What will my newborn's poos be like?

For the first couple of days after the birth, your baby will pass meconium. This is made up of mucus, amniotic fluid,
and everything your baby has ingested while she was in your uterus (womb).
Meconium is greeny-black in colour, and has a sticky, tar-like texture. It may be difficult to wipe off that tiny bottom,
but its appearance is a good sign that your baby's bowels are working normally.

What will my baby's poos be like if I'm

breastfeeding?
Your colostrum, or first milk, acts as a laxative, helping to push meconium out of your baby's system. Once your milk
comes in, after about three days, your baby's poos will gradually change. They will be:

At least the size of a 2 coin.

Lighter in colour, changing from a greenish-brown to bright or mustard yellow. This yellow poo may smell
slightly sweet.
Loose in texture. The poos may seem grainy at times, curdled at others.
In the early weeks, your baby may poo during or after every feed. On average, she will do four poos a day in the first
week. This will settle down and her bowels will work out their own routine. You may find she poos at a similar time
each day.
Some breastfed babies poo once every few days or even once a week. This is not a problem as long as your baby's
poos are soft and pass easily.
Your baby's routine may change:

when you introduce solids

if she is feeling unwell
when she starts to take fewer feeds

Will bottle feeding affect my baby's poos?

If you are bottle feeding your baby, her poos may be different to a breastfed baby's. You may notice they are:

Bulkier in texture than a breastfed baby's (a bit like the texture of toothpaste). This is because formula milk
can't be digested as fully as breastmilk.
Pale yellow or yellowish-brown in colour.
Strong-smelling, more like an adult's.
Bottle-fed babies are more prone to constipation than breastfed babies. Talk to your health visitor if you feel your
baby has a problem.

Will my baby's poos change if I switch

from breast to bottle?
If you're switching from breast to bottle, try to do it slowly, ideally over a period of several weeks.
This will give your baby's digestive system time to adapt and avoid constipation. It will also reduce the risk of painful,
swollen breasts and mastitis for you.
Once your baby has adapted to the bottle, she may settle down into a completely different pooing routine!

What will my baby's poos be like when

she starts solids?
Starting your baby on solids will have a dramatic effect on her poos. You'll find that her poos are affected by the foods
she eats. If you feed her pureed carrot, the contents of her next nappy will be bright orange.
You may find fibre-rich foods, such as raisins or baked beans, pass straight through your baby and end up in her
nappy. This will change when she gets older and is able to digest fibre more efficiently.
As she moves on to a wide variety of foods, your baby's poos will become thicker, darker and a lot more smelly.

What sort of poo is not normal?

Diarrhoea
Your baby may have diarrhoea if:

her poo is very runny

she is pooing more often, or passing larger amounts than normal
the poo is explosive or spurts out of her bottom
If you are breastfeeding your baby, she is less likely to suffer from diarrhoea. This is because your milk helps to
prevent the growth of the bacteria that cause it.
Bottle-fed babies are more prone to infection, which is why it's so important to sterilise equipment and always wash
your hands thoroughly.
If your baby has diarrhoea, the cause could be:

an infection, such as gastroenteritis

too much fruit or juice
a reaction to medication
a sensitivity or allergy to a food
If you're bottle feeding, your baby could be reacting badly to the brand of formula you're using. But talk to your health
visitor or GP before you switch brands, in case there is another cause.
If your baby is teething her poo may be looser than normal but it should not cause diarrhoea. If you baby has
diarrhoea don't assume that her teething is the cause, it's more likely to be an infection.
In an older baby, diarrhoea can also be a sign of severe constipation. Fresh poo may be leaking out past a blockage
of hard poo.
Diarrhoea should clear up without treatment within 24 hours. If it doesn't, get it checked out as your baby is at risk
of dehydration.
If your baby has had six episodes of diarrhoea in the past 24 hours, see your GP urgently.
Constipation
Many babies turn bright red and push hard when they do a poo. This is normal.
Constipation, on the other hand, is when:

Your baby seems to have real difficulty in moving her bowels.

Her poos are small and dry, like rabbit droppings. Alternatively, they may be large and hard.
Your baby seems irritable, straining and crying when she does a poo.

Her tummy feels tight to the touch.

