The baby’s first stools are normally darker, which is considered normal, with color varying in subsequent bowel movements. However, consuming foods rich in iron, such as beetroot or spinach, using ferrous sulfate or using infant formula can make the baby’s stool darker.
In some cases, dark stools in the baby may also be indicative of lesions in the intestine, esophagus or stomach or a sign of allergy to milk protein, and are normally accompanied by other symptoms such as the presence of blood in the stool, intense crying, blood leaking from the mouth, even if in small quantities, difficulty eating and gaining weight.
Therefore, if dark stools are accompanied by other symptoms, it is important that the pediatrician is consulted as soon as possible so that the cause can be investigated and the most appropriate treatment can be initiated.
Main causes
The main causes of dark baby stools are:
1. Meconium
Meconium is formed by substances that accumulated throughout pregnancy in the baby’s intestine and is eliminated between 24 and 48 hours after birth.
Generally, meconium is green, brown or yellowish in color, dark and sticky in appearance. Therefore, it is common for the baby’s first stool to be darker as well. Find out what meconium is and more characteristics.
What to do: The release of meconium in the first few days of life is normal and should not be a cause for concern, as the color of the stool generally becomes increasingly brown after 2 or 3 days.
Don’t ignore the signs your body is giving you!
2. Cracked nipples during breastfeeding
If the mother has cracked nipples and is breastfeeding, the baby can ingest some blood, which is digested and can then appear in his stool, making it darker. In this case, it is also common for the baby to have a small amount of blood coming out of the mouth, with no other associated symptoms.
What to do: Especially when there are other associated symptoms, it is recommended that the pediatrician be consulted as soon as possible so that more serious causes of dark stools can be ruled out. However, if the nipples are cracked, you can apply a little of your own milk to the wounds to help with healing and check if the baby’s latch is correct. When the cause of dark stools is cracked nipples, as there is healing, the color of the stool tends to improve. See the best ways to treat cracks in the breast.
3. Food not completely digested
Depending on the baby’s diet, some foods such as beets, carrots and grapes may not be digested completely, especially when consumed in large quantities or when they are not chewed enough, and change the color of the child’s feces, making them darker and the presence of small pieces of these foods being noted in some cases.
What to do: When dark stools are related to the consumption of these foods, there is generally no concern, because the color tends to return to normal with reduced intake or replacement of these foods with others.
4. Use of infant formula
Babies who consume infant formula tend to have darker stools compared to those who are breastfed. The feces are generally brown, but can vary in tone from brown to greenish and can even be more pasty, similar to peanut butter.
What to do: In this case, there is generally no concern, because dark stools are a common condition in babies who consume these types of milk. However, it is recommended to consult a pediatrician, especially if there are other symptoms such as blood in the stool or difficulty gaining weight.
5. Cow’s milk protein allergy
In cases of allergy to cow’s milk protein, which is present in many infant formulas, the stool may also become darker due to the presence of blood. In addition, other symptoms may occur, such as the presence of streaks or stripes of blood in the baby’s feces, difficulty gaining weight and red or very dry skin.
What to do: In babies who consume infant formula and have dark stools, it is important to consult a pediatrician to assess the need to change the milk, especially when there are other associated symptoms. When an allergy to cow’s milk protein is confirmed, it may be necessary to change the formula to other types of milk. See how to choose milk for your newborn.
6. Iron intake through food or medication
The use of ferrous sulfate and consumption of large quantities of foods that contain iron, such as beets, spinach and beans, can cause dark stools in the baby, as excess iron is not properly absorbed in the intestine, being eliminated in the feces. Discover more foods rich in iron.
What to do: There is generally no concern, because the color of the stool normally returns to normal when the baby stops taking the medicine or when the consumption of these foods decreases.
7. Injuries to the stomach, esophagus or intestine
Although it is a less common situation, very dark stools can also indicate some bleeding in the digestive tract, which can occur due to injuries such as esophagitis and ulcers. In these cases, in addition to dark stools, there may be other symptoms such as intense crying, blood coming out of the mouth and bright blood in the stool.
What to do: It is important that the pediatrician is consulted, especially if there are other symptoms, as this means that a more detailed assessment of the baby can be carried out so that the best treatment can be indicated, which may involve the use of medications that reduce stomach acidity, for example. example. Learn more about blood in baby stool.
