Your Baby Poop Color Chart Explained l Baby Journey

Baby Pooping Rainbows? Your Baby Poop Color Chart Explained

When you first became a parent you may never have thought you’d spend half your time examining your baby’s poop on a daily basis. And if you’re not a parent yet and are expecting your first baby, you may be entirely grossed out by the thought of checking your newborn’s stool color.

It’s okay; baby poop colors are a good sign of what’s going on with your baby’s diet and health, and it’s a good way to be able to tell what’s happening with your little one when they can’t tell you in words.

Don’t know where to start or what colors to look for in your baby’s diaper? In this article you’ll find a baby poop color chart and we’ll explain what each color means for your baby’s health and diet. And if you’re wondering what color should baby poop be in a healthy, normal baby, we’ll tell you that too.

What Causes Your Baby’s Poop Color Change?

There are several factors that can cause your baby’s poop color to change. These can include what your baby is eating, indigestion, or underlying health issues. The most common factors for unusually-colored poop are usually diet or digestion.

If you see an unusual-colored poop in your baby’s diaper, most of the time you won’t need to call your doctor, but if you suspect a health issue do make sure to contact your doctor to be on the safe side. Our baby poop color guide can help you determine what’s causing a certain color and what to do about it so you don’t have to worry about a strange color.

Your baby’s diaper is the key to their health. | Your Baby Poop Color Chart Explained | Baby Journey
Your baby’s diaper is the key to their health. Source: What to Expect

Baby Poop Color Chart

When it comes to baby’s poop, it may come as a surprise that you may see different stool colors in your baby’s diapers other than the common brown shades, especially if you are new to parenthood. Don’t panic yet! While some colors may seem off-putting and abnormal, most are actually okay and normal for baby, save for a few that require concern.

Here’s a simple infographic to help you determine which colors are normal and those that spell trouble:

Your Baby Poop Color Chart Explained | Baby Journey

Types of Baby Poop

Newborn baby poop

Newborn baby poop is called meconium. It’s greenish-black in color and has a tar-like consistency. It’s made up of everything that baby ingested in the womb which is why it has such a dark color. A dark stool in babies of this age is very normal, and will usually happen within the first 24 hours.

After 2-4 days of meconium, the newborn poop color changes to a lighter greenish color as baby begins to digest milk.

Baby’s first poop is called meconium is dark and sticky. | Your Baby Poop Color Chart Explained | Baby Journey
Baby’s first poop is called meconium is dark and sticky. Source: Verywell Family

Infant poop

An infant’s poop color is yellow from all of the breast milk, and can sometimes be slightly green. It has a creamy texture with seed-like flakes that resemble Dijon mustard. It can be on the thicker side, or it can be slightly runny.

What your baby eats can affect the color of your baby’s poop. If you or your baby eat superfoods like spinach, you can expect dark green baby poop. Eating lots of carrots can result in orange baby poop. If you or baby consume things that are colored with food coloring, you’ll likely see blue baby poop or even purple baby poop. Some moms experienced that their baby poops purple when they start taking bananas as their first foods.

If your baby is on formula, expect a denser, browner poop that looks more like peanut butter.

Infant poop looks like Dijon mustard. | Your Baby Poop Color Chart Explained | Baby Journey
Infant poop looks like Dijon mustard. Source: Verywell Family

Toddler poop

Once your baby starts eating solid foods between 4 and 6 months of age, their poop will become more like adult poop. It will get thicker and darker in color, and the older your baby gets the more their poop will look like yours.

Your baby will pass a stool less often during the day, and that is normal. You may notice larger bits of food in the poop because babies don’t chew their food very well, and this is normal too.

Formula-fed poop vs Breastfed baby poop

Formula-fed poop is different from breastfed poop in color and texture. Breastfed babies’ poop is yellowish and has a creamy consistency, and the baby will likely poop after every feeding. Expect a light colored baby poop that resembles Dijon mustard if you breastfeed.

On the other hand, babies who are fed formula will have a darker, denser poop, and they will poop only a few times a day, in larger quantities. Expect a darker colored baby poop if you feed your baby formula.

Breastfed and formula poop are different in color in texture. | Your Baby Poop Color Chart Explained | Baby Journey
Breastfed and formula poop are different in color in texture. Source: Babyobabe

When Is Baby Poop A Cause for Concern?

Any variation of brown, yellow, or green is pretty normal for your baby’s stool, so most of the time you won’t need to worry. But if you see any of the following you should contact your doctor to resolve the issue.

Runny stools

Infants can have a pretty watery stool normally if they are breastfed, but if you see that your baby’s stool is extra watery it can mean your baby has diarrhea. The runny stool will often be greenish or brownish.

