When you’re a parent to a little one, you might be thinking about your child’s poop more than you ever thought you would. And as babies grow, their poop changes colour and texture as their diet shifts and their digestive tract develops. So, how do you know what's normal? What should you look out for? Thanks to pediatric naturopath, Lisa Moane, we’ve got the scoop on poop.

Breastfeeding

When it comes to newborns who are breastfed, they tend to have loose, seedy stools that are sometimes described as looking like mustard. For the first four days, your bub will likely pass three to four loose stools each day. They will also typically pass larger stools than little ones fed on formula, until starting solids. Generally speaking, your breastfed bubs’s stool will most typically be green-brown to yellow-brown. If it is quite green looking, this is likely because your bub is eating green vegetables or consuming fortified iron in some capacity.

If your little ones stool is red, black or white, please consult your healthcare provider. A stool that appears red may be a sign of bleeding from the lower intestines and needs immediate attention. If the stool is black, this may indicate an injury in the upper digestive tract or may be caused by dark coloured foods such as beetroot. Lastly, if the stool appears white, this may indicate a lack of bile or a bile duct blockage. In these instances, please do consult a doctor.

Formula feeding

Standard infant formulas tend to have higher amounts of fat and minerals, which can cause harder stools. If you’re starting formula, sometimes your little one’s poop can appear green – usually due to the iron fortification. Alternatively, it could indicate that it's moving through the gastrointestinal track too quickly. If the colour is a frothy green, this may be a sign of food intolerance. In general, formula-fed little ones tend to have stool that is slightly harder than breastfed bubs. As mentioned above, if your little one's stool appears red, black or white, please consult your healthcare professional.

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