Breastfed Infant Stool 101: How to Know What’s Normal

This page will help you learn what to expect with your baby’s feeding habits and the different types of breastfed infant stool. It also offers tips on when to reach out for extra support.

Remember, every baby is unique, and what’s normal can vary quite a bit. Take it one step at a time, and know that you’re doing an amazing job caring for your baby!

What Are Normal Infant Stools?

Warning – This Page Contains Pictures of Baby Poop!

Meconium

In the first couple of days after birth, your baby’s diapers will likely contain meconium. This is the very first stool, and it usually looks dark green or almost black. It has a thick, sticky texture—kind of like tar. Don’t worry, this is completely normal! Meconium is made up of things your baby swallowed while in the womb, like amniotic fluid and tiny bits of skin cells. It’s just your baby’s way of clearing out their system before regular milk stools begin.

Most babies pass meconium within the first 12 hours after birth. Feeding your baby colostrum—the thick, clear “first milk” you produce before your mature milk comes in—helps move it along faster. Breast milk naturally acts like a gentle laxative. The more you nurse, the quicker meconium is cleared from your baby’s system.

Normal Infant Bowel Movements

• Typical breastfed baby poop is usually a mustardy yellow color, grainy in texture, and quite runny (unless the first few bowel movements are dark in color because of the meconium discussed above).
• Many lactating mothers say that their baby’s poop does not have a bad smell but rather a sweetish aroma.
• Some mothers might worry that their babies have diarrhea, but loose stools are normal in breastfed babies. Breastfed babies can have up to 6 stools per day. That’s okay as long as they are not foul-smelling and watery. If you suspect diarrhea, keep an eye out for signs of dehydration.
• Formula-fed babies have stools that are firmer and darker in color.
• Formula-fed baby poop is usually quite pasty and may look like peanut butter. Their stools are a little more pungent than their breastfed counterparts.

Breastfed Baby Poop Frequency

Breastfed babies:

• After the first week, many breastfed babies have a bowel movement after every feed.
• By six weeks, it’s normal for babies to have anywhere from 6 per day or only one every 7–10 days.
• Each stool should be at least 2.5 cm in diameter to count as a proper bowel movement.

Formula-fed babies:

• In the first few months, formula-fed babies usually poop about 5 times per day.
• After a few months, this often decreases to roughly one stool per day.

Bowel Movement Chart

Newborn Urination

Frequency

Let’s talk about one of the best ways to know your baby is getting enough milk: wet nappies! It can feel a bit confusing at first, but here’s a simple guide to what you can expect.

• On day one, look for just one wet nappy. It won’t be very much wee at all, maybe only a couple of tablespoons worth!
• A way to keep track during that first week is to look for one extra wet nappy for each day of life. So, that means one wet nappy on day one, two on day two, three on day three, and so on, until you get to day six.
• After about day six, we love to see between 6 and 8 nice, wet nappies every 24 hours. This is a fantastic sign that your baby is well-hydrated.
• Once your little one is about six weeks old, you might notice a change. Their bladder can hold more, so their nappies will feel much heavier when they go, but you might only see 5 or 6 of them a day. This is totally normal!

Color and Smell of the Urine

When you’re changing your baby’s nappy, it’s a great habit to check the color of their urine. We’re looking for it to be a pale yellow or almost clear color, and it shouldn’t really have a strong smell.

If you ever happen to notice the wee is looking a bit dark (maybe the color of apple juice) or it has a strong smell, it’s often just a hint that your baby is a little dehydrated. It’s a good idea to give your clinic sister a call if you see that, just so she can check in and make sure your little one is getting all the hydration they need.

Other Urination Issues

Right, here’s something that can give new parents a bit of a fright, but it’s usually completely fine!

In the first day or two, you might open a nappy and see a pinky-orange or reddish stain that looks a bit like brick dust. This is just from something called urate crystals, which is basically super-concentrated wee that your baby is clearing out right after being born.

Seeing this is very common and totally normal for the first couple of days. The main thing is to make sure your little one is still having the right number of wet nappies for their age (that one nappy on day one, and two on day two). As long as the wet nappies are keeping up, that little reddish stain is nothing to stress about and a sign that things are getting started!

Constipation

So, you’re wondering about poo nappies? It can be a real surprise, but after the first few weeks, it’s completely normal for a breastfed baby not to poo every day.

• Breastfed infant stool: Some happy, healthy breastfed babies can go a whole week, sometimes even up to 10 days, without a single poo! The reason is amazing – your breast milk is the perfect food, and their little bodies are so good at absorbing it that there’s very little waste left over. Less waste simply means fewer poos.
• What to look for: As long as your little one is gaining weight well, seems happy, and the stool is soft and mushy when they do eventually go, there’s no need to worry about constipation.
• All those noises: And what about all the grunting, groaning, and pulling funny faces when they’re trying to fill a nappy? That’s also totally normal! Their little digestive systems are brand new, and they’re just figuring out how all the muscles are supposed to work together.
• A note on formula: It’s a bit different for formula-fed babies. We generally like to see them have at least one soft stool a day. If you’re ever seeing hard, pebble-like poos, that’s a sign they might be constipated, and it’s a good idea to chat with your clinic sister or doctor.

Diarrhea

Normal breastfed infant stool

The everyday poo for a breastfed baby is naturally going to be loose, seedy (a bit like cottage cheese or mustard), and they can often fill a nappy many times a day. This is perfectly healthy and just what we want to see!

How to spot a real runny tummy

The biggest clue for true diarrhea is a sudden change from your baby’s usual pattern. You’ll likely see a big increase in how often they’re going, and the poo will be very watery, soaking right into the nappy rather than sitting on top. It will often have a different, much stronger smell, and your little one might seem a bit miserable or have a fever.

