The Newborn Poop Handbook: What Every Parent Needs to Know
Bringing a new baby home is a joyful experience full of firsts; first smiles, first bath, first cuddle. But one aspect of newborn care that often takes parents by surprise is the fascination (and sometimes obsession) with their baby’s poop. If you’re preparing to become a new parent, you might wonder why this topic gets so much attention. The truth is, monitoring your baby’s bowel movements is a vital part of understanding their health and ensuring they’re feeding well.
As a new mum or dad, you may feel overwhelmed and have many questions around newborn poop. What colour should it be? How often should your baby poop? What does it mean if it’s green, hard, or bloody? What your baby drinks will eventually come out, so keeping an eye on the consistency, colour, and frequency of their stools provides one of the easiest ways to assess their wellbeing.
In this post, we will guide you through the different stages of newborn stools, from the first meconium to the poops of a well established breastfed baby. Understanding your baby’s poop will make life much less stressful, I know this from my own babies and googling poop pictures at 2am.
The First Newborn Poop: Meconium
Right after birth, your baby passes meconium. This is a thick, sticky, dark green to black substance that looks quite like tar. Meconium is formed from everything your baby swallowed while in the womb including amniotic fluid, mucus, bile, and skin cells.
Meconium is actually a great sign that your baby’s gastrointestinal tract is working properly. It typically doesn’t have a strong smell, but it is very thick and can stick to your baby’s skin making wiping more tricky.
Pro tip from a lactation consultant: To help with cleaning during those early days, try soft wipes with water mixed with a gentle moisturiser or baby oil. This can help remove meconium stuck to the skin.
How Often Will Your Baby Poop During the First 2-3 Days?
Usually, babies do a few (around four to five) meconium stools in the first two or three days of life. As your milk “comes in,” meconium gradually transitions into more typical stools. Keeping track of this reassures you that your baby is feeding well and passing waste as expected.
Transitional Poop: A Sign Your Milk Has Arrived
At about two to four days after birth, your baby’s stools start to transition from meconium stools. The poop becomes softer, less sticky and lighter in colour such as greenish or brownish, sometimes with whitish curds. This change happens when your breastmilk starts changing from colostrum to mature milk.
Note: If you have questions about feeding or notice anything unusual about your baby’s poo, it is important to see your GP, midwife and/or lactation consultant for review. They can assess feeding and offer tailored advice to ensure your baby is thriving.
Breastfed Baby Poop: What to Expect
Once breastfeeding is well established, your baby’s poop usually becomes quite distinctive. Poop generally looks yellow to yellowish-green in colour, with a seedy or grainy texture. These “seeds” are tiny curds of undigested milk fat which is completely normal and a sign of a healthy gastrointestinal tract.
Breastfed poos often have a mild, sweet smell, sometimes described as slightly fruity. They are much softer than formula fed poops and can be easier to wipe away. Breastfed babies can also surprise you with sudden explosive poops and nappy blowouts. My son at a few days old shot poo around 2 metres across the room during a nappy change!
If you notice green AND frothy poops, this could mean you might have an oversupply or are swapping breasts too early. These babies often have tummy pain and are unsettled which is caused by having more of the higher lactose portion of milk. A skilled lactation consultant can assess feeds and help create a plan to ease the discomfort and prevent those frothy poops.
Note: Green poos on their own with no bubbles or froth can be a normal poo. Keep an eye out for the froth or bubbles in the nappy.
How Often Will Breastfed Babies Poop?
Newborns who are breastfed often poop after every feed, sometimes eight or more times daily! This is a good sign that your milk is in and your baby is feeding well. On average, you can expect at least 3 to 4 poops nappies in a 24 hour period during the first few weeks. If you notice that your baby is only pooping once a day in those first few weeks, this might be a sign that they are not getting enough breastmilk.
At around six to eight weeks of age, you notice some changes in stools. You might find your baby poops less frequently or even has one bowel motion every three to ten days! This is perfectly normal as long as the poo is soft. All the nutrients in breast milk are so highly bioavailable (well absorbed) that it produces very little waste.
A Note on Mixed Fed Baby Poop
Formula significantly changes the appearance, texture and frequency of stools. Babies who are mixed fed with formula can pass thicker stools that are tan or light brown in colour with a stronger smell. The more formula in the diet, the more the poop will lean towards looking like a formula poo. They can often poop less frequently than exclusively breastfed babies.
What Different Poop Colours Mean
Hard, Dark, Pellet Shaped Poop: Firm, dry stools usually indicate constipation. If you are noticing your baby is constipated, book an appointment to see your GP to rule out any medical causes. Don’t give your newborn any water! This is common advice from older generations. We now know that giving babies water can cause an electrolyte imbalance which is very dangerous. Breastmilk contains the perfect balance of nutrients and giving water can put a lot of strain on the kidneys.
Black Poop: Normal only in the first few days (meconium) or if your baby is on iron supplements. If black stools appear later, seek medical advice.
Pale or Chalk-Coloured Poop: When I say pale, I mean whitish coloured poo (not yellow). This could be a sign of liver issues and requires urgent medical advice.
Blood-tinged Poop: Small streaks of blood can result from minor anal skin tears and usually heal quickly and go away on its own within a few days. More significant bleeding and/or significant mucousy stools could indicate an allergy. Note that some mucous in poo is completely normal for babies (and even for you and me), especially when we are sick. If there is huge amounts of blood and/or mucous coupled with poor growth, an experienced Paediatric Allergy Dietitian can help you navigate this.
When to See a Lactation Consultant
While many poo patterns are normal, if you’re ever unsure or concerned about your baby’s stool or feeding patterns, a lactation consultant can help. Leah Thomas at Tiny Tummies Lactation and Nutrition can offer evidence based advice tailored to your baby’s needs. Whether you need help with breastfeeding technique, milk supply, or managing digestive issues, professional support helps reduce stress and promotes your baby’s health.
Final Thoughts
Although babies don’t come with a manual, learning about their poops is an easy way to monitor their nutrition and wellbeing. Remember, variations in stool colour, texture, and frequency are natural as your baby transitions through feeding stages. Don’t hesitate to reach out to medical professionals, including lactation consultants, when questions or problems arise.
For more personalised breastfeeding and nutrition support, visit www.tinytummieslactation.com.au, where compassionate paediatric dietitians and lactation consultants are ready to help you navigate the beautiful journey of motherhood with confidence.