Diaper Changing

• There isn’t an exact number of poops a baby should have per day, but on average, babies poop about four times a day during their first week of life. This typically decreases to around two poops per day by their first birthday.
• Baby poop stages begin with meconium, which should pass within 48 hours of birth. It then transitions to a greenish color around days 3–4, and by days 5–6, it usually turns yellow. This yellow color generally remains until your baby is around 4–6 months old or starts eating solid foods.
• Every baby is different, so variations in poop color can be normal. Mustard yellow, pale yellow, or light brown are the most common colors. However, if your baby’s poop is consistently green, it could indicate an infection. Pink or red may suggest blood, and very pale or white poop could signal an underlying issue. If you’re concerned, always consult a healthcare provider.
• Poop comes in all shapes, sizes, smells, and colors, but there are a few warning signs to watch for that could indicate a problem. These include diarrhea, constipation, blood, frequent green poop, pale poop, or visible mucus.
• Constipation in babies is common, and you can help them with their bowel movements by keeping them hydrated, using bicycle leg exercises, and giving them a gentle baby massage.

When you break it down, newborn babies tend to do three things: eat, sleep, and poop. And if you’ve recently become a parent, it may come as a shock to you just how many diapers your little one can go through in a day.

Newborn baby poop isn’t very much like its adult counterpart, which can take you by surprise when you first start changing diapers. Here’s everything you need to know about what’s normal and what’s not in the world of newborn baby poop.

How often should a newborn poop?

Do babies poop every day? While there isn’t an exact number of poops your baby should have each day, on average, babies have about four poops a day during the first week of their life. This decreases to an average of two per day by their first birthday.

Breast milk is considered a natural laxative, so breastfed babies may poop after every feed during their first few weeks. Thankfully, this "in-and-out" phase doesn’t last very long, and they might not poop for several days after the six-week mark. Formula-fed newborn babies, on the other hand, can poop up to five times a day. This reduces to as little as once a day after a few months.

If your baby seems happy and is eating well, chances are things are fine (even if you need to change them 12 times a day). However, it’s always best to trust your parenting instincts and speak to your pediatrician if you’re worried about your little one’s bowel movements.

Types of newborn poop 

There are a few different baby poop stages, from meconium to normal newborn poop, and the color and consistency may vary from day to day as their digestive system starts functioning. Let’s run through each stage in more detail.

Meconium: Within 48 hours

Meconium is a baby’s first poop, and it’s already in the bowel at the time of birth.

It’s dark, thick, and tarry, and can be sticky and hard to clean up. It contains cells and other substances that line your baby’s digestive tract during pregnancy. This usually subsides after three or four days. You should speak to your pediatrician if your baby hasn’t passed any meconium 48 hours after birth.

Green baby poop: Days 3–4

Greenish-colored poop is usually a sign that the last of the meconium is leaving a baby’s bowel. During this stage, their poop is still dark but has a green tinge as they start to digest milk.

Yellow baby poop: Days 5–6

From around day five, your baby’s poop may look like it has seeds in it. Newborn poop at this stage is usually runny, but not very smelly. If your baby is formula-fed, their poop may have a slightly darker tan shade and might be a bit smellier!

Colours of newborn poop and what they mean  

What colour should baby poo be? Whilst it can be a few different colours for different reasons, baby poop colour can be a good indication of their digestive health: 

• Mustard Yellow: Breastfed babies often have yellow stools. The consistency will generally be loose (sometimes very loose!) and smell (semi) sweet—not like your average poop!
• Pale Yellow or Pale Brown: Formula-fed babies might have semi-formed poops that are this color, and they may strain a little to work this kind of poop out as it can be a little firm.
• Green: While a few green diapers are usually nothing to worry about, babies who frequently poop green, watery stools might have diarrhea. It could be a sign that your baby has an allergy or intolerance, so it’s best to check this one out with your pediatrician.
• Pink or Red: Red or pink baby poop could be a sign of blood, but there’s no need to panic if you spot it. See your doctor, and they’ll be able to tell you what’s going on. It could be a sign of allergies or constipation.
• White: Very pale, white poop is very rare, but it could indicate an underlying problem. Contact your doctor right away if you spot this kind of poop.

What to watch out for with baby poop… 

You already know that poop comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes (not to mention smells and colours). Because of this, it's sometimes hard to tell when something is wrong. 

Nevertheless, there are a few signs you should watch out for that could indicate a greater problem: 

• Diarrhea 

• Constipation 

• Blood 

• Green poop 

• Pale poop  

• Mucus in poop 

Signs of newborn diarrhea  

Newborn poops can vary hugely from baby to baby, week to week. If they’re eating well, gaining weight and growing, the chances are everything is fine.   

It’s not unusual for a baby’s poop to be loose, but if they’re frequently passing watery stools, it could be a sign of diarrhea.   

What can cause diarrhea in newborns?   

Diarrhea can be a symptom of many things, including:   

• Infection   

• Teething   

• Antibiotics  

• Dietary changes   

• Allergies   

It’s always best to get your baby checked out by a doctor if they have diarrhea, to find out the root cause of their symptoms.   

Remember, if your baby has diarrhea, it’s important to keep an eye on their fluids. You may need to feed more frequently to help them get the extra fluids they need to avoid dehydration.   

How do you help a baby poop

There are a few things you can do to help a baby poop:

• Keep them hydrated: If you’re formula feeding and your baby is six months or older, offer them small sips of cooled, boiled tap water between their bottle feeds to prevent dehydration. If you’re breastfeeding, continue to offer lots of feeds (breastfed babies don’t need to drink additional water between feeds).
• Bicycle legs: Try laying your baby flat and gently move their legs in a bicycle motion to help relieve constipation.
• Baby massage: This is a lovely way to bond with them and can also help relieve constipation. Try rubbing their tummy clockwise, in slow downward strokes (make sure your baby is lying on their back, on a soft, safe, and comfortable surface).
• A nice, warm bath: Warm water can help relax their abdominal muscles, discourage them from straining, and soothe some of their discomfort. Read our guide to bath water temperature to make sure it is not too hot.
• Check their formula: Using too much formula powder when preparing a bottle can reduce the amount of water your baby drinks and lead to constipation. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when preparing a bottle of formula for your baby.

Blood in baby poop

Blood in a 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.

Why is my baby’s poop green?

Green poop is normal in newborns but could be a sign of infection in older babies. It’s often a sign in breastfed babies that they’re drinking all of the foremilk but not getting the rich milk at the end of the feed.

Pale baby poop

Very pale poop is a sign of jaundice, which is common in newborns. If it lasts longer than a couple of weeks, you should consult your doctor.

Mucus in baby poop

Mucus in baby poop is often harmless and can just be due to normal gut secretions, swallowing extra saliva during teething, or the digestive system adjusting to new foods during weaning.

However, mucus could also appear due to mild infections such as a cold or stomach bug. Again, this is nothing to worry too much about. If mucus keeps showing up or appears alongside other symptoms, it’s best to check with a healthcare provider.

While baby poop might not be the most glamorous part of parenting, it can tell you a lot about your little one’s health and development. From those first sticky meconium diapers to the more solid poops that come with weaning, changes in color, texture, and frequency are usually a normal part of your baby’s digestive journey.

With all those baby poops comes a whole load of diaper changes, so if you need a few handy tips on how to change a diaper, we’ve got you covered.