A guide to your baby’s poo and wee

Baby poo

  • The way in which you feed your baby can affect your baby’s poo.
  • Babies who are formula fed will often poo less and you might notice their poo is firmer.
  • Breast fed babies will poo very frequently and their poo is much looser and it can look like it contains seeds. 

Baby wee

  • How often your baby wee’s is a good indication of how well they’re feeding. Disposable and reusable nappies can sometimes make it hard to realise how well your baby is weeing. 
  • As a general guide you should expect your baby to produce 6-8 wet heavy nappies per day. 
  • Your baby’s wee should look clear and not smell. If you notice your baby’s wee is orange or it’s smelly please make sure you contact your GP. 
  • If you have any questions or you are worried about your baby’s poo or wee please contact your health visitor or GP. 
     

The colour and consistency of your baby’s poo will change quickly after they’ve been born. This is only a guide and some babies may start producing yellow stools before day 5 which is normal and reflects that they are feeding well. 

Day 1-2    

Your baby’s poo will be very dark in colour and sticky. This is called meconium. They may have 1 or 2 of these types of poo each day.

Day 3-4  

Your baby’s poo will change from a dark colour to a green like colour. They may have 2 or more of these types of poo each day.

Day 5-6            

Your baby’s poo will be soft and yellow in colour because their bowel will have been cleared of meconium and they’ll be feeding more. They should have at least 2 or more of these types of poo each day.

 

Poo pale in colour

If at any time you notice that your baby’s poo becomes very pale in colour you would need to seek medical advice from your doctor as it can be a sign of liver disease.
 

  • Every baby is different, but as a general guide your baby should continue to poo several times per day for the first few weeks of life. You may then notice after this time your baby may not poo as often. This is normal and as long as your baby is growing, is well and their poo is soft you do not need to be worried about this. 
  • Breast fed babies will usually poo several times per day, it is not uncommon after 6 weeks of age for breast fed babies to go up to 10 days without having a poo.
  • Formula fed babies will usually poo several times per day and then after 6 weeks of age formula fed babies will usually poo daily. 
  • The differences between how often breast fed and formula fed babies poo is related to the way in which the milk is digested. 
  • You may notice your baby grunts, squirms and goes red when trying to have a poo. This is normal and doesn’t mean they are constipated.
  • It’s very unusual for breastfed babies to become constipated. Constipation is more common in formula fed babies because of the way in which formula milk is digested. 
     

If you notice any of the below your baby might be constipated.

  • Poo is hard, dry and looks like rabbit droppings
  • Bigger than usual
  • Unusually smelly
  • Your baby may be finding it harder to poo than usual
  • Your baby’s tummy may feel hard
  • They may not be their usual selves 
  • They may not be as hungry
     

  • Consider if your baby is actually constipated. Less frequent poo is normal after around 4-6 weeks as your babies gut matures. If your baby is exclusively breastfed and if feeding is going well then some breastfed babies after this time period can go up to around a week without a poo. Slowed frequency of stool in a formula fed baby which still is a paste/thick sauce like consistency is not constipation.
  • Ensure you are preparing the formula feeds with the correct amount of scoops to water (using the scoop provided with the tin)
  • Only offer the first stage formula milk as hungrier baby milks can increase the risk of your baby becoming constipated
  • Ensure you are pacing the bottle feeds so that your baby can control the flow of the feed and reduces the risk of them overfeeding (see the link to UNICEF Infant formula and responsive feeding in the Useful links tab below)
  • Don’t be tempted to encourage your baby to take all the milk you have made up if they are showing signs of having had enough (pushing the teat away, spilling milk out of the sides of their mouth, stopping or really slowing down with their sucking and swallowing)
  • Babies under 6 months of age should be exclusively milk fed so please do not offer any fruit juices or sugar waters
  • Give your baby a tummy massage or try moving their legs like they are pedalling a bicycle if you do think they are constipated.
  • Contact your health visitor or GP if you are concerned about your babies poo.

  • When you start to wean your baby, their poo will change colour which is normal.
  • If your baby is on solid foods it’s good to make sure they’re getting enough fibre as this will reduce the risk of constipation.
  • Baby’s poo can change, but if you notice it becomes watery, offensive smelling or has blood in it it’s important you speak to your doctor as sometimes these can be signs of other conditions.
  • Prolonged diarrhoea can lead to your baby becoming dehydrated.
  • You may notice your baby’s poo is green sometimes. As long as your baby is well, growing and their usual self it is nothing to worry about. Some infant formula milk can cause your baby’s poo to turn green. 
  • If you notice that your baby’s poo is green and watery and your baby is unsettled it could be a sign that something may be wrong. In these circumstances it is advised that you speak to your GP or health visitor. 
     

Useful links