You open the diaper and stop: is that color normal? Almost every parent has stared at a diaper and wondered. This baby poop color chart explains what each color usually means, what’s normal for breastfed and formula-fed babies, and the few colors that mean you should call your pediatrician. The short version from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): after the first few days, yellow, brown and green are all normal. Red, black and white or pale poop are the ones to check.
Quick answer: what baby poop colors mean
- Black and tarry in the first days: meconium, completely normal.
- Mustard yellow, seedy: typical for breastfed babies.
- Yellow-tan, sometimes with green: typical for formula-fed babies.
- Green or brown: normal. Green is most often caused by bile; brown is common once solids start.
- Red: can be blood (or food or medicine). Tell your pediatrician.
- Black after the first days: can be digested blood. Call your pediatrician.
- White, gray or very pale: rare, but can be a sign of a liver problem. Call your pediatrician the same day.
Baby poop color chart
| Color | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Black, sticky, tar-like (first 1 to 3 days) | Meconium: what filled the intestines before birth | Nothing; it changes within a few days |
| Dark green to yellow-green (first days) | Meconium clearing as feeding gets going | Nothing; a sign milk is going through |
| Mustard yellow, loose, seedy | Typical breastfed poop | Nothing |
| Yellow-tan to light brown, firmer | Typical formula-fed poop | Nothing, as long as it is no firmer than soft clay |
| Green | Usually bile; more common with formula, colds or green foods | Nothing, if your baby is otherwise well |
| Brown | Common once solids start | Nothing |
| Red or red streaks | Can be blood, or red food or medicine | Tell your pediatrician; get help fast if there is a lot of blood |
| Black (after the first days) | Can be digested blood | Call your pediatrician |
| White, gray, chalky or very pale yellow | Can be a sign that bile is not reaching the gut (liver problem) | Call your pediatrician the same day |
Colors vary from diaper to diaper, so look at the pattern rather than one diaper. If you are unsure about a color, take a photo of the diaper to show your pediatrician.
Newborn poop: the first week
Your baby’s first poops are meconium: thick, sticky and black or very dark green. As your baby starts feeding, the stools change to dark green, then yellow-green, and by the end of the first week most babies have yellow or yellow-brown poop. The AAP notes that a black color in these first meconium stools is no reason for concern.
In the first week, you may also see a pink or brick-red stain in a wet diaper. The AAP says this is usually concentrated urine, not blood. Call your pediatrician if it continues after the first week.
Breastfed vs formula-fed poop
Breastfed babies
Breastfed poop is usually mustard yellow, loose or runny, with small seed-like bits. It can smell mild. Many breastfed newborns poop after almost every feed. The AAP notes that by about 3 to 6 weeks, some breastfed babies poop much less often, even once a week, and that this can still be normal as long as the stools are soft and your baby is feeding well and gaining weight.
Formula-fed babies
Formula poop is usually yellow-tan to light brown, sometimes with green, and a little firmer, like peanut butter. The AAP says it should be no firmer than soft clay. Formula-fed babies usually poop at least once a day. Fewer poops with hard stools and straining can be a sign of constipation; see baby constipation.
Poop changes after starting solids
Once your baby starts solid foods, around 6 months, poop usually gets thicker, browner and smellier, and its color can follow what your baby ate: green after peas or spinach, orange after carrots, red after beets. Pieces of undigested food are common too. See our guide to introducing solid foods.
The colors to call your pediatrician about
White, gray or very pale poop
This is the most important color to know. The AAP explains that pale, white or clay-colored stools can be a sign of a liver problem such as biliary atresia, where bile cannot reach the intestine. It is rare, but early assessment makes a real difference, so call your pediatrician the same day, especially if your baby also has yellow skin or eyes after the first 2 weeks or dark urine.
Red poop or red streaks
Red can come from food, drinks or medicine. It can also be blood: from a small tear around the anus, from swallowed blood during birth or from cracked nipples while breastfeeding, or from something like a milk protein allergy. The AAP advises telling your pediatrician about any blood in the stool. Get help right away if there is a lot of blood or your baby seems unwell.
Black poop after the first days
Once meconium has passed, black poop can be a sign of digested blood higher up in the gut. Iron supplements can also darken stools. Call your pediatrician to discuss it.
Related: newborn poop stages: what changes day by day in week one.
Related: breastfed baby not pooping for days: normal patterns and when to call.
Related: newborn pee color: what is normal and when to call.
When to talk to your doctor
- White, gray, chalky or very pale poop: call the same day.
- Red or black poop (after the first days), or blood in the diaper.
- Large amounts of mucus, blood or water in the stool.
- Diarrhea with a fever in a baby under 3 months, or diarrhea with a fever lasting more than a day in an older baby.
- Hard, pebble-like poop or straining with pain.
- Fewer wet diapers, a dry mouth or a sunken soft spot (possible dehydration).
- Your baby seems unwell, feeds poorly or vomits forcefully.
If you’re not sure, call your pediatrician. See also when to call the pediatrician and baby vomiting and diarrhea.
Frequently asked questions
Is green poop normal for a baby?
Yes. The AAP says green stools are normal and are most often caused by bile. They are more common in formula-fed babies, and can also appear with a cold or after green foods. Call your pediatrician only if green poop comes with signs of illness, such as fever, poor feeding or diarrhea.
What color is breastfed baby poop?
Usually mustard yellow, loose and seedy. It can also be a little green or orange from time to time. That range is normal.
What does white or pale baby poop mean?
It can mean bile is not reaching the intestine, which can be a sign of a liver problem. It is rare, but call your pediatrician the same day rather than waiting.
Is mucus in baby poop normal?
A little mucus now and then can happen, for example when your baby has a cold or is teething and swallowing more saliva. The AAP lists large amounts of mucus, or mucus with blood, as a reason to call your pediatrician.
How often should a baby poop?
It varies a lot. Many breastfed newborns poop after most feeds, while some older breastfed babies go days between poops. Formula-fed babies usually poop at least once a day. Soft stools and a content, growing baby matter more than the number. See how often to change a newborn’s diaper.
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Sources
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): The Many Colors of Baby Poop
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Baby’s First Days: Bowel Movements and Urination
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Biliary Atresia
This guide is for general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you’re worried about your baby, call your pediatrician, or 911 in an emergency.