New mom’s guide to the good, the bad and the stinky.

Poop is serious business when you have a new baby. I remember those days when diaper duty also meant checking on the color, consistency and frequency of stools. Instinctively, I knew poop was a key indicator for my babies’ health — and so I paid attention to these details. I also remember having a lot of questions about what’s normal and what’s not and what kind of poop warranted a call to the doctor. Read more for a quick, easy-to-remember summary of all you need to know about your baby’s poop.

Newborns

Don’t be surprised with the strange, dark sticky stools from your days-old baby. Meconium is the earliest stools of an infant and it’s made of what she ingested while still inside your uterus. This tar-like, green-black stool should pass out of her system after a few days post delivery. Once the meconium passes out, bowel movements will show telltale feature of breast milk or formula made poop.

Breast-fed Babies

Breast-fed babies tend to poop quite often — as often as a poop after every feed. That’s because breast milk is so perfect for your baby, it is easily digested by her tiny stomach, just as nature intended. Don’t worry, your breast-fed baby is not having diarrhea! Generally, breast fed babies poop between 4 to 12 times a day. These stools are mustard-yellow, seedy and runny. They also don’t have much of a smell.

Formula-fed Babies

Formula-fed babies will not poo as often — only about three to four times a day. Stools will be greenish or dark yellow, firmer and also smellier.

Whether on breast milk or formula — maybe even both — as your baby gets older, expect her stools to become less frequent. At around 4 months, bowel movements can go down to about two per day.

Pediatric gastroenterologist Bryan Vartabedian, author of the book First Foods explains, “the frequency is less important than the consistency and effort it takes your child to pass his stools. It’s fine if your baby goes just once every three days as long as his stool remains soft, he’s gaining weight, and he has no abdominal pain or bloating.”

Babies on Solids

Say hello to stronger stinkies once your baby starts solids at around 6 months. New foods such as fruit sugars and vegetables will change the bacterial composition of your baby’s colon. Frequency should not be affected, but stools will smell stronger as well as become browner and firmer. Colors may change depending on what she ate — for instance, bright orange poop after a serving of strained carrots. Chunkier foods can also bring on chunkier poop. Don’t be surprised if some peas or bits of pasta appear on her diapers or down the toilet.

Constipation is a typical problem among babies — like it was for my daughter.  If your baby could use some help with regularity, we have some tips that may come in handy.

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