The contents of your baby’s nappy can vary enormously from day to day. Here is what you can expect to see and what counts as normal.
In the early days your baby's nappy might need changing up to 10
times a day. But this doesn't go on forever. Gradually, as time
goes on, you'll need to change it less often, probably around five
or six times a day.
What's normal?
Your newborn's poo will be sticky and dark greenish-black at
first. This is called meconium and consists of the waste products
that built up while your baby was in the womb. It will then change
to a mustard yellow colour and, if you are breastfeeding, it will
be quite runny. If you are bottle feeding your baby, the stools
will become firmer and more paste-like as well as darker in
colour.
How often should my baby have a bowel movement?
All babies are different. Some babies fill their nappies at or
around every feed, while some babies, especially breastfed babies,
can go for several days without a bowel movement.
Is my baby constipated?
It is quite normal for babies to strain when they are passing a
stool and this does not necessarily mean they are constipated. Your
baby is not constipated unless their stools are hard and
pellet-like, appearing as either separate, hard lumps or as a lumpy
sausage shape, and are difficult or painful to pass. Breast-fed
babies are rarely constipated.
What should I do if my baby is constipated?
Constipation in babies is usually caused by mild dehydration, so
try offering your baby a drink of cooled, boiled water from a
sterilised bottle between feeds. Your midwife or health visitor
will also be able to help suggest things you can do.
While some variation from day to day in your baby's stools is
normal, you should talk to your GP or healthcare professional if
you notice a significant change of any kind in your baby's stools,
such as the stools becoming very smelly, watery or very pale. Some
infant formulas contain BetapolTM which is an ingredient
that may ease constipation1.
- Marloes EJ Bongers, Fleur de Lorijn, Johannes B Reitsma,
Michael Groeneweg, Jan AJM Taminiau and Marc A Benninga.The
clinical effect of a new infant formula in term infants with
constipation: a double-blind, randomized cross-over trial. Nutr J
(2007) 6:8.