate a food allergy.
  • Runny or liquid poop around the time of their first birthday may indicate an issue, as their diet should consist mainly of solid foods by then.
  • Red poop warrants caution, as it could be due to ingesting red-coloured foods or a more serious issue like bleeding in the digestive tract. Always err on the side of caution and consult your doctor if you're unsure.
  • Dark red or black poop could indicate internal bleeding, a very serious problem.
  • White or light grey poop could signal a liver condition and improper food digestion.
  • Consistently mucusy poop could be a sign of an allergy or infection.

In addition, if your baby hasn't pooped in four days, it's a good idea to consult your paediatrician, as this could be a sign of constipation.

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When to call the doctor

Newborns have black, sticky, tar-like poops in the first 24 hours following birth. This type of poop is called meconium and is a build-up of ingested mucus, amniotic fluid, and other materials from the womb. Meconium usually lasts for 24 to 48 hours, after which it transitions to yellow and seedy. After the first few days, meconium will change into transitional poops, a mixture of meconium and breastfed or formula-fed poop.

  • If your baby hasn't pooped in four days: This could be a sign of constipation.
  • Black poop: Black baby poop could indicate internal bleeding. If the poop is black instead of dark green, call your doctor.
  • White poop: White or grey baby poop could signal that your baby's liver isn't functioning properly and isn't digesting food correctly.
  • Red poop: Red could be due to red food or medicine. However, bloody stools could signal allergies or bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Very loose or watery stools: If your baby has loose or watery stools for three or more diapers, it could lead to dehydration.
  • Hard, pellet-like poop: This is a sign of constipation.
  • Mucus in the poop: Consistently having mucus in the stool can be a sign of an allergy or an infection.
  • Dramatic changes after introducing solids: If you notice any drastic changes after introducing solid foods, such as consistency, frequency, or pain, speak with your baby's doctor. This could indicate a food allergy.
  • Runny or liquid poop at one year: If your baby's poop is still runny and liquid-like by their first birthday, discuss this with your baby's doctor.
  • Diarrhea and dehydration: If your baby has diarrhoea and shows symptoms of dehydration, such as dry lips, sunken eyes, or sunken fontanels, call your doctor immediately.

Frequently asked questions

Newborns don't usually poop solid until they start eating solid food, which is typically around the 6-month mark.

Newborns' first poops are called meconium, which are black, sticky, and tar-like. After 24 to 48 hours, meconium transitions to yellow and seedy.

Newborns usually make up to 10 dirty diapers per day for the first couple of months, then go two to four times per day until around 4 months of age. However, this can vary a lot between babies, and pooping outside of this frequency is not necessarily cause for concern.

Newborn poop consistency can be as thick as peanut butter or mushier, like cottage cheese or yogurt.

If your newborn's poop is white, red, or black, contact your doctor. White poop could be a sign of liver disease, while red and black poop could indicate gastrointestinal bleeding.

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