How often should my baby poop? - There is no definite answer, and it changes from breastfed (BF on forums and chatrooms) to formula fed (FF), or a mix. Breastfed babies poop less often and irregularly, because you are giving them all the nutrients they need, there isn't much waste to come out; but formula fed babies have a lot of unnecessary, or too much of, certain nutrients and this will make your baby poop more regularly. Some babies poop once a day, some babies poop several times a day, some babies poop every other day. It's all fine, and all normal. The time to worry is if the baby has had three diarrhoea filled nappies in a row, or if (s)he hasn't pooped in a week. Then you tell your gp or health visitor. Once a day poops are the sweet spot, or ideal, but your baby may take months to settle into it (my four month old only just has) or (s)he may never.
How can I cure constipation? - Talk to your gp before giving your baby anything, and they might get a free prescription too! If it's only been a couple of days and you don't want to go to the gp yet, try massaging your baby's tummy in firm circles - (s)he will complain if you're hurting her to help it move along, or try cycling your baby's legs like (s)he is on a bicycle, or push both legs up to her tummy at the same time. (My baby loves it if you say ba-ba-ba as you're doing this) These are also effective winding techniques.
Meconium - this is the thick, black or dark green poop that will be your baby's first few poops. This doesn't even smell and you start to wonder what everyone's been going on about. This is normal, but if (s)he carries on pooping this way for more than a week or so, or begins to poop this way again.
Green-brown - after the first few days when baby is digesting breast milk, it will turn greeny brown. This is normal.
Yellow - Very normal. Breast fed babies especially seem to have "seedy" poops. This is very normal and healthy. Bright yellow and very loose, but you will still know if your baby has diarrhoea, it will almost definitely leak out of the nappy, and is completely liquidy and sloppy.
Brown - apparently normal if formula fed, but I haven't really noticed it, I think they mean a light yellowy brown. Brown poops like adult brown however, is NOT normal for an unweaned baby, you may want to consult your gp.
Green - can be very alarming, and not what you're expecting, but the lighter green it is, the less you need to worry. It can even seem neon in colour. No need to worry at all if it's a one off, but if your baby is having dark, thick, hard to pass green poop, for more than a couple of weeks, consult your gp.
Weaning poop - weaning poop is very strange. It can be all sorts of wonderful colours, think what your baby has eaten. That alarming, blood red poop, could just be the beets you gave her. It may be streaky, chunky, runny, by this time you'll know your baby and know what's normal. Look at the poop AROUND the colour and chunks. Is it normal? Has (s)he had anything new to eat recently that might be blocking her up or loosening her. If you have given her something new, and she is having trouble, you may want to not give her it again for a month or so, then try again when her digestive tract has matured more.
You may want to take pictures of poop if you are particularly worried and want to show your gp, but most of the time the poop is completely normal. Dark green is supposed to mean infection. but I showed my gp dark green poop pictures and she said it was normal. If you're worried, even if the internet or your friends or your partner say it's fine, talk to or show your gp.
Your babies poop doesn't smell bad. Convince yourself of that, I think it helps. If it smells awful, that could be an infection.
How can I cure constipation? - Talk to your gp before giving your baby anything, and they might get a free prescription too! If it's only been a couple of days and you don't want to go to the gp yet, try massaging your baby's tummy in firm circles - (s)he will complain if you're hurting her to help it move along, or try cycling your baby's legs like (s)he is on a bicycle, or push both legs up to her tummy at the same time. (My baby loves it if you say ba-ba-ba as you're doing this) These are also effective winding techniques.
Meconium - this is the thick, black or dark green poop that will be your baby's first few poops. This doesn't even smell and you start to wonder what everyone's been going on about. This is normal, but if (s)he carries on pooping this way for more than a week or so, or begins to poop this way again.
Green-brown - after the first few days when baby is digesting breast milk, it will turn greeny brown. This is normal.
Yellow - Very normal. Breast fed babies especially seem to have "seedy" poops. This is very normal and healthy. Bright yellow and very loose, but you will still know if your baby has diarrhoea, it will almost definitely leak out of the nappy, and is completely liquidy and sloppy.
Brown - apparently normal if formula fed, but I haven't really noticed it, I think they mean a light yellowy brown. Brown poops like adult brown however, is NOT normal for an unweaned baby, you may want to consult your gp.
Green - can be very alarming, and not what you're expecting, but the lighter green it is, the less you need to worry. It can even seem neon in colour. No need to worry at all if it's a one off, but if your baby is having dark, thick, hard to pass green poop, for more than a couple of weeks, consult your gp.
Weaning poop - weaning poop is very strange. It can be all sorts of wonderful colours, think what your baby has eaten. That alarming, blood red poop, could just be the beets you gave her. It may be streaky, chunky, runny, by this time you'll know your baby and know what's normal. Look at the poop AROUND the colour and chunks. Is it normal? Has (s)he had anything new to eat recently that might be blocking her up or loosening her. If you have given her something new, and she is having trouble, you may want to not give her it again for a month or so, then try again when her digestive tract has matured more.
You may want to take pictures of poop if you are particularly worried and want to show your gp, but most of the time the poop is completely normal. Dark green is supposed to mean infection. but I showed my gp dark green poop pictures and she said it was normal. If you're worried, even if the internet or your friends or your partner say it's fine, talk to or show your gp.
Your babies poop doesn't smell bad. Convince yourself of that, I think it helps. If it smells awful, that could be an infection.
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