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Parentpedia
Effects on Bowel Movements
What Experts Say
Things that were once of no particular importance suddenly take on great significance when you become a parent. Take the contents of your baby's diaper. Let's face it, you're dialed in to the color, texture, smell, and frequency of her poops. And when her diet begins to include solid foods, you're in for a few surprises as well.
A breast-fed baby's stool is typically soft, yellow, seedy, mustard-like in thickness, and may smell slightly sweet. A formula-fed baby's is typically a darker tan and thicker, with a more offensive odor. This changes when babies begin to sample solid foods. In fact, what shows up in the diaper may look surprisingly like what you recently fed your baby. Foods that come out as waste may still have some of their original color or texture (carrots may produce yellow stools, for instance). You may see bits of food. This is because your baby's digestive system is still maturing. Certain foods can slow down the digestive process, leading to less frequent stools (or constipation). Typical culprits include excess amounts of bananas, rice cereal, and applesauce.
Recognize that babies have different patterns for bowel movements. Know what is normal for yours so you'll notice any shifts, and can then track down what might be causing them.
Don't be alarmed by changes in the color, odor, or texture of your baby's stool when you introduce solid foods unless you notice the following: mucous; loose or watery stools for several diaper changes; severe diarrhea with blood in it; or a stool that looks like dark red jelly in combination with abdominal pain. If this happens, call your doctor immediately.
If your baby's stools become much less frequent, consider what you're feeding her. Your pediatrician may suggest you avoid foods that might be the culprit (bananas, rice cereal, cheese) and may recommend you switch to barley or oatmeal cereal from rice, or add a food that's known to move foods through the system, such as green vegetables, pears, or prunes -- even diluted prune juice in a cup. Before making these changes on your own, however, seek your pediatrician's advice first.
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The contents of ParentPedia are intended for educational purposes only. Such contents are not intended to, and do not, constitute medical or healthcare advice or diagnosis, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on information presented on ParentPedia is at your own risk.
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