A baby’s stool will vary in consistency and frequency, depending largely on a range of factors. In this leaflet you will learn more about what can be expected from your infant.
Newborn to six months
In the womb, a baby’s gut is full of a sticky green black substance called meconium. The newborn’s bowel must expel the meconium before it can begin digesting food. The meconium is usually passed in the first 24 – 48 hours after birth. The stool then changes in colour and texture into a transitional stool once milk feeds are established. This stool contains remnants of meconium and mucus along with the digested milk. It’s generally loose in consistency and a green-brown mustard colour. During this time, the bowels may open often and be explosive in nature.
Providing your baby is well, these stools are perfectly normal. After this stage, your newborn’s stools will then change once again, depending on whether they’re exclusively breastfed, bottle fed or a combination of both. It sometimes takes up to a few weeks for the stools to completely normalise