How Often Should A Newborn Poop: 7 Helpful Tips
How often should a newborn poop is an important and helpful clue to track a baby's health status.
Babies are messy, and their poop is no exception. It's probably the dirtiest thing they do. It can be brown, green, or yellow, and it can smell like ammonia or rotten fruit.
But even though it may be gross, baby poop is a sign that your baby is healthy and developing typically.
1. Newborn Poop Frequency: What's Normal?
- Around the first week of her life, a cute baby girl can poop anywhere from five times a day to once every few days because she has a large breast milk intake, thicker than formula, and takes longer to digest.
- Plus, her smaller stomach can't hold in waste for long, so she must empty it more often.
- As your baby gets older and eats more and more solid foods, you can expect her to poop less often — between once a day and once every three or four days.
- You'll know if something isn't right if her stools become hard enough that it tears up their diaper or causes pain when passing.
Joma Saleem, Co-Founder, Flocal Performance
2. Yes, You Can Control Your Baby's Pooping Schedule
What parent hasn't wished they could control how often their newborn should poop?
It always seems to happen at the worst possible moment. You'd like the baby to hold it until a more convenient time, but can't seem to make that happen.
We've pulled the shots and came up with these hacks so that breastfeeding will no longer rob you of me-time!
- Watch for signs that she's about to go: leg kicking, squirming, and crying.
- Try to have your baby boy poop on a regular schedule. Usually, after each feeding is the best bet for most babies—so you can be ready for it instead of being caught with an unpopped diaper at the most inconvenient hour.
- Wake up to feed her at regular intervals
- Give her an ounce of water after feeding them.
Lynn Nicholson, Founder, Still Waters Ministries
3. Is It Normal If My Newborn Poops Easily?
A new baby tends to pass soft stools with little effort. Once she's about three months old and solid foods start making up more of her diet than breast milk/formula does, the texture of her poop should become firmer.
But it should still be soft enough to fall apart quickly when rubbed between two fingers without any real effort on mom's part.
Amanda Bricaultv, Founder, Breathe Easy Events
4. What Color And Consistency Is Normal Newborn Poop?
- The color of your newborn's poop is usually yellow, greenish, or dark brown.
- The consistency of her stools can range from pasty and runny to peanut butter-like, depending on how much they eat at the time of passing them out.
If you notice that the poop seems very loose and seedy, this is normal for newborns, and you should not be alarmed.
Breast milk contains fat that isn't broken down in the baby's digestive system.
Brooke Maguire, Art Director, UGG Deckers Brands
5. Formula Vs. Breast Milk: How They Affect Your Newborn's Poop
Formula-fed babies tend to have firmer stools than breastfed babies. This is because the formula is thicker and more solid than breast milk, so it stays in the intestines longer.
Formula-fed babies' stools are usually brownish or yellowish, whereas breastfed babies' poop tends to be more watery and greenish.
Mallorie Dunn, Founder, SmartGlamour
6. Cleaning Your Newborn After A Bowel Movement
A clean bottom means good hygiene for your baby and less chance of infection – so always clean her bottom thoroughly after each bowel movement.
It would help if you changed her diapers often while they're still damp – this will help prevent irritation and rash formation on her sensitive skin.
Kelly York, VP - Sales & Marketing, Pds Multinational
7. Changing Diapers? Here's Help
There is no reason to feel embarrassed about asking for help when you're struggling with changing diapers.
With a baby, many specialized products can make the process easier, including convenient, changeable boy and baby girl outfits.
- Choose wipes that are hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and alcohol-free, not extra irritants on those new baby cheeks!
- One of our classic recommendations is the Pampers Baby Wipes Sensitive 7X Refill—specifically designed to be gentle on your baby's sensitive skin.
- Many parents also opt for a reusable wipe like the WaterWipes Baby Wipe, which uses simple water with no extra chemicals or additives.
Marc Schneider, Board Member, Saxx
Conclusion
As a parent, you're probably well aware that newborns' poop isn't always the most attractive of things. It can be downright scary looking sometimes! But there's nothing wrong with being concerned when your child's stool takes on a severe shade of brown—or even black.
This could be a sign that something isn't right, and it's essential to pay attention to both the color and consistency of your child's stool at home.
And if you do have trouble noticing any significant changes in this department, digital health solutions are quickly becoming available to help.
Nyasha Pace, Owner & Founder Renew Wellness Group
Alex Smith, author
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