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The color and texture of your baby’s stool can change over the first year. Let’s explore baby poop colors and consistencies—what’s typical and when you may want to talk to your pediatrician.
| Color | Description | Why? | Normal? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Mustard-yellow stools are common in breastfed babies | Breastfeeding | Likely normal |
| Dark Yellow | Formula-fed babies may have darker yellow stools. Mustard-yellow stools are common in breastfed babies | Formula feeding | Likely normal |
| Brown | Poop in brown shades, including light brown, tan, yellow-tan, and greenish-brown, are all within the realm of healthy baby poop | Breastfeeding or formula feeding | Likely normal |
| Green | MGreen-tinted poop can result from an iron supplement or medication or indicate a potential allergy or sensitivity to something in the baby or mom’s diet | Iron supplement, medication, allergy, sensitivity | Monitor and contact pediatrician if needed |
| Red | Stool can appear red if a baby has consumed something red-colored, but it could also indicate blood due to an infection or cow's milk protein allergy | Food, infection, allergy | Contact your pediatrician |
| White | Pale, chalky white stools are uncommon and could indicate insufficient bile due to a liver issue | Liver issue | Contact your pediatrician |
| Dark brown, dark green, or black | Iron supplement or iron-fortified formula may be the culprit. If not, it could indicate blood | Iron supplement, extensively hydrolyzed formula, blood | Contact your pediatrician |
| Type of Poop | Color | Consistency |
|---|---|---|
| Meconium (first 24 hours) | Black-green or brown and tar-like | Sticky |
| Breastfed | Mustard-yellow or green | Seedy and soft |
| Formula-fed | Yellowish-brown, brown-green, or light brown | Soft, peanut-butter-like |
| Starting Solids | Dark brown or various colors depending on diet | Firm |
Poop produced during the first 24 hours of a newborn’s life is called meconium and is made of fluid and cells that were ingested in-utero. Whether your baby is consuming breast milk or formula, meconium will be sticky black-green or brown tar-like. While it may look surprising, it’s normal for your little one to pass meconium and get it out of their system.
The stools of breastfed infants look mustard-yellow and sometimes green. In terms of consistency, the poop will have seed-like particles. Breastfed infants typically have very soft, even watery stools, which may smell sweet.
If you’re using infant formula, you can expect your baby’s stool consistency to be soft but more solidly formed than a breastfed baby’s. Colors may span anywhere from yellowish-brown and brown-green to light brown. The stools are usually larger and have a more pungent smell than breastfed baby poop.
Bowel movements often become firmer, smellier, and dark brown once babies start eating solid food. However, be prepared for some seemingly odd colors to pop up as well. For example, the stool might look red after eating beets or have dark blue streaks after eating blueberries.
You may even spot some green poop from newly-introduced green foods, like spinach and peas. It’s also possible (and not uncommon) to find chunks of undigested food in your baby’s stool.
Let’s look at the palette of potential baby poop colors, from typical stool shades to those that may warrant a call to your pediatrician.
There are some instances where it’s a good idea to double-check with your pediatrician. If you have concerns about your baby or the following, reach out to your baby’s doctor, as some stool colors and textures could indicate a potential health issue.
| Stool Color/Texture | Potential Issue | Action to Take |
|---|---|---|
| Black, tar-like | Blood in upper GI tract | Check with pediatrician immediately |
| Red streaks/specks | Blood | Check with pediatrician immediately |
| White | Bile not reaching stool | Check with pediatrician immediately |
| Frothy green/dark green | Potential virus, cow's milk allergy, or food sensitivity | onitor and contact pediatrician if needed |
| Watery/liquid | Diarrhea, could lead to dehydratio | Call pediatrician if lasts more than 24 hours or if baby is feverish, acting sick, under three months old, or showing indications of dehydration |
| Hard, dark pellets | Constipation | Contact pediatrician if your baby seems to be irritable, in pain, or having any difficulty pooping |
| Mucus | Infection, allergy, or other concern | Evaluate with doctor if accompanied by a lot of mucus, mucus in multiple bowel movements, or mucus accompanied by diarrhea |
Baby poop varies in color and texture based on diet, age, and health.
Normal colors include yellow, green, and brown.
Red, black, or white poop may signal a health concern—contact your pediatrician. If your pediatrician determines your baby has a cow’s milk protein allergy, ask them about switching to Nutramigen! We have additional resources and support for parents navigating cow’s milk protein allergy
Tracking diaper changes helps you spot patterns and identify potential issues.
When in doubt, reach out to a healthcare provider.
Enfamil Family Beginnings® offers resources and support for parents, including information on what to expect in terms of baby poop color and consistency. By joining, you'll gain access to even more resources to help you navigate parenthood. Plus, members get exclusive access to opportunities to receive discounts on Enfamil formula and samples to try out with your little one!
Download our app to make use of our poop tracker tool!
Sign up for Enfamil Family Beginnings® today and rest easy knowing you have access to trusted resources and savings on formula!
References
As with most things, practice makes perfect—and rest assured, you’ll get plenty of diaper-changing practice those first couple of years. In no time you’ll be a pro and be able to tackle your baby’s diaper with confidence. For more tips and resources on all things baby, including nutrition and feeding, be sure to join Enfamil Family Beginnings®. Enjoy up to $400 in savings, plus exclusive rewards, support, and surprises.
Join NowAll information on Enfamil, including but not limited to information about health, medical conditions, and nutrition, is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for a healthcare professional's medical identification, advice, or management for specific medical conditions. You should seek medical care and consult your doctor or pediatrician for any specific health or nutrition issues. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment, care, or help because of information you have read on Enfamil.
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