Baby Poo: What’s Normal and What’s Not?

As a new parent, your list of things to worry about it probably endless. One thing that always ranks high on the list, however, is poo. Each time you change your baby’s nappy, you will look for signs of nappy rash, and inspect the colour, smell and texture of the poo. You might think you won’t, but, at some point, you will.

There are so many variations of what you might find inside that nappy, that you may find yourself worrying when you come across something unusual. So, what’s normal when it comes to baby poo?

Baby Poo #1: Meconium

This black, tar-like stuff will probably be the first type of poo you ever worry about. It’s newborn poo. and is made up of amniotic fluid, mucus and skin cells. It doesn’t smell very strong, but it’s sticky and can be hard to clean off. Keep a washable wipe handy, and use water (at room temperature) to gently wipe off this sticky substance.

Baby Poo #2: Healthy Breastfed Poo

A healthy baby enjoying a diet made up entirely of breast milk, will produce yellow poo. It may at times have a green tinge to it, and it will appear creamy in texture. It may be dotted with what appear to be little seeds. The poo of breastfed babies doesn’t have an overly strong smell.

Baby Poo #3: Too Much Foremilk

If your exclusively breastfed baby is producing nappies containing bright green, frothy poo, your baby may be consuming too much foremilk. Foremilk is the lower calorie milk produced at the start of a feed, and the hindmilk that comes after is the higher-calorie, nutrient-dense milk. Make sure your breast is empty before offering the next breast during a feed. You could also try offering the same breast again at the start of the next feed, to ensure the nutrient-rich milk has gone before offering the next breast.