Every baby has their own bowel habits, just like adults. Nevertheless, it can sometimes be difficult to determine whether everything is normal. Does the color of your baby’s stool, or its texture, in the diaper give rise to questions? In this blog you can read everything you need to know about the bowel habits of bottle-fed babies.
Does baby formula affect your baby’s stool?
Yes. Bottle feeding affects the color and texture of the stool. When bottle-feeding, for example, you will often see a somewhat thicker stool with colors that vary from yellow to green. When you are breastfeeding, your baby’s stool usually looks different. Whatever your baby’s diet, as long as your little one doesn’t experience any pain or discomfort, many variations in the stool are perfectly normal.
How often does a healthy baby poop normally?
There is no standard number of times your baby should pass stool. Some children pass stool after each feeding, while others do so only once every few days. With bottle-feeding, the frequency is usually between three times a day and once every three days. As long as your little one passes stool regulary and doesn’t experience any discomfort, there is no reason to worry.
The colors of stool and their meaning
Your baby’s stool can vary considerably in color and texture. That can sometimes raise questions. Fortunately, in most cases, nothing is wrong. We will explain the colors and meanings below:
- Black/green: In the first days after birth, your baby produces meconium, a dark, sticky stool. This is quite normal and disappears again as soon as your child begins to take in food and its intestines get going.
- Green: A green color may seem strange, but is often associated with bottle-feeding. It is also normal when breastfeeding, for example during teething or after eating spinach.
- Yellow tones: Mustard or ocher yellow stool indicates a healthy digestive system and is common in both breastfed and bottle-fed babies.
- Gray or whitish: During teething, the stool can sometimes turn grayish or watery due to extra saliva. Does this condition continue for a longer period or do you have any concerns? If so, contact your family doctor.
When should you worry?
Changes and variations are part of your child’s growth and development. Nevertheless, it is important to remain attentive. Take action when:
- Your baby’s bowel habits change suddenly and remain different from what you’re used to.
- Your baby is older than six months and suddenly passes stool more than four times a day.
- You notice that your baby is in pain or struggling while passing stool.
Are you concerned? Then consult your family doctor or the childcare clinic. A useful tip: Keep track of your child’s bowel habits in a baby diary or The Wonder Weeks app. This will ensure that you have all the necessary information at hand when your family doctor or consultant at the childcare clinic needs further information.
