25/08/2026
What does your baby’s p**p colour mean? 💩
New parents often find themselves checking every nappy, and that’s completely normal! The good news is that baby p**p comes in a wide range of colours, and many of them are perfectly healthy.
Here’s a quick guide to what you might see👇
🖤 Black: During the first day or two after birth, babies pass meconium, a thick, dark green-black, sticky stool that’s completely normal. After those first few days, however, black, tarry, foul-smelling stools should always be assessed.
💛 Yellow: Mustard-yellow stools with little white “seeds” are typical for breastfed babies and are a sign that everything is working as it should.
💚 Green: Green stools are often completely normal, particularly in formula-fed babies. They can also occur with iron supplements or sometimes if a breastfed baby is getting more foremilk. A small amount of mucus can also be normal, especially if your baby has a viral illness.
🤎 Brown: Brown stools are simply another normal variation, particularly as babies grow and start solids.
⚪ White or pale grey: This is never normal and should be assessed urgently, as it may indicate a liver or bile duct problem.
🔴 Red: Fresh blood in a baby’s stool should always be checked by your healthcare provider.
As your little one grows, you may also notice pieces of food, especially foods like corn, raisins or other high-fibre foods, in toddler p**p. This is usually completely normal.
If you’re ever unsure about your baby’s stool, or notice persistent mucus, blood, white stools or black stools after the newborn period, don’t hesitate to contact your paediatrician.🐳