Baby poop color chart guides are wild.
It’s one of those things you never think to research BEFORE giving birth, cause you’re too busy looking up cribs, baby carriers, diapers, and other baby items.
Who knew that looking at our little one’s poop can get us a glimpse of how healthy or sick they are.
It’s like having a crystal ball – only yuckier and smellier.
Kidding aside, this article will help you learn
- the meaning behind your baby’s poop color
- what’s normal and what’s not
- when to worry and what to do after
Let’s kick things off with why you should worry about your baby’s unusual poop color.
List of Contents
What Abnormal Baby Poop Colors Could Indicate
- Digestive Issues
Diarrhea, constipation, or malabsorption can all be symptoms of abnormal feces colors in newborns.
Underlying medical diseases such as celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease can all cause digestive problems.
- Food Intolerances
Abnormal poop color in infants might also indicate dietary intolerances or allergies.
Certain foods, such as dairy or soy, can trigger digestive difficulties or allergic responses in newborns, resulting in changes in feces color or consistency.
- Dehydration
Hard, dry poop that’s difficult to pass leads to constipation and changes in color.
This can be caused by dehydration, which can be caused by several factors, such as lack of fluids, illness, or underlying medical conditions.
- Bacterial Infections
Salmonella or E. coli, both bacterial pathogens, can induce diarrhea and produce feces color changes.
These illnesses are spread by contaminated food or water, as well as contact with sick people or animals.
- Liver Problems
Abnormal poop colors such as white or clay-colored feces might indicate liver disorders.
Bile is produced by the liver and is responsible for the typical brown color of excrement.
Liver disorders can impair bile production, resulting in changes in stool color and consistency.
Liver difficulties can be caused by many circumstances, including infections, hereditary diseases, or toxicity exposure.
Now let’s get to an overview of your baby’s poop color guide.
Baby Poop Color Chart
| Color | What It Means | Should You Worry |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Greenish-Black Baby Poop | Normal for newborns, it’s meconium | Depends on baby’s age |
| Yellow/ Mustard Yellow Baby Poop | Normal for breastfed and formula-fed babies | No, if they’re not yet solely relying on breastmilk or formula |
| Yellow-Brown Baby Poop | Normal for formula-fed babies, combo fed babies and solid food eaters | No |
| Brown Baby Poop | Normal for breastfed and formula-fed babies and solid food eaters | No |
| Runny Yellow-Green-Brown Baby Poop | Might be diarrhea | Yes |
| Hard, Pebble-Like Dark Brown Baby Poop | Might be constipation | Yes |
| Bright Green Baby Poop | Might not be getting the fatty hindmilk | Slightly |
| Dark Green Baby Poop | Might be because of baby’s diet | No if baby is not showing any other signs of illnesses |
| Red Baby Poop | Might be blood, infection, inflammatory bowel disease or something they ate | Depends, observe first if food-related |
| Dark Red or Black Baby Poop | Might be gastrointestinal bleeding | Yes |
| Gray or White Baby Poop | Might be low bile or liver problem | Yes |
Keep scrolling to learn more details about the baby poop color chart above.
Baby Poop Color Guide (With Pictures)
Dark Greenish-Black Baby Poop
Meconium is a newborn baby’s first feces, usually passing within the first 24 to 48 hours of birth.
This can be dark greenish to black and typically has a tar-like texture.
It’s usually made up of materials ingested by your infant in the womb, such as mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, water, skin cells, etc.
It’s completely normal for a newborn to poop this but if it’s been a week and they are still passing black or dark greenish stool, better consult a doctor.
If an older baby is passing black or dark greenish poop, visit a doctor asap.
As this could mean some bleeding in the digestive system.
Yellow/ Mustard Yellow Baby Poop
Breastfed babies typically have a stool that has a yellow (or mustard) color and a runny, seedy, or curdled texture.
This is normal for newborns and younger babies.
For older babies that are no longer solely breastfed or formula-fed, yellow-colored poop might suggest a dietary intolerance or allergy.
It might also be an indication of an infection or another digestive problem, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms like diarrhea or vomiting.
Better consult a doctor if you notice this happening to your baby.
Yellow-Brown Baby Poop
A yellow-brown poop is normal for a formula-fed baby.
Their poop also has a firmer consistency, similar to peanut butter.
It also stinks a bit more than those of a breastfed baby or those that are eating solid foods.
Babies who do a combination of breast milk and formula can also have a yellow-brown poop color.
Brown Baby Poop
This is also a normal poop color for both formula-fed and breastfed babies.
Sometimes it can even be light brown or orange!
Babies who start eating solid food will also typically have a brown-colored stool.
It will get thicker, and smellier and depending on what they’re eating, may range in color and it may become darker or lighter.