What should you do?

The absolute best thing you can do is to keep breastfeeding. Offer the breast as often as your baby wants, and maybe even a little more frequently. Your milk is the best medicine for a sore tummy! It provides perfect hydration, is packed with immune protection to help them fight off any bugs, and is much easier to digest than anything else.

A quick note on other things

There’s no need to give your baby water or any fruit juices. Your milk has all the fluids they need. If a runny tummy continues for a long time without any other signs of illness, we can always have a chat about possible food sensitivities, but usually, it’s just a little bug that needs to run its course.

As always, if your little one seems really unwell, is having fewer wet nappies, or you’re just feeling worried, please give your clinic sister or doctor a call. You know your baby best!

Signs and Symptoms of Diarrhea in Babies

It’s diarrhea if:

• Your baby is producing more than 12 bowel movements in 24 hours.
• The stool is watery, not just loose.
• The stool may have a different smell and a foul odor.

What Causes Diarrhea in Babies?

• Diarrhea happens when a baby’s tummy is irritated or trying to get rid of something that doesn’t agree with them.
• It can show up when babies have a cold, virus, or any kind of bug.
• Sometimes it’s because of a new food the baby is trying, or something in the mom’s breast milk that the baby’s little tummy isn’t used to yet.
• Lactose intolerance in babies is pretty rare, so it’s not usually the first thing to worry about.
• If a mom has an oversupply of milk, the baby might get more of the watery milk from the start of a feeding (called foremilk) and not enough of the richer, fattier milk that comes later (called hindmilk). This can make the baby’s poop look runny, bubbly, and greenish, kind of like diarrhea.

Should I give my breastfed baby Pedialyte?

What About The Color?

Green Bowel Movements

Most of the time, green poop in your baby isn’t something to stress about.

A few things can cause it, though:

• Jaundice can make a baby’s poop green, but it usually goes back to normal once the jaundice clears up.
• Dark green or almost black poop might happen if your baby is drinking iron-fortified formula. If they’re not, it’s a good idea to check in with your doctor just to be safe.
• Sometimes green poop can mean your baby is sensitive to something they’re eating, especially if there’s also a rash.
• If the poop is green, bubbly, and a bit mucousy, it might be because you have an oversupply of milk. Your baby is getting too much watery foremilk and not enough of the creamy hindmilk. A good tip is to let your baby finish feeding on one breast before switching to the other — no need to time it!
• Also, if mom eats a lot of green veggies or salads, it can sometimes make a baby’s poop green too.

Black Poop

If black poop isn’t from the meconium (which is normal in the first few days), it could be because your baby is taking iron supplements or drinking iron-fortified formula. But if that’s not the case, it’s a good idea to talk to your pediatrician to make sure everything’s okay and rule out any bleeding in the tummy.

Chalky White Baby Poop

If your baby’s poop is white or very pale, it could mean there’s a problem with their liver or gallbladder because bile, which helps with digestion, isn’t getting through properly. If you notice this, it’s important to see a doctor right away to get things checked out. Other possible reasons for white poop.

Red Blood in Infant Stool

If you see blood in your baby’s poop, it might be from constipation. Sometimes, blood can also come from breast milk if mom has cracked nipples. Food allergies or more serious tummy issues can cause it too. If you notice this, it’s a good idea to check in with your doctor to be sure.

When Introducing Solids

When you start feeding your baby solid foods, their poop will start to change. It’s best to add new foods slowly to help keep things moving smoothly and avoid constipation or breast fullness. Different foods can change the color of their poop—for example, pumpkin might make it orange, and peas can turn it green. You’ll also notice their stools might get thicker, darker, and have a stronger smell.

Sometimes you might see little bits of undigested food in the diaper—that’s totally normal! It’s also common for babies to have both constipation and diarrhea as they get used to solids. Just take it slow and keep an eye on how your baby is doing.

Is Baby Getting Enough Milk?

It’s normal for breastfed babies to lose a little weight in the first few days after birth, but they usually start gaining it back by day 10. On average, breastfed babies gain about 170 grams (around 6 ounces) a week. If you feel your baby isn’t gaining weight, it’s a good idea to check in with your pediatrician.

In the first few days, your baby will have one dark, sticky stool called meconium each day. By around day 4, their stools will change to 3 to 4 yellowish-tan ones a day until about 6 weeks old. After that, some babies might have a stool with every feeding, while others might go several days without one—both are okay as there’s a wide range of normal.

You can also keep an eye on your baby’s wet diapers to see how feeding is going. On day one, they usually have at least one wet diaper, then two on day two, three on day three, and so on until your milk fully comes in. Once that happens, your baby will usually have 5 to 6 wet diapers a day. After about six weeks, they might have fewer wet diapers, but they’ll be heavier because their bladder can hold more urine.

Your milk usually starts flowing between days 3 and 6 after birth. See “When will my milk come in?“

Nursing often in the first few weeks after your baby is born is really important—it helps you build up a healthy milk supply.

Things That Are Normal!

• Frequent and long feedings.
• Cluster feeding, especially in the evenings, when your baby may seem fussier.
• Fussier than usual days. These are called growth spurts and usually last for only a few days at a time.

How Often Should Your Baby Nurse?

To help prevent your breasts from getting too full and uncomfortable, try to nurse at least eight times a day. And honestly, you can’t nurse too much!

It’s best to feed your baby as soon as they start showing signs of hunger—don’t wait until they’re crying. Newborns can be pretty sleepy in those first few days, so you might even need to gently wake them every couple of hours to make sure they get enough milk.

Have you noticed anything different about your baby’s stool? Share your thoughts or questions with us in the comment section below!

Resources

• Childrenscolorado.org – Baby Poop Guide
• La Leche League – International Breastfeeding Support