Newborn babies

During the first 3–5 days of your little adventurer's life, it is absolutely normal for their stools to be dark green or even black. This coloration is due to the expulsion of meconium , a substance that contains remnants from gestation that entered the baby's body during the months of pregnancy. Expelling meconium through the feces, as we say, is absolutely normal—but it is also absolutely necessary, since those residues must leave the newborn's intestines so they can digest milk properly, whether breast milk or formula.

After the expulsion of meconium, stools vary in color and frequency depending on the type of feeding. However, it is important to keep in mind that it is normal for babies, especially after one month, not to have a bowel movement every day. In fact, some babies have bowel movements every 5–10 days without showing any signs of concern.

Babies fed with breastfeeding

Once all the meconium has been expelled, breastfed babies may have between 6-8 bowel movements per day (the number decreases over the months, thanks to the development of their digestive system), with a consistency that tends to be more liquid (which is normal, considering they only ingest liquids). The stool of a breastfed baby is usually colored mustard yellow or light yellow , but it can also shift toward green or orange shades without indicating any problem—simply as a consequence of your little adventurer's metabolism or changes in how often they have bowel movements.

Babies fed with formula milk

Infant formula leads to slower, heavier digestion, which directly affects a baby's stools. On one hand, bowel movements are less frequent, between 3-4 per day or even fewer. On the other hand, their consistency is usually firmer, and they tend to have a more unpleasant odor (breastfed babies' stools hardly smell or may have a slightly sweet odor). Finally, the color is also different: in formula-fed babies, stools tend to be closer to a golden or greenish tone, similar to brown.

Babies starting with complementary feeding

When a baby starts introducing other foods into their diet, from around six months old, in addition to milk (breast or formula), the first sign that they are indeed eating is their stool. On one hand, stools become much less frequent (at most 1–2 a day), more solid, and more similar in texture to those of adults, with a much stronger smell. In the case of babies whose parents choose Baby Led Weaning as a method for introducing complementary feeding , stools may also contain pieces of food that the still-developing digestive system has not digested. As for color, they can include a wide variety of shades , from brown to different shades of green, red, or orange, which may be caused by eating foods with those tones, such as peppers, broccoli, watermelon, or carrots.

Red stools or with red threads

Babies who are already eating solid foods may have reddish stools if they have eaten foods of that color, such as peppers, tomatoes, or watermelon. If not, stools with reddish hues or red streaks are a reason to keep an eye on things and, if necessary, consult your pediatrician, since that color, among other reasons, could be due to blood from a fissure or the result of an allergy or food intolerance.

Diarrhea

In babies who are still exclusively breastfed or, alternatively, formula-fed, it is not easy to identify diarrhea, since their stools are already quite frequent and liquid. However, you may notice it if stools increase even more in frequency and become even more watery. The greatest risk in these cases is dehydration , so the best remedy for diarrhea is to continue feeding on demand with breastfeeding. If the diarrhea persists, or if the baby also has a fever, we recommend that you don’t hesitate to consult your pediatrician.

Constipation

Constipation is easier to identify, as stools appear significantly harder, and you may notice that the baby needs to strain a lot to have a bowel movement. If constipation persists, it is also advisable to consult your family doctor, as it can eventually cause fissures and bleeding.

There are two types of constipation, and this is what you should consider to assess whether it falls within the range of normal:

Disquecia del recién nacido

Infant dyschezia is an immaturity issue that some babies have. It causes difficulty having a bowel movement due to a lack of coordination (asynchrony) between what the baby wants to do (poop) and what they actually do (closing the anal sphincter when they should relax it). To differentiate it from true constipation, in this case the result (the bowel movement) would be normal—meaning normal consistency and color: soft and semi-liquid.

Estreñimiento real

Unlike infant dyschezia, in this case the result would be hard and dry stools, sometimes in the form of pellets. Constipation often indicates dehydration, so it is important to monitor whether the baby is eating and staying properly hydrated.