What’s Normal? A Simple Guide to Your Baby’s Poop (Day by Day)
- Jan 11, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: May 15
You probably didn’t expect to spend so much time thinking about poop, but here you are. Your baby’s diaper can tell you a lot about how feeding and digestion are going. Once you know what to look for, you’ll feel confident with every diaper change! Let’s walk through what’s normal in the first few weeks.
Day 1: First Poop.
Your baby’s first poop is called meconium. It’s thick, sticky, and almost black. It is made from things your baby swallowed while you were still pregnant like fluid, cells, and even hair. Your baby’s first feeding of colostrum is a laxative to help get things moving.
Goal: At least 1 poop.
Day 2: Starting to Change.
Poop is still dark but not as sticky. They might be a little larger and lighter.
Goal: At least 2 poops that are bigger than a US quarter.
Day 3: Melted Chocolate.
As your baby drinks more milk, the color changes to light brown, like a melted chocolate bar. It might also look greenish-brown.
Goal: At least 3 poops that are bigger than a US quarter.
Day 4: Getting Closer.
Today you should see more yellow. Your milk supply is increasing, so the poop is softer and looser. You might notice little “seeds”. This is normal!
Goal: At least 4 poops that are bigger than a US quarter.
Day 5: You’ve Arrived!
By now you should see poops that are yellow, loose, and seedy. Diapers should look like this until your baby starts eating solids after 6 months. Normal consistency is from applesauce to hummus.
Goal: At least 5 poops a day. After the newborn period, some babies slow down to one poop a day. Others still go 5 or more times a day.
Let's clear up some common myths!
“It’s normal if babies don't poop every day.”
Babies fed human milk actually poop more than babies who are fed formula! If your baby starts skipping days, we want to know why.
“Your milk is so healthy, it gets all used up and there’s no poop!”
This is just a thing people say. There isn’t any study you’ll find to prove this is true.
“As long as they’re gaining weight, their poop is fine.”
Weight gain isn’t the only thing that matters! Your baby can gain weight and still have feeding or digestion issues. If diapers aren’t perfect, it doesn’t mean you should rush to the emergency room. But small, easy changes can improve your baby’s digestion now before it becomes a bigger problem later.
What if the poop doesn't look normal?
Yellow and Watery Poop.
If diapers normally look like this, we would want to look into how your baby is eating and digesting.
Green Poop.
All babies can have weird days. Don’t panic if you see a random green poop, but pay attention if it seems to be their new normal.
Poop with specks, streaks, and slime.
Black specks or red streaks can be blood. If you have cracked nipples or bleeding from a clogged duct, your baby may swallow some blood. This sounds gross but it won’t harm them. Blood in the diaper can also come from an irritated belly. Possible reasons could be sickness, a medication or vaccine, or a food allergy (not just cow’s milk).
What about poop that looks slimy or stringy? This is mucus being shed and it’s a sign of irritation. You might notice diapers that are watery, frothy, or foamy. Your baby might be fussy, uncomfortable, or hard to settle. You may be told your baby has “colic” or they might seem like they have reflux.
Your pediatrician might test a diaper to check for blood. This isn’t an allergy test. If it’s positive, it just means their belly has small amounts of bleeding. It doesn’t tell you why.
Before you cut out dairy or switch to formula.
Guessing doesn’t solve the problem and can lead to more confusion. If your pediatrician said “Your baby might have a broken arm, so let’s put them in a cast just in case”, you’d demand real answers or switch pediatricians.
So what actually helps get your baby's poop back to normal?
It’s important to look at the full picture of you and your baby together. This is where working with an IBCLC who specializes in gut health makes all the difference. Understanding why it’s happening leads to less anxiety if a diaper looks a little weird. Less Googling, no gaslighting, and more peace of mind for you.
You don’t have to figure your baby's poop out alone.
Just by reading this, you’ve taken the first step to feeling calm and confident. You know what to look for and why things might have gotten off track. If things don’t seem normal, you don’t have to guess your way through it, eliminate a bunch of foods, or try gas drops, gripe water, and probiotics hoping something will work.
If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts! You deserve peace of mind and your baby deserves to feel their best.
Ready to learn more? Follow us on Instagram to go through our Poop Highlight.
Sign up for one of our free Poop Workshops to ask questions live and learn more about what causes poop problems. We host these every other month, and the signup link is posted to our Instagram Stories a week before the workshop.
For more in depth support, visit our Contact page to schedule an appointment. Get personalized guidance tailored to you and your baby.
