Baby Poop Color Chart: What Your Baby’s Stool Says About Their Health

Quick Answer

Baby poop color changes with age and feeding. Black, sticky poop is normal in the first few days, then yellow, green, tan or brown are all usually normal. Call your doctor if poop is red, chalky white or grey, or black after the first few days, or if your baby has watery diarrhoea, blood or signs of dehydration.

Opening a nappy and finding green, mustard or almost black poop can make any new parent panic, especially at 2 am. Most of the colours you will see are perfectly normal and simply reflect what your baby is eating and how old they are. This guide helps you read your baby’s poop at a glance, and spot the few colours that need a doctor.

Baby poop color chart

Use this chart to check your baby’s poop colour quickly.

Sources: Cleveland Clinic; Pregnancy, Birth and Baby

What does each baby poop colour mean?

Black or greenish-black: meconium

Your baby’s first poops are meconium: thick, sticky, greenish-black and tar-like. It is normal for the first few days, then changes to green and yellow as feeding gets going. Cleveland Clinic advises telling your paediatrician if your baby has not passed meconium within 48 hours of birth.

Black poop after the first few days is not normal and needs a doctor’s check, because it can mean blood from higher up in the digestive tract. Iron drops can also darken poop, so mention any medicines or supplements.

Yellow: breastfed babies

Mustard yellow, loose and seedy poop is classic breastfed baby poop. It often has a mild, sweetish smell. In the first week, breastfed babies typically have several loose, yellow poops a day, according to Cleveland Clinic. Our breastfeeding guide covers feeding in more detail.

Tan or yellow-brown: formula-fed babies

Formula-fed babies usually have thicker poop, like peanut butter or hummus, in tan, darker yellow or greenish shades, with a stronger smell. This is normal. Babies who have both breast milk and formula often have something in between.

Green

Green poop is very common and usually nothing to worry about.

• Dark green: often from iron in formula or iron drops, and harmless.

• Bright green and frothy: in breastfed babies, this can happen when babies switch breasts often and get more of the thinner milk. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby suggests letting your baby finish one breast before offering the other.

• Green with illness: a tummy bug can also cause green poop. If your baby has green poop along with fever, vomiting, poor feeding or seems unwell, see your doctor.

Brown, orange and other colours after solids

Once your baby starts solids, usually around 6 months, poop becomes thicker, browner and smellier. Orange, green or yellow tones and even bits of food, such as pieces of carrot, peas or dal, are normal, because babies are still learning to chew and digest. Our guide to feeding solids to your 6-month-old explains what to expect.

Red

Red poop can come from foods like beetroot or red-coloured medicines, but red streaks may be blood. Blood can come from a small tear due to constipation, from swallowing blood from a cracked nipple during breastfeeding, or from something more serious, as Pregnancy, Birth and Baby explains. Always see a doctor if you see red, and keep the nappy to show them.

White, pale grey or clay-coloured

Chalky white, pale grey or clay-coloured poop is not normal at any age. It can mean that bile, which gives poop its colour, is not reaching the gut, which may signal a liver or gallbladder problem, according to Cleveland Clinic. The NHS also says pale, chalky poo or dark yellow pee in a jaundiced baby needs medical advice. See a doctor promptly, and take a photo or the nappy with you.

What should baby poop look like at each age?

Poop changes as your baby grows and their diet changes. Here is what is typical:

Sources: NHS; Cleveland Clinic

The NHS says breastfed babies between 4 days and 6 weeks should usually pass at least 2 yellow poops a day, and that babies 6 weeks or older may poo less often. The key is that the poop stays soft and your baby is feeding, growing and comfortable. Cleveland Clinic notes that some babies poop after every feed while others go much less often, and both can be normal if the baby is not bloated or fussy.

What does the texture of baby poop mean?

Texture matters as much as colour. Soft, mushy poop that your baby passes easily is healthy.

Constipation: hard, dry or pellet-like poop, straining, a firm tummy or a baby who seems upset are signs, according to the NHS. Read more about constipation in babies.

Diarrhoea: watery poop, more often than usual, sometimes with vomiting or poor feeding. Keep breastfeeding or formula feeding as usual, and do not make formula weaker, as the NHS advises. See our guide on diarrhoea in babies.

