Baby poop: what colours and frequency are normal?

The short answer

A baby’s poop can change a lot during the first few days and weeks. At first, it’s usually dark and sticky. This is called meconium. After that, poop often becomes yellow, green or brown. How often your baby poops depends in part on their age and what they’re fed. (INSPQ: Urine and stools)

There isn’t one schedule that works for every baby. Published numbers can also differ from one guide to another. They’re reference points, not a diagnosis. If a colour worries you, your baby seems unwell or you’re unsure what to do next, call Info-Santé 811. In an emergency, call 911.

Colours: from meconium to milk stools

During the first 2 or 3 days, poop is often very dark and sticky. This is meconium. It can look black or dark green. As your baby feeds and their digestive system clears the meconium, the appearance changes. Yellow, greenish or brownish poop can be typical. (INSPQ: Urine and stools)

Colour can also vary depending on what your baby is fed. A breastfed baby’s poop is often yellow, sometimes yellow-green. With commercial infant formula, it may be more green or brown. The texture can vary too: soft or runny stools are common for babies who are fed milk. These differences, on their own, can’t tell you whether your baby is getting enough to eat or is sick. (Government of Canada: Postpartum health guide)

Some colours do need attention:

• Red or black: The poop may contain blood. In Québec, the INSPQ recommends calling Info-Santé 811.
• White, grey or beige: The INSPQ recommends seeing a doctor promptly, as discolouration can be a sign of a liver problem.
• Black after the first few days: Health Canada recommends contacting a healthcare professional. The black meconium passed in the first few days is different.

The guidance isn’t worded exactly the same way by every source. If your baby’s poop is red or black, call 811 for guidance based on your baby’s situation. For white, grey or beige poop, get medical advice promptly; 811 can direct you to the right resource. (INSPQ: Urine and stools)

How often should a baby poop?

During the first 4 to 6 weeks, the INSPQ says a baby may have 3 to 10 bowel movements a day. The federal guide gives different reference points: after the first few days, it generally mentions 2 to 3 bowel movements a day. For a breastfed baby, it also describes several small bowel movements or one larger one each day during the first weeks. These figures don’t line up perfectly. Don’t add them together or treat them as a quota. (INSPQ: Urine and stools; Government of Canada: Postpartum health guide)

Age and feeding make a difference. After 4 to 6 weeks, some breastfed babies poop less often. The INSPQ gives the example of one soft bowel movement every 3 to 7 days. Health Canada says that after about one month, a breastfed baby may also go a few days between bowel movements, up to once a week. The federal guide gives different reference points for babies fed formula. If your baby’s pattern concerns you, talk with 811 or your baby’s healthcare professional. (INSPQ: Urine and stools)

A change in frequency isn’t always a problem. Look at the appearance of the poop and how your baby is doing overall, too. For example, a sudden change to much runnier stools deserves attention if your baby seems unwell. Don’t try to diagnose a problem based on the number of soiled diapers alone. (INSPQ: Urine and stools)

Reference points don’t replace professional advice

Poop frequency is one clue among others when following a newborn’s feeding. The INSPQ recommends asking a CLSC nurse, midwife or family doctor for advice if you think your baby isn’t getting enough to eat or you’re worried. For example, the INSPQ says that meconium still being present on day 4 or 5, or fewer than one bowel movement a day between 5 days and 4 weeks, may be a sign that your baby isn’t getting enough to eat. These are reference points to discuss with a professional, not conclusions to draw on your own. (INSPQ: Is your baby getting enough to eat?)

To help during a call or appointment, simply note:

• your baby’s age;
• the colour and texture you’ve seen;
• how many diapers have poop in them and when the pattern changed;
• whether your baby is breastfed, fed formula or both;
• any other change that concerns you.

You can also take a photo of the diaper if it seems useful and you’re comfortable showing it to the healthcare professional. Your notes don’t replace an examination, but they can help you describe what you’ve noticed.

When should you get help?

Call Info-Santé 811 if you see red or black poop, your baby seems unwell, their pattern worries you or you’re not sure what to do. For white, grey or beige poop, the INSPQ recommends prompt medical advice; you can call 811 to be directed to the right resource. If it’s an emergency, call 911. (INSPQ: Urine and stools)

If you have a question about a medication or product to give your baby, ask a pharmacist. Don’t give medication to change your baby’s poop without getting professional advice.

In short, one diaper doesn’t tell the whole story. Colours and frequency change, and reference points vary. If something concerns you, you don’t have to figure it out alone: in Québec, 811 can help you decide who to contact.

Frequently asked questions

This article is for information; it does not replace advice from a health professional. In Québec, call Info-Santé 811 when in doubt (elsewhere in Canada, your provincial health line). In an emergency, call 911.

Sources

1. Your Guide to Postpartum Health and Caring for Your Baby, Gouvernement du Canada — Santé Canada et Agence de la santé publique du Canada
2. Breastfeeding, Société canadienne de pédiatrie — Soins de nos enfants