Runny baby poop. | Your Baby Poop Color Chart Explained | Baby Journey
Runny baby poop. Source: La Leche League

Hard baby poop/Pebble like stools

If your baby’s poop resembles little stones or pebbles it’s likely they have constipation. You’ll often notice some bleeding around the anus as baby pushes extra hard.

Constipated baby poop. | Your Baby Poop Color Chart Explained | Baby Journey
Constipated baby poop. Source: Babycenter

Slimy stools/ Frothy poop (with mucus)

Stools that are slimy or frothy and accompanied by mucus could be one of two things. Either your baby is swallowing a lot of mucus as a result of teething, or they could have a virus or stomach bug. It’s a good idea to talk to your pediatrician if you see this kind of poop.

Mucus in baby poop. | Your Baby Poop Color Chart Explained | Baby Journey
Mucus in baby poop. Source: Healthline

Bloody poop

If you see red baby poop or any signs of blood in your baby’s stool, you should talk to your doctor. It could be something as mild as baby swallowing blood from your dry and cracked nipples, or it could be something more serious like a milk allergy, a rectal tear from constipation, or a bacterial infection.

Red or bloody baby poop. | Your Baby Poop Color Chart Explained | Baby Journey
Red or bloody baby poop. Source: Firstcry Parenting

Chalky poop

This is usually pretty rare, but if you see white baby poop or gray baby poop that is chalky in texture, it could indicate a liver problem which isn’t allowing baby to digest their food properly. Don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor, as this is a serious issue.

Chalky baby poop. | Your Baby Poop Color Chart Explained | Baby Journey
Chalky baby poop. Source: Similac

Food pieces in stools

When babies start eating solid foods it’s common to see pieces of food in their poop. Babies don’t chew food well, so the small pieces that are not properly digested end up being passed in their stools. This is why it’s always advisable to ensure your baby’s food is small and soft if you’re offering them finger foods.

Until they show signs they are ready for firmer solids, you should first introduce cereals and purees.

Bits of food in an older baby’s poop are normal. | Your Baby Poop Color Chart Explained | Baby Journey
Bits of food in an older baby’s poop are normal. Source: Babycenter

Common FAQs

What color poop is bad for babies?

Black, red, and white colored poop means something is going on inside of your baby that you should get checked out. They can indicate problems such as infections or digestive issues.

What is a baby’s poop like when teething?

When baby is teething they swallow a lot of saliva. The saliva contains mucus, which doesn’t get digested and so comes out in baby’s poop. When teething, baby’s poop will most likely be light yellow or green and you’ll see it streaked with mucus.

What does constipated baby poop look like?

Constipated baby poop resembles pebbles or pellets, and it can have streaks of blood from baby’s anus as they push extra hard to get the stool out.

Can gripe water cause black poop?

Gripe water should not turn baby’s stool black, so if you are seeing black baby poop call your pediatrician. The usual poop color for babies who take gripe water is green. There can occasionally be small black flecks which are no cause for concern.

What color is colic poop?

Parents with colicy babies say that often their babies’ poop is green in color, and it is also very foul-smelling.

When do babies change yellow poop to brown?

Babies’ poop changes from yellow to brown once baby starts eating solid foods. The more solid foods and the less breastmilk, the darker the poop will be.

Here’s a video that explains about your baby poop colors in simple terms!

The “Bottom” Line

It’s time to get up close and familiar with your baby’s poop. The color of your baby’s poop indicates a lot about what is happening inside of your little one. It’s important to look closely at what’s going on in the diaper since your baby can’t tell you what’s going on.

Yellowish baby poop is normal, so if you see anything that is different from the normal baby poop color it could be because of baby’s diet or something going on inside.

Use our handy chart to help you figure out what’s going on by the color of your baby’s poop. If you’re ever in doubt, make sure to contact your baby’s pediatrician.

Please feel free to comment below if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

Your Baby Poop Color Chart Explained | Baby Journey

2 thoughts on “Baby Pooping Rainbows? Your Baby Poop Color Chart Explained”

  1. Hello, my baby is 7 months old. He eats pumpkin, corn, sweet potatoes, apple and pear puree. Stools like stone and gravel. What kind of puree to give and soften?

    1. Hello Visoko, it is possible your baby is still trying to adjust to the puree diet, especially if you introduce it not too long ago. Perhaps you can try different combinations of purees, like pumpkin+yogurt+prune puree, spinach+apple puree. You can season them with a pinch of fresh ginger into the puree, since ginger helps with digestion. Another possibility is your baby lacks hydration, so relying purely on purees isn’t going to help. Try feeding some water (generally not more than 4-6 oz per day; you can offer at meals 2-4 oz once in the morning and another in the evening) in addition to breastmilk/formula. If it still doesn’t work, you should probably consult your doctor for advice if there’s any underlying cause. Hope this helps!

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