Mucus: a little mucus can be normal, but a lot of mucus, or mucus with blood, needs a doctor. Our article on mucus in a baby’s poop explains more.

When should I be worried about my baby’s poop?

See a doctor the same day if your baby’s poop is:

• Red, or has streaks of blood

• Chalky white, pale grey or clay-coloured

• Black, after the first few days of life

• Very watery and frequent, especially with vomiting, fever or poor feeding

• Full of mucus, or mucus with blood

• Hard and pellet-like with straining, and not improving

Also call your doctor if:

• Your newborn has not passed meconium within 48 hours of birth

• A breastfed baby under 6 weeks has not pooed in 24 to 48 hours, which may mean they are not getting enough milk

• Your baby has fewer wet nappies than usual, which can be a sign of dehydration

• Your baby has green poop along with a change in behaviour or seems ill

• Your baby has yellow skin or eyes together with pale poop or dark yellow pee

Get emergency help straight away if your baby is floppy, very sleepy or hard to wake, has blue, grey or very pale skin or lips, has green vomit, or has had no wet nappies for many hours.

Sources: Cleveland Clinic; Pregnancy, Birth and Baby; NHS, diarrhoea and vomiting; NHS, constipation; NHS, jaundice

Tip: if something looks unusual, take a clear photo in daylight or keep the nappy in a plastic bag to show your doctor. It helps them see exactly what you saw.

Frequently asked questions

When to be concerned with baby poop color?

Be concerned if your baby’s poop is red or has blood, chalky white, pale grey or clay-coloured, or black after the first few days. These colours need a doctor’s check. Green, yellow, tan, brown and orange are usually normal, unless your baby also has diarrhoea, fever, vomiting, poor feeding or seems unwell.

How should a 2 month old poop look?

At 2 months, a breastfed baby’s poop is usually mustard yellow, soft and seedy, while a formula-fed baby’s poop is usually tan or yellow and a little thicker. Many babies poop less often around this age than in the first weeks, and breastfed babies may go a few days between poops. This is normal as long as the poop is soft and your baby is feeding well and comfortable.

What is an unhealthy stool color?

Red, chalky white, pale grey, clay-coloured, and black (after the first few days) are the colours that may signal a health problem in babies. Red can mean blood, pale colours can mean a liver or gallbladder problem, and black can mean bleeding higher up in the gut. See a doctor if you notice any of these.

Does baby poop look different when sick?

Yes. A tummy bug often causes watery, more frequent poop, which may be green, frothy or contain mucus. If your baby has diarrhoea with fever, vomiting, poor feeding or fewer wet nappies, see your doctor, and keep feeding as usual to prevent dehydration.

Is green poop normal in babies?

Usually, yes. Dark green poop is common with iron-fortified formula or iron drops, and bright green frothy poop can happen in breastfed babies who switch breasts often. Green poop is only a concern if your baby also seems unwell, has diarrhoea, fever or vomiting, or is not feeding well.

How often should a newborn poop?

In the first 6 weeks, breastfed babies usually poop at least twice a day and often after many feeds. After about 6 weeks, many breastfed babies poop less often, sometimes with a few days in between. Soft poop and a happy, growing baby matter more than the exact number.

Why is my formula-fed baby’s poop different from a breastfed baby’s?

Formula is digested differently from breast milk, so formula-fed babies usually have thicker, tan or darker yellow poop with a stronger smell. Iron in formula can also make poop dark green. These differences are normal.

Is it normal to see food pieces in my baby’s poop?

Yes. Once your baby starts solids, it is common to see bits of vegetables, fruit skins, peas or other food in their poop. Babies are still learning to chew and their digestion is still developing. It is not a concern if your baby is growing well and has no diarrhoea.

References

1. Cleveland Clinic. The color of baby poop and what it means.

2. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government). Baby poo guide.

3. NHS. Constipation in breastfed babies.

4. NHS. Diarrhoea and vomiting.

5. NHS. Newborn jaundice.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information and does not replace advice from your paediatrician. If you are worried about your baby’s health, contact your doctor.

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