A guide to your baby’s poo and wee

How you feed your baby can affect their poo.

• Breast fed babies will poo frequently and their poo is much looser and it may look like mustard seeds.
• Formula fed babies will often poo less and you might notice their poo is firmer.

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 five, which is fine and shows feeding is going well. The NCT website has some great visuals of baby's nappies to help you understand what to expect.

Day one to two    

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

Day three to four

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

Day five to six

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 two 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.

Speak to your GP or health visitor if you notice a change of any kind, such as poos becoming very smelly, very watery or hard, particularly if there's blood in them.

• Your baby will have six to eight wet heavy nappies within 24 hours. This is a good indication of how well your baby is feeding.
• Disposable and reusable nappies can sometimes make it hard to realise how well your baby is weeing.
• Your baby’s wee should look clear and not smell. Contact your GP if you notice your baby’s wee is smelly or orange.

• 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.
• Newborn babies who are breastfed may poo at each feed in the early weeks, then, after about six weeks, not have a poo for several days.
• Formula-fed babies may poo up to five times a day when newborn, but after a few months this can go down to once a day.
• 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. It's also normal for babies to strain or even cry when doing 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.
• Your baby isn't constipated as long as their poos are soft, even if they haven't done one for a few days.

Other poo changes

Weaning at six months will change the colour of your baby’s poo. Visit our introducing solids page for more information on what to feed your baby.

Speak to your GP or call 111 if your baby’s poo

• is watery and you’re concerned about dehydration
• smells bad or has blood in it
• is green and watery and your baby is unsettled or off their feeds.

These can be signs of other conditions.

You may notice your baby’s poo is green sometimes. Some infant formula milk can cause your baby’s poo to turn green. As long as your baby is well, growing, taking their feeds and their usual self it is nothing to worry about.

If you notice that your baby's poo is green and watery and your baby is unsettled and off their feeds, it could be a sign that something may be wrong so speak to your GP or health visitor as soon as possible.

Consider if your baby is actually constipated. Less frequent poo is normal after six weeks as your baby’s gut matures. If your baby is exclusively breastfed and feeding is going well then some breastfed babies can go up to a week without a poo. Slowed frequency of stool in a formula fed baby which still has a paste-like consistency is not constipation.

Symptoms of constipation in your baby:

• Poo is dry, lumpy, hard, or may look like pellets.
• Your baby is finding it difficult to poo, or poos are larger than usual.
• Unusually smelly poos and wind.
• Your baby’s tummy may feel firm.
• Your baby may be less hungry than their usual feeding pattern.
• Your baby may not be their usual selves.

Visit NHS.uk for more information on constipation and breastfeeding.

Treating constipation

Make sure you’re preparing any formula feeds with the correct number of level scoops to water (using the scoop provided with the tin) following the manufacturer’s instructions on the tin.

Use first-stage formula milk as hungrier baby milks can increase the risk of your baby becoming constipated.

Responsive feeding allows for pacing your baby’s feed so your baby can control the flow of the feed and reducing the risk of then over feeding. Never force your baby to finish the bottle – always be led by your baby and recognise 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 six months of age should be exclusively milk fed, don’t 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 visiting service or GP if you are concerned about your baby’s poo.

Responsive feeding is giving your baby a feed when they show you signs they’re hungry and stopping when they show you they’re full. This makes your baby feel safe and cared for, supporting a close and loving bond between you and helping their brain to grow.