Stool guide
For breastfed, bottle-fed and weaning babies.
- In the first few days after birth, newborns pass meconium, a mixture of bile, mucus and amniotic fluid that builds up in the baby’s intestines through the pregnancy
- It’s black/green and very sticky and is a sign the baby’s bowels are working properly
- After a couple of days, the baby’s stools turn to greeny-brown and then yellowy-brown, as feeding is established
Advice for parents with breastfed babies
- Breastfed babies’ stools smell slightly sweet and are mustard or bright yellow coloured
- Texture varies between loose, granular or curdled
- A breastfed baby will normally pass a stool once a day, often during or after feeding
- This pattern will change as the baby grows and their diet changes or if they are unwell
- Advise parents that introducing bottle feeds will change the colour, smell and texture of a breastfed baby’s stools, and should be done gradually
Advice for parents with bottle-fed babies
- Bottle-fed babies’ stools are usually pale yellow or yellow/brown and will appear more solid and bulky than those of breastfed babies
- Bottle-fed babies’ stools tend to smell more than a breastfed baby’s
- A bottle-fed baby will normally pass a stool once a day, often during or after feeding
From milk to solids
- At the start of weaning, some babies experience constipation until the baby’s digestive system gets used to solids
- Once the baby’s system settles down, their stools will become darker, and smellier.
To see the Bristol Stool Chart click here