Her poos have streaks of blood in them. This can be caused by tiny cracks in the skin, called anal fissures,
caused by passing hard poos.
Breastfed babies don't tend to suffer as much constipation as bottle-fed babies. Their milk contains all the right
nutrients to keep their poos soft.
Mixing up formula milk with too much powder can lead to constipation. Always follow the instructions when making up
a bottle. Make sure you put water up to the recommended level first before adding the powder.
Constipation can also be caused by:

fever
dehydration
changes in fluid intake
a change in diet
certain medications
Sometimes, older babies become constipated because they are trying to avoid pain. For example, they may have a
tear in the skin around the opening of the anus (anal fissure). This can become a vicious cycle. Your baby holds on
and gets more constipated, and then the pain is even worse when she does eventually go.
Always take your baby to your health visitor or GP as soon as possible if she's constipated, particularly if you notice
blood in her poos. They will be able to check out all possible causes.
You'll probably be advised to increase your baby's fluid intake, as well as the amount of fibre in her diet if she is on
solids. Giving her pureed prunes or apricots can be a good way to do this.
Green poo
Green poo can be a sign that your baby is taking in too much lactose (the natural sugar found in milk). This can
happen if she feeds often, but doesn't get the rich milk at the end of the feed to fill her up. Make sure your baby
finishes feeding from one breast before your offer her your other one.
If the symptoms last longer than 24 hours, visit your health visitor or GP. The cause may be:

The brand of formula you're using. Some can make your baby's poo dark green.
A food sensitivity.
Side effects of medication.
Your baby's feeding routine.
A stomach bug.

Very pale poo

Very pale poo can be a sign of jaundice, which is common in newborns. Jaundice causes your newborn's
skin and the whites of her eyes to look yellow, and it usually clears up within a couple of weeks of birth. Tell
your midwife or doctor if your baby has jaundice, even if it looks like it's going away.
Also tell your midwife or doctor if your baby is passing very pale, chalky white, poos. This can be a sign of
liver problems, especially where jaundice lasts beyond two weeks.
Streaks of blood
Your baby's poos may be flecked with blood if she's constipated. This is because straining can cause tiny
splits in the skin around her anus (anal fissures). These bleed when she does a poo.
Always get any blood in your baby's poo checked out by your health visitor or GP.
Take a look at our baby poo photo gallery to see what's normal and what's not.

Is it normal that there's blood in

my baby's nappy?
Last reviewed: August 2011
Show references

Expert Answer

The BabyCentre editorial team

Our panel of health writers.

Usually, a little blood in your baby's nappy is not a problem. If you have just had a baby girl, she may have a
little bloody vaginal discharge in her nappy. This is due to the withdrawal of your hormones from her body after she
was born. The bleeding should stop as her hormones adjust to normal levels.
If your baby is formula-fed or is older and has started solids, her poo may be flecked with blood if she's constipated.
This is because straining can cause tiny splits in the skin around her anus (anal fissures). These fissures bleed when

she does a poo.

Both of these causes of bleeding are perfectly normal. Your health visitor can give you advice about constipation
caused by formula milk or solids. She may suggest you offer your formula-fed baby a little water to ease her
constipation. If your baby has just started solids, your health visitor will show you how to ease her discomfort.
However, there will be times when blood in your baby's poo needs further treatment or investigation.
If your baby has a severe nappy rash, it can leave traces of blood in her nappy. You'll know well enough if your baby
has a bad nappy rash. See our nappy rash article for tips on how to heal your baby's sore bottom, and keep nappy
rash at bay.
If your older baby is doing normal poos, but they're tinged with red blood she may have a cow's milk protein allergy.
Milk allergy is the most common childhood allergy, affecting between two per cent and seven per cent of babies.
If your baby has eczema, she's more likely to suffer from milk allergy. Your doctor can easily find out whether your
baby has an allergy by doing a skin prick test or a blood test.
If your baby is passing diarrhoea mixed with red blood, she may have a bacterial infection. Take her to your doctor if
she is passing blood-tinged diarrhoea.

The BabyCentre editorial team

Our panel of health writers.

