Your newborn baby’s first poop
In the first day or two of your baby’s life, you might be surprised to come across sticky poo that’s dark green or dark black in color. But this is completely normal, and is actually known by the scientific term “meconium”.
Before birth, a baby will occasionally swallow amniotic fluid (the fluid that cushions them inside the womb), which then builds up in the small intestines as meconium.
Meconium is harmless when swallowed in the womb, and most babies will pass it out shortly after birth.
How often do newborns poop?
How often your newborn poops can depend on factors such as their weight, specific age and whether they breastfeed or are formula-fed. A breastfed newborn can experience at least three bowel movements a day in the first six weeks, but this can range from four to 12 for some babies.
As for formula-fed newborns, they can have at least one to four bowel movements a day, which can fall to one after the first month.
How a baby’s poop changes over time
Here’s a color-by-color guide to help you see how your baby’s poo can change with time:
After birth – Within 24 to 48 hours after birth, your baby will usually pass a dark-black or dark-green sticky poo.
Day three to four – The color may start to look greener as your baby starts taking in more milk and digesting it.
Day five to six – Your baby’s poo can start to look more yellow-green to yellow as all the meconium stool passes away.
First six weeks – If breastfed, expect your baby’s stool to be loose, seedy, or runny with a yellow color. As for formula-fed babies, they may poop a light brown or yellow-green stool that may resemble peanut butter in consistency.
Newborn poop vs eating solids
Once you introduce solid foods to your baby, their poop might contain a wide variety of colors. You may also start to see small pieces of food in their poop, and these diet changes might also affect how many times they poop a day.
What color should a baby’s poop be?
While a baby’s poop may vary from time to time as they grow and develop, mushy stool with a yellow color is considered a healthy color for breastfed babies. As for formula-fed babies, yellow-green is considered typical.
When should I be worried about my baby’s poop?
If you’re concerned about the color of your baby’s poop, get in touch with your doctor or pediatrician. This is very important, especially if your baby has poop that is:
Full of mucus
Dry, hard, and difficult to pass
Red or bloody
Very watery
White or whitish-grey
Still black many days after birth
What does poop consistency say about my baby?
It’s quite normal for a parent to worry about the consistency of their baby’s poop, especially if it changes suddenly. Semi-solid poop is usually considered normal for a baby. That may appear loose, seedy, or runny for breastfed babies and peanut buttery for formula-fed babies.
However, you may wish to get in touch with your pediatrician or doctor if you notice watery or hard and dry poo. Watery poo may be a sign of diarrhea (sometimes explosive) while hard and dry (like rabbit pellets), or bloody stool may be a sign of constipation.
When to change a diaper
Babies have delicate skin, so it’s important to change their diaper as soon as possible; doing this can help prevent diaper rash. Find out all you need to know about how to change a diaper with our special guide.
The poonami: Dealing with explosive poop
A “poonami” – coined by combining the words poop and tsunami – is a bowel movement so massive from your baby that no diaper stands a chance.
This tidal surge of stool can be a messy challenge for any parent to deal with. That’s why it’s so important to have all your diaper changing essentials at the ready in case a poonami is on the horizon. If a poonami does come, remove as much excess poop as possible before changing the diaper and putting on some spare clothes on your baby.
If you need to clean and cleanse your baby following an especially messy episode, WaterWipes® baby wipes are an especially reliable, skin-friendly method.
Download our newborn baby poop guide
You'll change around 3,000 diapers in your baby's first 12 months, so you might see different kinds of poo. Check out our FREE guide to see what's normal and when should you be concerned.
Newborn baby poop FAQs
How often should newborns poop on formula?
Newborns who primarily feed on formula should poop between one to four times each day. They will have large and different-smelling poops than breastfed babes, but fewer of them daily.
How long can a newborn go without pooping?
It’s common for babies older than six weeks to be occasionally constipated. They can go up to a week without pooping. However, get in touch with your doctor if it extends past a week, or if you notice that the stool isn’t soft and easy to pass.
How do I know if my newborn is constipated?
Signs your baby might be constipated include:
Infrequent bowel movements
Poop that appears hard, dry and looks like pellets
Your baby might cry or arch their back when passing poop, because their bowel movements may be painful
Is it normal for a newborn baby to have diarrhea?
Stomach hiccups like diarrhea and gassiness can be quite common in babies. Most cases of diarrhea don’t need treatment and they’ll usually go away on their own. However, it is important you keep your baby hydrated and comfortable until the diarrhea passes. Get in touch with your doctor if the diarrhea is persistent and/or is accompanied by vomiting, fever or irritability, especially if your baby is under one year old.
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