As a new parent, you may find yourself closely monitoring your baby's poop. Seeing how much you learn from those tiny diapers can be pretty surprising! Understanding what's normal and what's not can ease your mind. Here's a quick guide::
Your baby's first poop
In the first few days, your baby's poop will be dark black or green, sticky, and "tar-like." This is perfectly normal for their first few days, and it's called meconium.
After meconium, your newborn's poop will change in both color and consistency.
As your breast milk comes in, things will transition to a lighter color and be more loose or "seedy" instead of sticky. Breastfed baby poop is typically mustard-yellow. If you use formula,
Colors and consistencies that warrant a pediatrician check:
green watery poop(may indicate diarrhea)
green frothy poop(may indicate lactose sensitivity)
pink, red, or black that is not meconium(may indicate bleeding)
white or grey(may indicate an issue with the liver)
There is a wide range of normal for how often your baby should poop
That said, in the first week, doctors expect to see your baby pooping with an increase that looks like:
One-day old:one poop
Two days old:two poops
Three days old:three poops
Four days old:four poops
Five days old:five poops
After this point, frequency can vary significantly
Some babies poop multiple times a day or after every feed, while others go many days in a row without pooping. Both are normal.
Before six weeks of age, it's more common to see frequent poops; after six weeks of age, it's common to see a decrease in frequency.
Variations in your baby's poop are often a normal part of their growth and development. Starting solid foods can change things even more, too. Consult your pediatrician if you're ever concerned about your baby's poop color, frequency, or consistency.