Your baby may poo up to five times a day in the early weeks (NHS 2018a). Strong-smelling, more like an adult's (NHS 2018a).If your baby seems otherwise well, this is nothing to worry about (NHS 2018a, Rucoba and Gill 2016). Some types of formula can also cause dark green poo (NHS 2018a).

Darker in colour, often tan or light brown (Cherney and Gill 2018, NHS 2018a).Firmer in texture (Cherney and Gill 2018, NCT nd,a, NHS 2018a), often a bit like peanut butter (Rucoba and Gill 2016) or paste (NHS 2018a).Will formula-feeding affect my baby's poos?If you're formula-feeding your baby, her poos may be different from a breastfed baby's (Cherney and Gill 2018, NCT nd,a, NHS 2018a). This is not a problem as long as your baby's poos are soft and are passed easily (NHS 2018a). This will slowly settle down and her bowels will work out their own routine (NHS 2018a).Īfter about three to six weeks, some breastfed babies will only poo once every few days (NHS 2018a, Chertoff and Gill 2018) or once a week (Cherney and Gill 2018). After the first week, your little one may poo after every feed (NHS 2018a). On average, babies tend to do about four poos a day in the first week (NHS 2018a), but this can vary from baby to baby. The poos may be soft and runny (Cherney and Gill 2018, Chertoff and Gill 2018, NHS 2018a), almost like diarrhoea, and may seem grainy at times (Cherney and Gill 2018, Chertoff and Gill 2018). This yellow poo may smell slightly sweet (Chertoff and Gill 2018). Lighter in colour, changing from a greenish brown to bright or mustard yellow (Cherney and Gill 2018, Dunbar and Taylor 2017, NCT nd,a, NHS 2018a).At least the size of a £2 coin (Chertoff and Gill 2018).Once your milk comes in, after about three days, your baby's poos will gradually change (Dunbar and Taylor 2017). Check it out! What will my baby's poos be like if I'm breastfeeding?Your colostrum, or first milk, acts as a laxative, helping to push meconium out of your baby's system (Dunbar and Taylor 2017). See our visual guide to what you can expect to see in your baby's nappy. If your baby hasn't passed meconium in the first 24 hours, speak to your midwife or doctor (NICE 2021). Meconium may be difficult to wipe off your baby's tiny bottom (Cherney and Gill 2018, NCT nd,a, NHS 2018a), but its appearance is a good sign that her bowels are working normally (Wardle and England 2014).

It's made up of mucus, amniotic fluid, and everything your baby has ingested while she was in your womb (Cherney and Gill 2018). Meconium is greenish-black in colour (NCT nd,a, NHS 2018a), and has a sticky, tar-like texture (Cherney and Gill 2018, NCT nd,a, NHS 2018a). What will my newborn's poos be like?In the first day after the birth, your baby should pass meconium (Cherney and Gill 2018, NCT nd,a, NHS 2018a, NICE 2021).

whether she's started solids (Cherney and Gill 2018, NCT nd,a, NHS 2018a).

What will my baby's poos be like when she starts solids?Īll babies are different, and what's normal for your little one will depend on:.

Will my baby's poos change if I switch from breastmilk to formula milk?.

Will formula-feeding affect my baby's poos?.

What will my baby's poos be like if I'm breastfeeding?.

Projectile poop