Yes. Some babies will poo after every feed and some every three days. Its all normal.
For the first couple of days after she's born, your baby will pass meconium. Meconium is greeny-black in colour, and
has a sticky, tar-like texture. It is made up of mucus, amniotic fluid, and everything your baby has swallowed while
she was in your uterus (womb). Your colostrum, or first milk, acts as a laxative, helping to push meconium out of your
baby's system.
Pooing after every feed is especially common if you're breastfeeding your baby. It's a sign that your baby is getting
plenty of milk. As your babys stomach fills up, the milk stimulates her digestive tract, giving her the urge to do a poo.
Once your milk comes in, after about three days, your baby's poos should:

Be at least the size of a 2 coin.

Get lighter in colour, changing from a greenish-brown to bright or mustard yellow.
Become looser in texture. The poos may seem grainy at times, curdled at others.
In the early weeks, your baby may poo during or after every feed. But after a few weeks, you may find that she does
fewer poos as her bowel movements settle into a routine. On the other hand, she may continue to poo after every
feed. All babies are different.
If you formula feed your baby she may poo less often than breastfed babies. This is because formula milk isn't as
easily digested as breastmilk. Even so, there's no need to worry if she does poo after every feed, especially in the
early weeks.
Starting your baby on solids may affect the frequency of her poos. Fibre-rich foods, such as raisins or baked beans,
may pass straight through your baby and end up in her nappy. This will change as she gets older and is able to digest
fibre more efficiently.
As long as your baby's poos are soft and easy to pass, there's no cause for concern. However, your baby may

have diarrhoea if:

her poo is very runny

she is pooing more often, or passing larger amounts than normal
the poo is explosive or spurts out of her bottom
If your baby has diarrhoea, the cause could be:

an infection, such as gastroenteritis

too much fruit or juice
a reaction to medication
a sensitivity or allergy to a food
Diarrhoea should clear up without treatment within 24 hours. If it doesnt, and especially if your baby is being sick,
speak to your doctor, as your baby could become dehydrated.
Take a look at our poo photo gallery to find out what diarrhoea looks like.

Yes. Starting your baby on solids will have a dramatic effect on his poos. You'll find that his poos are affected by the
foods he eats. If you feed him pureed carrot, the contents of his next nappy will be bright orange.
You may find fibre-rich foods, such as raisins or baked beans, pass straight through your baby and end up in
his nappy. This will change when he gets older and is able to digest fibre more efficiently.
As he moves on to a wide variety of foods, your baby's poos will become thicker, darker and a lot more smelly.
If you suspect your baby's poos are so firm that they seem to be giving him pain, he may be constipated. Make sure
you offer plenty of fruits and vegetables and frequent drinks, such as a few sips of water or well-diluted,
unsweetened fruit juice. If the problem persists, speak to your doctor or health visitor.
If you baby develops bouts of diarrhoea after starting solids (and you are sure he doesn't have an infection) he may
have a sensitivity or allergy to a food. If you suspect this may be the case you should speak to your doctor or health
visitor.
Yes. Your baby may just prefer to snack. He may breastfeed for a minute or two, take a break, and then go back for a
bit more. Some babies do feed regularly and predictably, but most don't, especially in the early weeks and months.
If your baby is healthy, gaining weight, and seems contented after most breastfeeds, then you can feel reassured he's
getting what he needs.
You can make sure your baby's appetite is satisfied by offering him a breastfeed often. Also watch for clues that he's
hungry. He'll tell you by opening and closing his mouth, making sucking noises, opening his eyes or turning his head
towards you.
If your baby falls asleep at your breast after just a few minutes, wake him up so he can have a full feed. Gently tickle
his feet or blow on his face to keep him awake and feeding.
You may also want to check the way your baby latches on to your breast. He may only feed for a short while if he's
struggling to get at your milk. Check that he's gaping his mouth and taking in a big mouthful of breast. He should
seem content when feeding, and it should feel comfortable for you too.
If you're worried your baby isn't getting enough milk, be assured your midwife will weigh him regularly in his first two
weeks. Most babies lose weight to begin with, but then start to put on weight three to five days after birth.
Talk to your midwife or health visitor for more breastfeeding advice. You could also ask to be referred to a

breastfeeding specialist if you feel you need expert support

Is it normal for my baby to vomit?

