Share
Is this poo normal?
You wouldn’t believe the chat I have about poo! People send me pictures of their kids nappies all the time asking “Is this poo normal?”
Every parent worries about their kids poos at some point or another. Below is a guide to help you navigate this topic. If you remember nothing remember St Kilda – “red, white or black get it checked”
| Poo colour/consistency | What could this mean? |
| Pasty light brown | Normal poo for babies having formula, a peanut butter consistency |
| Thick brown | Normal poo once solids begin, resembles more of an adult poo, stronger smell than when just on milk feeds |
| Mustard yellow | Normal breastfed-baby poo, pasty or seedy. Breastfed babies can also have looser brown or green poo. |
| Light green | Normal formula fed baby poo, it has simply passed through your baby’s gut faster. |
| Mucousy | This poo looks snotty or like shiny string. This can indicate an intolerance to something in a breastfeeding mother’s diet or the formula. See your doctor if your baby has mucousy poos. |
| Black | This can be a sign that your baby has ingested some blood and is not normal. See your doctor if your baby has black poo. Sometimes it is from cracked/bleeding nipples when breastfeeding.
Meconium passed in the first few days is black (very dark green) but your baby’s poo should not stay black in colour. |
| Red | This is not normal and could be a sign that your baby is bleeding. Can also be a sign that your baby has an intolerance. See your doctor if your baby’s poo is red. |
| White | This is not normal. This could be a sign that the liver may not be producing enough bile, making the poo white in appearance and a chalky texture. See your doctor. |
| Dark green or greenish black | Meconium passed in the first few days. This are your baby’s first poo and are sticky and tar like. It is a combination of amniotic fluid, bile and fatty acids your baby ingested while still in the womb. |
Frothy Poo
Frothy poo that burns the skin can be a sign of lactose overload (this is a different entity to lactose intolerance) and results from feeding too frequently. The foremilk in breastmilk is lactose-heavy so feeding too often causes excess lactose intake. For more information see the Foremilk Hindmilk lesson in the breastfeeding section of your Dr Golly Sleep Program.
Mucous in Poo
Mucous in poo is a sign of food intolerances, there’s lots more on this in the Dr Golly Sleep Program.
Learn more about the Dr Golly Philosophy here.
Shop the Dr Golly age appropriate routines here.
As you work through the Dr Golly Sleep Program, please always remember that this does NOT take the place of medical advice and if in doubt always consult your doctor.
