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6-8 months
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Poo changes
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
- Poo is usually soft, loose or runny, similar to mustard and can be yellow, brown, mustard coloured or green.
- It can have a sweet smell, and this can change depending on what the breastfeeding mother eats.
- Exclusively breastfed babies may poo less often as they get older (after 6 weeks) and this can even be once a week or every 10 days. As long as the poo is soft and a good amount when they poo and you have no other concerns, this can be normal. The poo usually stays soft until solids are started.
- If your baby is breastfeeding and having some formula, their poo may be more like the poo described below.
If your baby is drinking formula milk
- Poo is usually a bit firmer or harder than breastfed poo.
- The colour can vary between grey-yellow, grey-blue, or shades of brown are all normal.
- Poo can look and feel different if you change the type of formula you offer your baby. 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 and a good amount when they poo, this is normal.
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.
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.
Here are some tips for preventing constipation (not caused by a medical condition):
- 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 up to 12 months
- Give your baby a variety of foods high in nutrients, including foods high in fiber like pureed vegetables, sweet potato, broccoli and carrot, fruits such as pureed apple, prunes, pears, and kiwi fruit. Lentils and legumes such as kidney beans and 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 (30-50 mL) in a cup after meals and throughout the day.
- Do not give your baby fruit juice. It is high in sugar and and calories and can make babies feel full and less likely to try other foods. It is always better to offer pureed fruit rather than the juice.
- Get down on the floor with your baby for some tummy time amd active play. Your baby will love this and the movement is good for your baby’s digestive system.
- A warm bath or gentle tummy massage in a clockwise direction can help your baby do a poo or encourage a bowel movement.
- If giving your baby formula, follow the instructions carefully and don't overfill the scoop with the powder.
If you or your baby are experiencing feeding difficulties or constipation for more than 1-2 days, please see your family doctor or child and family health nurse. Only use medication for constipation under medical advice.
Last updated: 23 Mar, 2026 - 04:42
