This article is for general information only and does not replace medical advice. If in doubt, contact your paediatrician or midwife.
Baby Stool Colours (Poop Guide)
Your baby's stool colour tells you a lot about their health. Green, yellow, brown, orange — usually perfectly normal. But WHITE, RED, or BLACK stool (after the meconium phase) can indicate serious problems and must be evaluated by a doctor immediately.
Possible Causes
- 1YELLOW (mustardy, seedy): Normal for breastfed babies — healthy breast milk stool
- 2BROWN/TAN: Normal for formula-fed babies and after starting solids
- 3GREEN: Often harmless — foremilk excess, solids (spinach, peas), fast gut transit, iron supplements
- 4ORANGE: Normal colour from carotenoid-rich foods (carrots, sweet potatoes)
- 5BLACK (after meconium): May indicate upper gastrointestinal bleeding → see doctor
What You Can Do
- For normal colours (yellow, brown, green, orange): No treatment needed — observe
- For green stool: lactation consultant if foremilk-hindmilk imbalance suspected
- For WHITE/PALE stool: see paediatrician or go to A&E IMMEDIATELY
- For RED stool: see paediatrician — could be anal fissure (harmless) or allergy
- For BLACK stool (after meconium phase): see paediatrician — possible internal bleeding
When to See a Doctor
- WHITE or CLAY-COLOURED stool → EMERGENCY: suspicion of biliary atresia (bile ducts blocked)
- RED stool or blood streaks: Possible anal fissure, cow's milk protein allergy, or gut infection
- BLACK, tarry stool after meconium phase: Suspicion of upper gastrointestinal bleeding
- Very watery stool (more than 8-10x daily): Diarrhoea with dehydration risk
- Mucousy stool for several days: May indicate infection or allergy
- Stool smells extremely foul and is frothy: Possible malabsorption
Age-Specific Notes
Day 1-3: Meconium (black-green, sticky) — completely normal, must come within 48 hours. Day 3-5: Transitional stool (greenish-brown). From day 5: Breastfed babies have mustardy, seedy stool. Formula-fed babies have firmer, tan stool. With solids (from about 6 months): Stool becomes firmer, colour varies with food. IMPORTANT: The stool colour chart in your health booklet helps with assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
My baby has green poop — is it dangerous?
Why is white stool an emergency?
How often should my baby have a bowel movement?
My baby has blood in the stool — what should I do?
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This article is for general information only. It does not replace individual medical advice. If you have concerns, contact your paediatrician, midwife, or call emergency services.