Baby Poop 101: What Color Is Normal?

by Sasha Brown-Worsham July 23, 2012 at 3:04 PM

baby diapers Until you become a mom, you really have no idea how much poop will be a part of your life once that baby arrives. From the meconium to the loose stools to the "blow outs" and the "up the backs," we mamas know our poop.

If you had asked me six years ago whether I would ever do a slideshow of poop, I would have laughed at you, but when it's your baby, it's not (that) gross. I have had poop under my fingernails, people! There is nothing left to disgust me.

Since babies can't talk, poop is one of the only ways they speak to us. We parents end up spending a lot of time analyzing it. So, with no further ado, here's the poop on your baby's baby's poop. See below:

Image via noirbettie/Flickr

Baby Poop Slideshow

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Meconium -- Newborn Poop

It's nasty, but it's important. The meconium has to come out and that drama is... VIEW MORE

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'Teen Mom' Style Evolution

Meconium -- Newborn Poop

It's nasty, but it's important. The meconium has to come out and that drama is often the trial by fire for newborn parents. I remember being so excited when all that tar showed up in my first baby's diaper. This black glue-like poop looks like fresh tar on a hot road. Comprised of amniotic fluid, mucus, skin cells, and other stuff ingested in utero, it doesn't emit an offensive smell, but it's bizarre-o, indeed. Who knew you could be so happy about some excrement?

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Comments 9

EvalynCarnate

July 23, 2012 at 3:25 PM

I remember the first Meconium poop. I was alone with my baby for the first time, the day after she born. All of the sudden I heard these muffled gurgles coming from her diaper...Eager to change her FIRST poopy diaper, I quickly laid her out, got my necessities and started business. I knew what to expect it to look like and everything, but what I didnt expect was the giant poop bubble that blasted from her tiny bottom as soon as I folded the diaper down. It exploded and particles went all over me, her, and my hospital bed. It was one for the ages, surely.

.....and I totally could have done without the "food" comparisons. I'd rather have looked and pictures of actual poop..like the diagrams they have at the ped's offices :-p

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brandspanknnew

July 23, 2012 at 3:35 PM

My kids poop is a weird color always. Navy blue! XD

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Nonmember comment from Winifred

July 23, 2012 at 5:43 PM

Undeniably believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the net the simplest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while people think about worries that they just do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

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fleurdelys3110

July 23, 2012 at 6:43 PM

Agree with Evelyn...could've definitely done without the food pictures in the slideshow

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GlowWorm889

July 23, 2012 at 6:48 PM

Agreed with the food comments. I WAS going to make myself a PB and J but now I'm not so keen on the idea....

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Facebook comment from Colene Pattee

July 25, 2012 at 12:23 AM

As a nanny I had changed mushy messy poopy diapers for 20 years! I thought I had seen it all until..... I had my own baby. She surprised me in the best way! While it is awful that she has a milk protein allergy (caused a bleeding stomach) the best side effect of not a drop of dairy is THE EASIEST TO CLEAN UP POOPS EVER!! They come out like a blob of soft playdough and NEVER stick to her. She is a one wipey baby every time!

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puggylove10

July 28, 2012 at 7:09 PM

we were having trouble getting breastfeeding established the 1st few days. after that was fixed, she had a major tar-butt blowout about the fourth day. had 4 diaper changes in the span of 20 minutes.

thanks for the article. now i'm reassured that split pea green is ok.

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Nonmember comment from viagra

August 31, 2012 at 8:53 AM

<----- Opening Spinn

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Facebook comment from Daphne Procz-Shorts

October 27, 2012 at 6:08 AM

I wish that the author would have included one of the most confusing poops that a baby may have and that even some doctors do not know about -- sandy poop. When baby poop has granules in it that do resemble sand, there can be different types of issues. The most likely is that the child cannot digest a substance in his or her diet, and that substance often is gluten. Celiac disease includes the inability digest gluten. If your baby's poop seems grainy like sand, get in touch with your doctor.

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