The characteristics of the baby’s feces may vary according to some situations, such as changes in milk, intestinal infections or stomach changes, which can promote changes in the color, consistency and quantity of feces.
Changes in the baby’s feces may be accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, crying, vomiting and irritability, and it is important to be aware of these signs and symptoms.
Therefore, it is important to consult your pediatrician whenever sudden changes in stool appear, especially when accompanied by other symptoms such as decreased appetite, vomiting or irritability, so that the baby can be evaluated and appropriate treatment can be started immediately.
1. Stool color
Changes in the color of the baby’s stool are related to the speed at which food passes through the intestine, the type of food or health problems, as shown below:
Yellow
The yellowish color is normal in babies’ poop, especially those who are fed only with breast milk. When fed with milk formula, the feces are dark yellow, more towards brown in color. Therefore, yellow poop should only be a source of concern when in the form of diarrhea.
What to do: Since more yellowish stools are considered normal in most situations, treatment is not necessary. However, if the consistency changes and the stool becomes more liquid and/or is accompanied by fever or irritability, it is recommended to consult your pediatrician, as this may indicate an infection that requires specific treatment.
Verdes
The green color appears in the baby’s feces mainly in the first week of life or when he is fed exclusively with breast milk, then having a light green color. However, this color may also be due to the presence of an infection, change in milk, intolerance to a food or use of medication. See more at: What baby’s green poop could be.
Furthermore, if the poop is bright green and has a foamy texture, it may be a sign that the baby is just starting to breastfeed, which is mainly made up of water.
What to do: If they appear after the second week of life or if the shade of green becomes stronger, you should consult your pediatrician to identify the cause of the problem. If the feces are greenish and frothy, the baby should be allowed to dry the entire breast before changing breasts, as this is the only way he will be able to ingest the milk fat and calories necessary for healthy growth.
White
They may indicate problems with the passage of bile to the intestine and, if they occur in the first 2 weeks of life and are associated with jaundice, it is important that the pediatrician is consulted as soon as possible so that an ultrasound can be performed.
What to do: If this color persists for more than 2 or 3 days, you should see your pediatrician, as the baby may have a liver disease that needs to be treated quickly.
Red
They can occur due to increased intake of foods such as beets, beans or blackberries. However, red stools can also be a sign of blood in the intestinal tract, which can be caused by problems such as intestinal infection, constipation, hemorrhoids or food allergies, making it necessary to see your pediatrician immediately. See other causes here.
What to do: If the red color is not due to increased intake of dark foods, you should seek medical advice immediately to identify the presence and cause of intestinal bleeding.
Dark brown
It could be a sign of blood due to injuries in the intestinal tract or due to the presence of wounds in the mother’s breasts, which could end up causing the baby to ingest blood.
Furthermore, the dark brown color may also be a sign that the baby is taking dietary supplements such as iron, which end up darkening the stool.
What to do: If you use supplements, the change in color is normal and you should just observe whether the stool improves after stopping the medication. However, if the dark color has no apparent cause, it is important to see your pediatrician immediately to try to identify the problem.
Therefore, the important thing is to remember to be aware of changes in the baby’s stool and intestinal transit rhythm, as sudden changes or those accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, pain, swelling and irritation, may indicate the presence of diseases.
2. Quantity of feces
The amount of baby feces varies according to the type of food and age, and it is common to have bowel movements after each meal or up to twice a week.
In general, newborns fed exclusively with breast milk usually poop after each feeding, but this frequency decreases after about 3 to 6 weeks due to the maturation of the mother’s milk.
However, you should be careful and contact your pediatrician if the amount of feces suddenly decreases, without any apparent reason or changes in the child’s diet, as this could be an indication of a problem.
3. Stool consistency
The normal consistency of a baby’s stool is pasty, but it is common for children fed with formula milk to have stools that are more consistent or have small lumps, as formula milk is more difficult to digest than breast milk.
However, sudden changes in consistency may indicate health problems such as:
Constipation
The feces are in smaller quantity and are in the form of small hard balls, and pain, tightening of the belly and cracks in the anus may also appear, due to the difficulty in defecating.
Constipation may indicate dehydration, a change in tolerance to milk or an increase in the consumption of foods that are difficult to digest, such as seeds, beans and corn.
What to do: Offer the baby more water and see if the consistency improves. Furthermore, if the child already eats solid foods, you should try to offer more cooked fruits and vegetables to increase the amount of fiber in the diet. However, if constipation persists for more than 3 days, you should consult your pediatrician. See other signs at: Signs of dehydration in children.
Diarrhea
It is characterized by the occurrence of at least 3 stools that are more liquid than normal, and may indicate problems such as virus infection or allergy to milk or some food.
What to do: Offer your baby plenty of water to avoid dehydration and give light foods for their age. It is also important to see a doctor to assess the cause of diarrhea, especially if there is also a fever or vomiting or if the baby is less than 3 months old. See more at: How to treat diarrhea in babies.
