Baby poo colour, smell, textures, and frequency:

When you become a parent, you might be surprised at how much time you spend thinking and talking about poo – and for good reason. In the first few weeks, you could be changing 10-12 nappies per day, so you’ll soon get past any squeamishness you feel about poo¹. 

Believe it or not, paying attention to what’s going on with your baby’s bowel habits – including colour, texture and, of course, smell – can tell you a lot about your baby’s health and development.

All babies (along with their nappies) are different. But it’s good to get a sense of what’s ‘normal’ for them and their age so you can quickly spot anything that might need checking out. 

Use our baby poop chart by age guide for infants to see what you can expect depending on how they’re fed. 

As any parent will tell you, your baby’s first poo is quite the milestone. It usually happens during the first 48 hours after they’re born – it can sometimes even happen during birth. This first poo is called meconium. It’s usually sticky and either black or dark green. That’s because it’s made up of everything your baby has ingested in the womb, including the soft hair (known as lanugo) that covered their body¹.

How their poo will look as they grow depends on a number of things, including whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or weaning - get ready, as solid food tends to take it up a notch in terms of smell!².

That being said, there are some signs you should look out for that might mean your baby’s feeling a little under the weather.

In the first couple of days after birth, your baby will pass all of the meconium out of their system, and you’ll notice that their poo changes as they fill up on breast milk or formula milk¹.

It might be²:

Just like the colour and smell, the texture of your baby’s poo usually depends on their diet.

If you’re breastfeeding, your baby might have runny or paste-like poos that have what look like little seeds in them. Formula-fed babies’ poos tend to be firmer¹.

When your baby starts weaning (usually at around 6 months old³), the addition of solid food will probably cause their poo to change again. It might be smaller or harder at first as they explore different tastes and textures and get used to digesting different foods⁴.

Your baby’s poo will probably be a little runny for the first 6 months while they’re only having milk and not solid food. Some babies have runnier poo than others, but you’ll soon see what’s normal for your little one. 

If your baby has diarrhoea, their poos might become⁵:

• A lot more runny or watery than usual

• Smellier than normal

• More frequent

It’s pretty common for babies and children to get stomach bugs that cause diarrhoea, and this is usually nothing to worry about as long as they stay hydrated⁵. If you’re worried, you can always speak to your health visitor or GP. 

After a few weeks, it can be normal for your baby to go for a day or two without having a poo. 

Breast milk is a natural laxative, and in the first six weeks, your breast-fed baby will likely be having at least 2 poos a day. If they don’t have a poo in the past 24-48 hours, have a chat with your healthcare professional⁶.

If your baby ius formula-fed, they can sometimes go for up to a week without having a poo⁶.

Our expert midwife says ‘your baby will soon find their own pattern. As long as they’re not showing the signs of constipation them, it’s about recognising what’s normal for them’. 

You’ll be able to tell your baby’s constipated if ⁴:

• Their poos are small, dry or hard

• Their poos and wind are smellier than normal

• Their tummy feels firm 

If you think your baby is constipated or they’re struggling to poo, try lying them down and gently moving their legs as though they’re riding a bicycle, or try giving them a gentle tummy massage. If your baby is on solid foods, be sure to incorporate enough fibre into their diet. If that doesn’t get things moving after a few days, speak to your healthcare provider⁴.

Again, every baby is different, but their bowel movements may well follow a similar pattern. 

From their first poo to nappy habits when weaning, here’s what you can expect in your little one’s first year¹.

‘In the first few days and weeks of life, it’s always good to follow the guidance your midwives give about the ever-changing colours, textures and smells of your baby’s poo’, says our expert midwife. ‘You’ll be asked about how many poos your baby is producing within a 24-hour period and what colour it is, as this can tell us a lot about your baby’s health.’ 

An unusual poo here or there is usually nothing to worry about, but for peace of mind, here are some of the things you might spot and what they could mean.

Remember, you know your baby best. Trust your gut – it’s always best to check in with your health visitor if you think something’s not quite right. As Seb’s mum says, ‘if you think that something’s not quite right, whether it’s your baby’s poo or something else, seeking advice is always the right call, even if that’s just to get peace of mind that there’s nothing to worry about.’

If your baby has a one-off frothy poo, it’s usually nothing to worry about. But if they happen regularly and come with symptoms like fussiness, rashes, or weight concerns, talk to your GP or health visitor².

Mucus in your baby’s poo can happen if they have a stomach bug or suffer from an illness. It can also happen if your baby has a cold, but this is usually only temporary. If you do notice mucus in their poo and this continues, it’s a good idea to visit the doctor just to make sure everything’s OK⁵.

If there’s blood in your baby’s poo, it’s important to seek medical advice from your GP. Whilst it may just be a sign of a typical stomach bug, it’s always best to rule out anything else that could be causing it⁵.  

Your baby’s poo will usually be a yellow or brown colour. If they’re pale in colour, especially in the first couple of weeks, this could be a sign of newborn jaundice or another issue with your baby’s liver. If your baby has pale poos with a chalky texture, always seek medical advice from your health visitor, GP or midwife⁸.

It’s quite normal for your baby to get red, itchy or painful skin around their bottom caused by things like their nappy rubbing on their skin or certain baby wipes. 

You can usually prevent and treat nappy rash at home by changing wet or dirty nappies as soon as possible, and here are a few more top tips from our expert midwife: ‘Instead of using baby wipes, use cool boiled water to clean your baby’s skin – especially if their skin is sore. Gently pat your baby’s skin dry with a cotton pad or a clean towel before putting on their nappy. Nappy off time is also good for your baby, as it will allow your baby’s skin to breathe, not to mention the fact that most babies tend to love it!’ 

If you notice white specks of cottage cheese like curds in your baby’s poo, this is likely to be the result of your baby’s milk not being fully digested. It’s more common in breast fed babies (because breast milk has a higher fat content), but it can be seen in formula-fed baby poo, too⁹. ‘As long as your baby is feeding well’, advises our expert midwife, ‘then this is nothing to worry about.’