For eg., if they eat carrots, their stool might change to orange.
Runny Yellow-Green-Brown Baby Poop
A loose stool that has a watery consistency and is brown/ green or even yellow can be an indication of diarrhea in babies.
It can be hard to tell though if your baby is breastfed, as usually their stool also has a loose consistency and a yellow color.
Check out the signs of baby diarrhea and treatments.
Hard, Pebble-Like Dark Brown Baby Poop
Constipated babies can have dark brown or black baby feces.
Their stool can be thick and firm, with the consistency of tiny pellets, marbles, or logs.
This usually happens when your baby has a milk-protein allergy or dietary intolerance, leading to fluids and fiber not being absorbed well.
Consult your doctor to confirm and ask for some constipation treatment, if ever.
Bright Green Baby Poop
A breastfed newborn that’s not having a lot of dirty nappies and has a bright green, frothy poop might mean that you are switching breasts too frequently and your baby is getting less of the fatty hindmilk, hence the stool color.
This can also lead to your little one being extremely gassy and cry a lot.
Try feeding them more regularly and wait till one breast is empty before giving the other.
Dark Green Baby Poop
If your baby is eating solid food and their diet includes spinach, peas, or any green-colored food, their stool can also turn dark green.
If you or your baby are taking iron supplements, this can also cause their poop to turn dark green.
There’s usually nothing to worry about if your baby’s dark green poop is not accompanied by diarrhea or other symptoms or signs of illnesses.
Red Baby Poop
This can usually cause panic in first-time parents but before you worry, try to think first if you introduced some red solid food to your baby.
If your baby isn’t vomiting, having stomach pains, or any alarming symptoms, wait for their next poop if it returns to its usual, normal color.
If not, red feces might suggest the presence of blood in the stool.
This might be due to a crack or rupture in the anus, an allergy or intolerance to specific foods, or a more serious problem such as an infection or inflammatory bowel disease.
Call or visit your pediatrician if your baby has some red poop, just to be safe.
Dark Red or Black Baby Poop
Seeing a dark red or black poop in a baby can be alarming, as this can mean they’re having gastrointestinal bleeding. Better call or visit a doctor asap if you see this type of stool.
Gray or White Baby Poop
Contact your pediatrician right away if you see a chalky white or gray colored poop from your baby.
White or gray poop can indicate that your baby isn’t digesting food as it should, has low bile, or even has a liver problem.
FAQ on Baby Poop
What color baby poop should you worry about?
The baby poop colors that you should worry about are red, gray, white, and black.
What does a sick baby’s poop look like?
A sick baby’s poop can vary in color (red, gray, white, black) and can also have a runny, watery consistency.
How do I know if my baby’s poop is healthy?
Typically, a baby poop that’s mustard yellow, green, or brown is considered a healthy color, for both breastfed and formula-fed babies.
But of course, you should also check other factors such as the baby’s age and if they’re showing any other signs or symptoms of illnesses.
When should I worry about my baby’s poo?
You should worry about your baby’s poo when they’re red, gray, white, or black and they’re showing signs or symptoms of illnesses such as vomiting, hard pebble-like feces, etc.
What to Do If You Notice Abnormal Baby Poop Color
- Monitor Your Baby’s Health
If you observe a change in the color of your baby’s feces, it’s critical to check their health for any other indicators of sickness.
Check for signs of a more serious condition, such as fever, vomiting, or lethargy.
- Consult Your Doctor
See your healthcare professional if you find your baby’s poop color worrisome or if you observe any other indications of sickness.
Your pediatrician can assist you in determining the reason behind the irregular poop color and recommending the best course of action.
- Keep a Record
Keeping track of your baby’s feces color and consistency will help your doctor understand your baby’s digestive health.
So try doing a “poop journal” to note your baby’s bowel movements’ color, consistency, and frequency.
- Make Changes to Your Baby’s Diet
If your baby’s unusual feces color is caused by food intolerance or allergy, you may need to modify their diet.
Your doctor can assist you in determining which foods are causing some poop issues.
They can also recommend some suitable dietary adjustments for your baby.
Wrapping Up: Baby Poop Color Chart
The color of your baby’s poop can change for a variety of reasons.
Your baby’s age and what they eat should also be taken into consideration before worrying about their stool.
But if you are panicking about your baby’s bowel motions, better consult with your child’s physician.
Take note also of your baby’s other symptoms, such as fever, vomiting, fussiness, etc. and take them to the doctor asap if necessary.
I hope this baby poop color chart has helped you panic less about your little one’s stool.
If you like this guide, then check out my article on the Best Diaper Blowout Hacks Every Parent Should Know, 9 Best Non Toxic Diapers, and What To Do When Your Baby Cries During Diaper Changes.
