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Your babies poo, what’s normal and what’s not (0-12 months)
When your baby starts eating solid food, their poo often changes in colour, texture, and how often they poo.
If your baby is drinking breastmilk
- Up until 6 weeks of age, most breastfed babies poo more than 3 times in 24 hours, and sometimes after every feed.
- If your baby poos less than this in 24 hours and have less wet nappies, this may be a sign they are not getting enough milk.
- Poo can vary in colour and texture. It may be soft, loose, or runny and look seedy. It can be yellow, brown, mustard coloured, or sometimes greenish. If your baby is healthy and feeding well, with lots of wet nappies, these colours are all normal.
- Breastfed poo often has a slightly sweet smell. The smell can change depending on what the mother eats.
- After 6 weeks, exclusively breastfed babies may poo less often. Some may poo once a week or even every 10 days. As long as the poo is soft and there is a good amount when they poo and you have no other concerns, and they are passing wind, this can be normal. The poo usually stays soft until solids are started.
- If your baby has green, explosive or frothy poo, along with your baby being unsettled, having lots of wind, very wet nappies and possibly large weight gains can be a sign of having too much breastmilk (oversupply). If you notice these signs, please talk to the Australian Breastfeeding Association on 1800 686 268, your Child and Family Health Nurse, a Lactation Consultant or your family doctor for more information.
If your baby is drinking formula milk
- Poo is usually a bit firmer or harder than breastfed poo.
- The colour can be grey-yellow, grey-blue, or shades of brown. These are all normal.
- Poo can look different if you change the type of formula. Poo can be looser if a baby is having a hypoallergenic formula.
- Formula fed babies can poo once or twice a day or once every 2-3 days. As long as the poo is soft , they are passing gas, and a good amount when they poo, this is normal.
If your baby is mixed feeding (Breast and Formula milk)
Poo is usually somewhere in between what is described above for breastfed and formula-fed babies.
What is not normal
If your baby’s poo has blood or mucous in it or is black in colour, please see your family doctor or call Health Direct for advice on 1800 022 222.
If your baby is eating solid foods
Solid foods usually cause changes in your baby's poo
When your baby starts solid foods there can be changes in the colour, consistency and frequency of your baby’s poo because:
- Breast milk and formula milk are easily digested by your baby
- Your baby’s digestive system needs to work harder to break down the different types of food when they start eating solid foods.
- Feeding your baby solid foods too early can cause firm or hard poos and constipation. It is best to start solids when your baby is around 6 months old.
- Firmer poo when starting solids usually improves quickly becuase the digestive system gets used to it.
What is constipation
Constipation is when a baby’s poo is very firm or hard to pass. The poo may come out in small pieces like pellets, or as a large, very firm poo that you cannot easily squash with your finger in the nappy.
Many babies under 6 months look like they are straining. They may go red in the face, cry, grunt, or look like they are having trouble passing poo. However, if the poo is soft when it comes out, this is not constipation.
This straining happens because a baby’s tummy and bowel muscles are still developing. Babies are learning how to coordinate their muscles to pass a poo. Adults usually sit upright on the toilet, but babies lie flat. This makes it harder for them to coordinate their muscles and push the poo out.
The Brussels Infant and Toddler Stool Scale
Doctors and nurses use the Brussels Stool Chart to describe poo types.
Hard poo: Small, hard, pebble-like poo that can be difficult for a baby to pass. This usually means your baby is constipated.
Normal poo: Soft, smooth, sausage-like poo. This usually means healthy and normal poo.
Loose poo: Soft or mushy poo that spreads easily in the nappy. This is normal in many babies, especially if they are eating more fruit or fibre.
Watery poo: Very watery poo with no solid pieces. This may be diarrhoea.
Things that may make your baby have constipation in the first year:
- Changing from breastmilk to formula
- Not enough fluids on a hot day. Babies under 6 months may need more frequent breastfeeds. Babies over 6 months can have extra cooled boiled water in a sippy cup.
- Starting solids too early. It is recommended to start solids around 6 months.
- When babies start solids, they are at risk of firmer poos or constipation. Breastmilk and formula are easy to digest. Solid foods are harder to break down, so the digestive system has to work harder.
- When your baby starts full cream cow’s milk at 12 months.
Tips for preventing constipation (not caused by a medical condition):
If your baby’s poo is firm, hard, or like pellets
A baby who is exclusively breastfed is unlikely to be constipated.
If your baby has formula, make sure you are preparing it exactly as the instructions say.
Firmer poo when starting solids usually improves quickly as the digestive system adjust. Follow the advice in this article.
Get down on the floor with your baby for tummy time and active play. Your baby will love this and just like adults, movement helps your baby’s digestive system.
Holding your baby upright, a warm bath and a gentle massage of your baby’s tummy in a clockwise direction can also help relax your baby enough to help encourage them to pass a poo.
For babies over 6 months only
You can offer extra cooled boiled water.
If your baby has started solids, offer pureed fruits such as apple, pear, or prune, and vegetables as recommended below.
Fruit juice is not usually recommended. However, if nothing else has helped, you can try 5 mls of prune juice mixed with 20 -30 mls of cooled boiled water once each day for 1–2 days.
For babies under 6 months, do NOT give water or fruit juice.
If you are concerned, see your Child and Family Health Nurse, contact the Tresillian Paremt’s Helpline for advice on 1300 272 736, or see your GP.
When starting solid foods around 6 months
When your baby starts solid foods, the colour, texture, and frequency of poo may change.
Tips to help prevent constipation when your baby starts solids
- Start by giving your baby solid food slowly. Give your baby a variety of pureed foods in small amounts like ½ teaspoon to a couple of teaspoons to start with. Offer solid food about 30 minutes after milk feeds and follow your baby’s hunger and fullness cues. Slowly increase to 3 meals a day over a couple of weeks.
- Make sure your baby continues to drink their normal amounts of breast milk or formula. Milk is an important part of your baby’s diet until 12 months
- Give your baby a variety of healthy foods, including foods high in fiber like:
- Vegetables: sweet potato, broccoli and carrot
- Fruits: pureed apple, prunes, pears, kiwi fruit, peaches, avocado.
- Lentils and legumes such as kidney beans
- Whole grains and iron fortified rice cereal or oats.
- Try not to give your baby alot of the same type of food such as bananas, or starchy foods like rice, pasta and potato because too much of these foods can cause firmer or harder poos.
- Give your baby cooled boiled water in a baby sippy cup between meals.
Do not give your baby fruit juice. It is high in sugar and and calories and can make babies feel full to eat other healthy foods. It is always better to offer pureed fruit rather than the juice.
If feeding problems continue, or constipation does not improve after 1–2 days using these tips, or if you are worried, please see your family doctor, child and family health nurse, or the Tresillian Parent’s Helpline for advice.
Only use medication for constipation if advised by a doctor.