It's common for babies to vomit often in the early weeks as they adjust to feeding and as their bodies develop. You
can tell when your baby is vomiting, rather than just bringing up small quantities of milk (possetting), because there
will be a lot more coming out. Vomiting can be frightening for your baby, so he's likely to cry.
Everything from car sickness to indigestion can cause your baby to be sick. Even a prolonged bout of crying or
coughing can trigger this reflex. So you may see quite a lot of vomiting in your baby's first few years.
An attack of vomiting will generally subside six hours to 24 hours after it starts. Your baby shouldn't need any
particular treatment, apart from drinking plenty to ensure he stays hydrated. As long as your baby seems otherwise
healthy and continues to gain weight, there's usually no need to worry. Trust your instincts, though, and call your GP if
you are worried.

When should I worry?

During your baby's first few months, vomiting is probably caused by mild feeding problems, such as his tummy being
too full. After the first few months, a sudden onset of vomiting is more likely to be caused by a tummy infection, such
as gastroenteritis. This type of infection is often accompanied by diarrhoea.
Your baby may also be sick when he has:

a cold
a urine infection
an ear infection
A food allergy can sometimes cause vomiting. If your baby stops eating the food that triggers an allergic reaction, he
may stop being sick. However, make an appointment with your doctor before removing foods from your baby's diet.
Occasionally, vomiting can be a symptom of more serious illnesses. Call your doctor if you notice any of the following
warning signs in your baby:

Signs of dehydration, including a dry mouth, lack of tears, sunken fontanelle, floppiness, and fewer wet
nappies than usual (fewer than six nappies a day).
Fever.
Refusal to breastfeed or drink his formula milk.
Vomiting for more than 12 hours, or vomiting with great force.
A non-blanching rash, which is a rash that doesnt fade when the skin is pressed.
Sleepiness or severe irritability.
A bulging fontanelle.
Shortness of breath.
A swollen abdomen.
Blood or bile (a green substance) in the vomit (see below).
Persistent forceful vomiting in a newborn within half an hour of eating (see below).
Blood or bile in the vomit: This is usually nothing to worry about if your baby was well before he vomited. It may
happen when the force of regurgitation causes tiny tears in the blood vessels lining the food pipe. Your baby's vomit
may also be tinged with red if he has swallowed blood from a cut in his mouth, or has had a nosebleed in the past six
hours.
However, call your doctor if your baby continues to have blood in his vomit or if the amount is increasing. The doctor
will probably want to see a sample of the vomit if it contains blood or bile, so, although it may be an unpleasant task,
try to save some. Green bile can indicate that the intestines are blocked, a condition that needs immediate attention.

Persistent or forceful vomiting in a newborn within half an hour of eating: This may be due to pyloric stenosis,
which is a rare condition. Pyloric stenosis is most likely to begin when your baby is a few weeks old, but could show
up at any time before he reaches four months.
Pyloric stenosis causes the valve leading from the stomach into the intestines to thicken so much that it won't open
up enough to let food through. This causes your baby to vomit. The problem is simple to remedy with minor surgery,
but it does require immediate medical attention.

How should I deal with vomiting?

Usually, vomiting is nothing to worry about, and soon gets better. Here's what you can do to help your baby recover:

Keep him hydrated: When your baby vomits, he's losing precious fluids. It's important to replace them so
he doesn't get dehydrated. To do this, you may be able to give him sips of oral rehydration solution (ORS), a few
times an hour, alongside his usual breastmilk or full-strength formula, and water. Check with your pharmacist or
health visitor before trying this, though. Don't give your baby fruit juices or fizzy drinks.
Ease him back into his routine: If your baby hasn't vomited for 12 hours to 24 hours, you can begin
moving back to his usual diet. But keep giving him plenty of fluids such as his usual milk. If your baby is eating solid
foods, start with easy-to-digest foods such as cereal or yoghurt. You can also try using frozen clear liquids, such as
ice lollies, if your child is over 12 months.
Help him rest: Sleep may also help to settle your baby. The stomach often empties into the intestines
during sleep, relieving his need to vomit.
Don't give your child anti-nausea medicines (prescription or over-the-counter), unless your GP has prescribed them.
If your baby attends childcare or nursery, keep him at home until at least 48 hours after his last episode of vomiting.