Newborn poop stages can catch you off guard. The first diaper looks like black tar, a few days later it is green, and then suddenly it is bright yellow. If you are counting diapers at 3 a.m. and wondering whether this is normal, here is what each stage looks like and how it fits on our baby poop color chart.
This guide follows the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the CDC: the stages day by day, the diaper counts that show your baby is getting enough milk, and the signs that mean a call to your pediatrician. For more on changes, rashes and sizes, browse our diapering guides.
Quick answer: what are the newborn poop stages?
There are three. Meconium comes first: dark greenish-black, thick and sticky, in the first 2 days. Transitional stools follow on days 3 and 4: greenish-brown and looser. From about day 5, milk stools arrive: runny, mustard-yellow and seedy if breastfed, tan to yellow and a little firmer if formula-fed.
Why newborn poop changes so fast
Meconium is what built up in your baby’s intestines before birth. As your baby starts to drink more milk, it gets pushed out and replaced by stool made from milk. The CDC puts it simply: in the first week, baby poop changes from black or dark green to a yellow color. That change is one of the signs that milk is going in and coming out, which is why nurses and pediatricians ask about it.
Newborn poop stages day by day
The stages below come from the AAP’s breastfeeding guidance. The diaper counts are the CDC’s minimums per 24 hours for a breastfed baby. Every baby is a little different, so look at the trend over a few days, not one diaper.
| Day | Stage and what it looks like | Wet diapers (at least) | Poops (at least) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meconium: dark greenish-black, thick, sticky | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Meconium | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | Transitional: greenish-brown, looser | 5 | 3 |
| 4 | Transitional, turning lighter | 6 | 3 |
| 5 to 7 | Milk stools: yellow, runny, often seedy | 6 | 3 |
The AAP also notes that while breast milk is coming in, some babies have only about one stool a day, and that the number should climb to 3 or more by day 4 or 5. Our week-by-week guide to newborn diaper changes shows how this fits into a normal day.
After the first week: breastfed vs formula-fed poop
- Breastfed: the AAP describes yellow, liquid stool with small particles that look like seeds. Mustard yellow is the most common color.
- Formula-fed: usually tan or yellow and firmer, but, in the AAP’s words, no firmer than soft clay. Hints of green are common.
- How often: many babies poop after most feeds at first. The AAP says that by 3 to 6 weeks, some breastfed babies poop only once a week and are still fine, as long as the stool is soft and the baby feeds well and gains weight. Formula-fed babies should have at least one bowel movement a day.
Runny newborn poop can also escape the diaper. If that keeps happening, see our tips on why diaper blowouts happen.
What you can do this week
- Keep a simple log. Write down feeds, wet diapers and poops, with the color. It makes the first checkup much easier.
- Feed often. The CDC says newborns usually breastfeed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. More milk in is what moves the stages along.
- Compare with the table. If the counts or colors lag behind, call your pediatrician or lactation consultant the same day rather than waiting for the next visit.
- Check the wet diapers too. The AAP says healthy urine is light to dark yellow. A pink or brick-red stain in the first week is often concentrated urine, but tell your pediatrician if it keeps happening.
Related: breastfed baby not pooping after the first weeks: what is normal.
When to talk to your doctor
Call your pediatrician within 24 hours, based on AAP guidance, if:
- your baby is still passing black or dark green stools by day 5;
- there has been no poop for more than 24 hours on days 2 to 4;
- from day 5, your breastfed baby has fewer than 3 yellow stools or fewer than 6 wet diapers a day.
Call right away, or get care now, if there is no urine for more than 8 hours, dark urine, a very dry mouth, or other signs of dehydration in babies. The AAP also says to contact your pediatrician about white, gray or very pale poop (as soon as possible, because it can point to a liver problem), any blood in the stool, black poop after the meconium days, or stools with large amounts of blood, mucus or water. If your baby is 3 months or younger and has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, the AAP says to call your pediatrician immediately.
Frequently asked questions
When does meconium stop?
The AAP says meconium is passed in the first 2 days of life, with transitional stools on days 3 and 4. By day 5, black or dark green stools are not normal for a breastfed baby, so call your pediatrician if you still see them then.
Is green newborn poop normal?
Usually, yes. Greenish-brown is typical for transitional stools on days 3 and 4, and the AAP says yellow, brown and green shades are all acceptable once the meconium has cleared. Formula-fed babies often have hints of green.
How many poops should a newborn have?
The CDC’s minimum for a breastfed baby is 1 poop on day 1 and at least 3 a day from day 2 onward in the first week. After the first weeks, the number can drop, especially with breast milk. Our baby feeding schedule by age lists the other signs that your baby is getting enough.
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Sources
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Breast-Feeding Questions (symptom checker)
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Baby’s First Days: Bowel Movements & Urination
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): The Many Colors of Baby Poop
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Fever and Your Baby
- CDC: Newborn Breastfeeding Basics
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about your baby, talk to your pediatrician.