Understanding your baby’s poop (and troubleshooting constipation)
When babies start eating solid foods, their digestive systems adapt—and their bowel movements change in color, consistency, frequency, and even smell. Exposed to fiber for the first time (breast milk and formula don’t contain it), there is a good chance that your little one experiences constipation for the first time. This will likely prompt your child’s pediatrician to suggest modifying your baby’s diet.
Here’s what you need to know about your baby’s bowel movements—and constipation—during this transition.
What is a normal amount of time between poops?
This depends on the consistency of the stool. If the bowel movements are only every five days, but the stool is coming out soft, without any straining, your child is not constipated.
What should my baby’s poop look like?
This depends on your child’s age and diet. Babies who are exclusively breastfed normally have yellow, seedy soft stools, and their mother’s diet tends to influence the color a bit. Babies who drink formula normally also have soft stool, though it is often a little bit more tan or dark in color.
Once babies start eating solids, the color of their stools can be tan, yellow, brown, or green, and still be normal. Some foods—including blueberries, corn, beets, and quinoa—tend to more clearly impact the color. (And the stools of breastfed babies will still be influenced by what their mother is eating.) The consistency of their stools should resemble toothpaste or soft molding clay. Stools shaped like balls indicate constipation.
Have you ever heard of the Bristol Stool Chart?
It is harder to make out shapes when kids are still in diapers, but in general, this chart is super handy as a visual guide to your baby’s bowel movements. Ideally, your child will have Type 3 and 4 stools. Types 1 and 2 indicate constipation, and types 5-7 are abnormally loose.
When to call the doctor:
Now that you’ve become better versed in the world of your baby’s stools, here are a few situations that call for medical attention. Call your physician as soon as possible, if your baby:
- cries with discomfort when trying to poop
- has chronic constipation
- has any blood in stools
- has white, black, or red stools, which are potential red flags for digestive system issues
- has abruptly changing stool patterns
- unexpectedly wakes up with digestive pains
- has consistently hard, ball-like stools
How to manage constipation
To address constipation, focus on these three Fs: fluids, food, and fun.
Fluids
Breast milk and formula usually meet babies’ hydration needs. When the weather is abnormally hot, however, they might need extra hydration—ask your doctor about whether that’s a good idea for your baby. If your baby is having hard stools, try not to stick to a strict feeding schedule. A good tip is to check the urine color; if it is clear or really light yellow, your child is getting enough fluid.
Food
Increasing fiber in a diet is a good way to prevent and manage constipation. “Think of fiber like nature’s broom,” Dr. Panchal says.
Traditionally, doctors have recommended eating prunes to help clean-sweep the intestines, but not all kids like prunes. Some of our favorite tips for increasing fiber-rich foods are:
- Encourage P fruits: prunes, plums, peaches, and pears (especially with the peel) have lots of fiber and can help reduce constipation; the darker the food, the more likely it is to have fiber.
- If preparing white rice, switch to brown rice.
- Serve oatmeal with fruit.
- Offer fruits and vegetables such as apples, kiwis, oranges, clementines, and strawberries, along with broccoli, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, or any type of squash for extra fiber.
- Add a fiber punch to household favorites, such as ground flaxseed to applesauce or yogurt.
Fun
Bicycling babies’ legs or having them do tummy time will also help. “Babies can get gassy for all kinds of reasons, and tummy time helps,” Dr. Panchal says. Putting them supine on their belly, and rubbing their backs, can help move things through their digestive system.
Additional resources
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