Poos and wees

Poos and wees

Your baby’s first poo (or stool) will be made up of something called ‘meconium’. This is sticky and greenish black.

After a few days the poo will change to a yellow or mustard colour. Breastfed babies’ poo is runny and doesn’t smell. Formula-fed babies’ poo is firmer, darker brown and smellier.

Some infant formulas can also make your baby’s poo dark green. If you change from breast to formula feeding, you’ll find that your baby’s poos become darker and more paste-like.

How often should my baby do a poo?

Some babies fill their nappies at or around every feed. Some, especially breastfed babies, can go for several days or even up to a week without a bowel movement.

Both are normal. It’s also normal for babies to strain or even cry when passing a poo. Your baby isn’t constipated as long as their poos are soft, even if they haven’t passed one for a few days.

Is it normal for my baby’s poos to change?

From day to day, week to week, your baby’s poos will probably vary. If you notice a marked change of any kind, such as the poos becoming very smelly, very watery or harder, particularly if there’s blood in them, you should talk to your doctor or child health nurse.

Pale (white or near white) poos may be a sign of jaundice. If you’re worried, speak to your midwife or child health nurse.

Diarrhoea

Babies

Most babies have occasional loose stools (poo). Breastfed babies have looser poos than formula-fed babies.

Diarrhoea is when your baby frequently passes unformed watery poos. It can be caused by an infection and may be accompanied by vomiting. This is called gastroenteritis (a stomach bug), which is usually caused by a virus, such as rotavirus.

Diarrhoea and vomiting are more serious in babies than older children because babies can easily lose too much fluid from their bodies and become dehydrated. They may become lethargic or irritable, have a dry mouth, and have a pale or washed-out colour. If your baby becomes dehydrated, they may not pass much urine and they may go off their feeds. It may be difficult to tell how much urine they’re passing when they have diarrhoea.

What to do if your baby has diarrhoea:

• Do not stop giving your baby milk. Give the extra fluid as an addition to milk. Give your baby oral rehydration fluids in between feeds or after each watery stool, after discussion with your doctor or local pharmacist.
• Don’t give your baby medicines to reduce the vomiting and diarrhoea. They do not work and may be harmful.
• With formula-fed babies, make sure bottles are sterilised carefully.
• Don’t take your baby swimming in a swimming pool for two weeks after the last episode of diarrhoea.
• Keep your baby away from other children as much as possible until the diarrhoea has stopped.

When to contact your doctor

Contact your doctor or child health nurse urgently for advice if your baby has passed six or more diarrhoea poos in the past 24 hours, or if your baby has vomited three times or more in the past 24 hours. Get expert advice. If your baby is unwell (is less responsive, not feeding well, feverish or is not passing much urine), or if vomiting has lasted more than a day, get your doctor’s advice straightaway.

Toddlers and older children

Some children between the ages of 1 and 5 pass frequent, smelly, loose stools that may contain recognisable foods, such as carrots and peas. These children are usually perfectly healthy and are growing normally, but the doctor can’t find any cause. This type of diarrhoea is known as ‘toddler diarrhoea’.

Contact your doctor if:

• your child has diarrhoea and is vomiting at the same time
• your child has diarrhoea that’s particularly watery, has blood in it or lasts for longer than 2 or 3 days
• your child has severe or continuous stomach ache

Otherwise, diarrhoea isn’t usually a cause for concern.

What to do if your child has diarrhoea:

• Give your child plenty of clear drinks to replace the fluid that’s been lost, but only give them food if they want it. Don’t give them fruit juice or squash, as these drinks can cause diarrhoea.
• Don’t give your child anti-diarrhoea drugs. They do not work and can be harmful. Oral rehydration treatment can help.

How to prevent the spread of diarrhoea

If your baby or child comes into contact with other family members or people (for example, at childcare) wash their hands using liquid soap in warm running water, and dry their hands, frequently. Keep toilets clean and wash towels frequently. Make sure everyone in your family washes their hands regularly with soap and warm water to avoid spreading the infection and don’t share towels. Don’t return your child to their school or childcare facility until at least 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting.