Noticing green poop in your baby’s diaper can leave you wondering about their health and well-being. But thankfully, the occasional greenish stool is normal for a newborn, says Linda Folden Palmer, D.C., author of Baby Poop: What Your Pediatrician May Not Tell You. If your baby is eating enough—and if the green stool doesn’t appear at every diaper change—you probably don’t need to visit the pediatrician. Keep reading to learn more about the causes of green baby poop.
What Causes Green Baby Poop?
It can be disconcerting to notice green poop in your baby’s diaper, but it’s usually not a cause for concern. Find out more about what green baby poop means and when to call a doctor.
Updated on November 22, 2022
Noticing green poop in your baby’s diaper can leave you wondering about their health and well-being. But thankfully, the occasional greenish stool is normal for a newborn, says Linda Folden Palmer, D.C., author of Baby Poop: What Your Pediatrician May Not Tell You. If your baby is eating enough—and if the green stool doesn’t appear at every diaper change—you probably don’t need to visit the pediatrician. Keep reading to learn more about the causes of green baby poop.
Why Is My Baby’s Poop Green?
Your newborn baby’s first poop will be greenish-black and tarry in consistency, according to Dr. Palmer. Called meconium, it consists of everything your baby ingested in the womb, including amniotic fluid, bile, and yup, their own skin cells. Over the next few days, the stool begins to take on an army green color, then it turns mustard yellow (if breastfeeding) or tan-brown (if formula feeding).
Stomach bile gives poop its signature brownish color. When stool (poop) is rushed through the digestive tract too quickly, the bile doesn’t get digested, leading to a greenish hue, says Dr. Palmer. Here are some possible causes of green baby poop.
Foremilk-hindmilk imbalance
Breast milk changes over the course of a nursing session. The breasts first produce low-fat and high-sugar “foremilk,” which gradually transforms into high-fat, high-calorie “hindmilk” as the breast empties.
If your baby tends to have short nursing sessions or you have an oversupply of breast milk, they may be getting more foremilk than hindmilk. This might also happen if the baby switches breasts too quickly or frequently. Too much foremilk may lead to gassiness and green, frothy stools.
Illness
If the green stool looks like diarrhea or contains mucus, something is probably irritating your little one. “Sometimes babies get a stress reaction, or it could be a stomach bug,” says Dr. Palmer. If this happens, maintain your regular feeding schedule as your baby will tolerate it; breast milk provides antibodies that promote recovery and your little one will need to stay hydrated.
Food intolerance
According to Dr. Palmer, a leading cause of green baby poop is a food intolerance—either to something in breast milk or the baby’s formula. “The number one ingredient that babies react to is cow’s milk,” she says, although many other foods, beverages, or medications could cause a reaction. If your baby has a food intolerance, they may also develop eczema and act irritable after feeding.
Green foods
Breastfeeding babies may have green poop if the lactating person eats leafy greens or green food coloring. Once your child starts eating solids, green foods (like peas or spinach) can also tint their stool.
Iron supplements
“Dark green baby poop after the first few days of life is probably from an iron supplement,” either taken by the [birthing person] or the baby, says Dr. Palmer.
Insufficient milk intake
If a nursing baby isn’t getting enough milk, their stool can turn green. They also won’t dirty their diaper regularly (newborns should poop at least 3–4 times each day), won’t gain weight, and may act fussy or sleepy. Call your OB-GYN, pediatrician, or lactation consultant right away if you’re worried your baby isn’t eating properly.
Other causes of green baby poop
According to Dr. Palmer, newborns being treated for jaundice with phototherapy can have green poop. Teething could also promote a greenish hue in stool, since teething babies swallow lots of excess saliva. Finally, “some parents report green poop after vaccinations,” adds Dr. Palmer.
When to Visit the Doctor for Green Baby Poop
Worried about bright green baby poop, dark green baby poop, watery green baby poop, mucusy green baby poop, or something in between? Rest assured that, on its own, this type of stool is nothing to worry about. It usually doesn’t require any special treatment.
However, you should visit the doctor if your baby displays signs of illness, such as fever, lethargy, or vomiting. You should also let your pediatrician know if your baby is experiencing green poop mixed with diarrhea since this puts your little one at risk for dehydration. Signs of dehydration include decreased number of wet diapers, irritability, lack of tears, dry mouth and lips, sunken eyes, and sunken fontanel (soft spot on head). Finally, alert your provider if you don’t think your baby is eating enough at feedings.
Why Is My Baby’s Poop Green?
Wendy Wisner is a lactation consultant and writer covering maternal/child health, parenting, general health and wellness, and mental health. She has worked with breastfeeding parents for over a decade, and is a mom to two boys.
Updated on August 02, 2022
Paul A. Rufo, MD, MMSc, is an assistant professor of pediatrics and senior investigator in the Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Boston Children’s Hospital.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
It’s common to worry if your baby’s poop is a different color than the normal brown or tan color that we expect of poop. Green poops are probably the most common of these poop aberrations. Pediatricians tend to receive many concerned phone calls from parents about an unsightly green poop their baby produced. However, green poop is not usually a serious medical issue. Instead, it’s often due to your baby’s diet or a mild infection.
Thankfully, green poop is very common and a normal variation of stool coloring. Although green poop can indicate illness, it’s almost never a reason to panic.
Learn more about what it means if your baby’s poop turns green, what causes green poop, and what to do if you notice that their poop is green.
What Is Green Poop?
It may surprise you, but green poop is actually a variation of normal poop color. As the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) explains, “[N]ormal stool colors are any shade of brown, tan, yellow or green.”
When green poop is caused by something out of the ordinary, it’s usually nothing worrisome. Most cases of green poop are caused by something your child ate, a vitamin or medicine they took, or a tummy upset that resulted in diarrhea.
Green-colored poop is especially common in newborns and babies, though toddlers and older children may also experience green poop at times. It’s normal for both breastfed and bottle-fed babies to occasionally have green poop, although it may occur more often for those drinking formula.
Symptoms
Green poop may happen on its own, or be accompanied by certain symptoms that go along with an upset stomach:
- Green stool may also be accompanied by loose stools, as in the case of diarrhea
- Normally formed stool may look greenish at times; green is a normal color variation of stool
- Sometimes, stool that looks black may actually be dark green
Causes
There are many causes of green poop in babies and toddlers and they rarely indicate a serious medical issue. Most commonly, it is due to something your child ate, a food intolerance, or an infection, such as a stomach bug.
Children of all age groups experience green poop at one time or another, but causes and frequency can vary depending on your child’s age.
In Babies
Babies, and especially newborns, are most likely to experience green poops. Here are some of the most likely causes:
- A newborn’s first poop, meconium, looks tarry black, but may look greenish as well
- Excess bile can cause green poop
- A breastfed baby’s poop, as it transitions from meconium to mature milk, may look greenish
- Green poop may indicate a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance in breastfed babies, which results in your baby is getting a larger portion of foremilk (watery milk) than hindmilk (thicker, fattier milk). Though this can cause tummy discomfort, it doesn’t indicate a milk supply issue or problem with your milk
- Green poop may indicate an intolerance to a food in a beastfeeding parent’s diet, in this case, the baby may appear uncomfortable or gassy
- Green poop, especially when accompanied by streaks of blood, may indicate an allergy to something in a breastfed breastfeeding parent’s diet, a first food, or a formula ingredient
- Certain brands of formula produce greenish stool
- Viral or bacterial infections can cause loose, greenish stools
- Your baby’s poop may turn green when you introduce solid foods into your baby’s diet, particularly green vegetables
In Toddlers
- As your toddler enters daycare and begins to interact with other children, they are more likely to pick up viruses that can cause diarrhea—very often, diarrhea that produces loose, watery stools with a greenish color
- As your toddler expands their palate, they might encounter foods that turn their poop green, such as spinach, other green vegetables, and foods containing green dye
- If your toddler is consuming a toddler formula or supplement, this may turn their poop green
- Vitamins, particularly containing iron, can cause green poops
- If your child is recovering from a stomach virus and is taking grape-flavored Pedialyte, they may experience bright green poop as a result
In Older Children
As is the case for babies and toddlers, your older child may experience green poop as a result of the following:
- A viral or bacterial stomach infection that produces diarrhea or an upset stomach
- Consuming green foods
- Taking medications or vitamins
You may not be reviewing your older child’s stools as frequently as you do your baby’s or toddlers (thank goodness for potty training!), but you can encourage your child to report when anything is different about their poop’s color or consistency.
What Poop Colors Are Red Flags?
According to the AAP, green poops are almost never a cause of concern. However, green, loose, or watery poop often indicates diarrhea, which needs attention and care in children of all age groups.
There are poop colors that may indicate a problem. If your child’s poop is white, red (especially bright red), or black, you should contact your pediatrician. Poop of those colors may not always be an issue, but they do warrant a mention to your doctor and possibly an exam at the doctor’s office.
Treatment
Green poop rarely indicates a medical emergency, but feel free to can call your doctor during normal business hours if your child has green poop and you feel concerned.
Usually, your doctor will assure you that your child’s green poop is nothing to worry about. In some cases, they will want to schedule a visit with your child for a medical examination, just to rule out any other medical concerns.
If your child is acting very sick and also has green poop, you should not hesitate to call your doctor immediately, during after-hours, or seek emergency medical care. For example, green poop that is accompanied by diarrhea can indicate a viral or bacterial illness.
If your child has several days of loose, green poop, they may be experiencing dehydration as a result of their illness. Most cases of dehydration can be remedied by hydrating your child, but if your child is also acting extremely lethargic or is difficult to rouse, they may need medical attention for their dehydration.
Dietary Changes
Most cases of green poop do not require treatment because green colored stool is a common variation of normal stool. If your child’s green poop is caused by something they ate (such as a green food) or a vitamin or medication they have taken, it’s not necessary to remove that from their diet just to change the color of their stool.
However, if that food, vitamin, or medicine is bothering them in some other way, such as causing gas or other tummy upset, you may consider removing it.
If your child’s green poop is accompanied by physical discomfort, then it might be time to intervene. For example:
- If your breastfed baby has green, frothy poops accompanied by gas and spitting up, they may be experiencing foremilk/hindmilk imbalance, or a food intolerance or allergy. If these issues are upsetting your baby, you can try to remedy them with the help of your doctor or a lactation consultant.
- If your baby’s formula is causing green poop, this isn’t a problem in and of itself, but if they also have an upset stomach, you can speak with your doctor about switching formula brands.
- If your child has an illness or an upset stomach that is causing loose, green stools, and they are also feeling unwell, you can talk to your doctor about treatment for their illness or stomach issues. You may also need to rehydrate them if they have become dehydrated.
A Word From Verywell
Although green poop is a common variation of stool color, it’s much less common than brown or tan poop, so it makes sense to worry if your baby has green stool. However, luckily, green poops are usually not a sign of a serious medical concern. Often, they just indicate that your baby ate green food (or the breastfeeding parent did), they have a food intolerance, or a viral or bacterial infection that’s causing tummy troubles.
If you have any questions about your baby’s stool or you’re unsure if your baby’s green poop needs treatment, be sure to contact their pediatrician for advice.
If you notice green poop in your child, take a deep breath. If they are acting like their normal selves, it’s very unlikely that anything is wrong. However, there is nothing wrong with double-checking with your doctor—that’s what they are there for.
If something seems off with your child or they seem unwell, don’t hesitate to call your doctor right away, or visit your local urgent care or emergency room. Always go with your parental instincts when it comes to medical issues with your child.
Thankfully, while most of us gasp the first time we see our child’s green poop, it turns out that cleaning up a green poop or two (or more) is just one of the more unpleasant—though very common—jobs of being a parent.
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. The many colors of baby poop.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Stools – unusual color.
Additional Reading
- Kasırga E. The importance of stool tests in diagnosis and follow-up of gastrointestinal disorders in children. Turk Pediatri Ars. 2019;54(3):141-148. Published 2019 Sep 25. doi:10.14744/TurkPediatriArs.2018.00483
By Wendy Wisner
Wendy Wisner is a lactation consultant and writer covering maternal/child health, parenting, general health and wellness, and mental health. She has worked with breastfeeding parents for over a decade, and is a mom to two boys.
Baby Poop Guide
No one said it’s pretty or fun, but it’s a fact: As a new parent, you’ll spend a lot of time looking at your baby’s poop. The good news? All those diaper changes can give you insight into your baby’s health.
Our experts have created a baby poop guide to give you the 411 on your baby’s number two, with special information for babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or with ongoing medical needs.
Infant poop frequency
Stool frequency in babies varies, so don’t put too much stock into how many times a day your baby “should” be pooping. Babies can poop as frequently as every feeding or as infrequently as every two to three days. Neither of these situations should cause you alarm. Breastfed infants tend to poop more frequently than formula-fed infants.
When should I call my pediatrician?
While every baby’s poop schedule is unique, if your baby hasn’t pooped in four days, you should call your pediatrician. This could be a sign of constipation.
Infant poop color
For new parents, or even experienced parents, the color of your baby’s poop can surprise you. Babies can create a rainbow of poops, but it typically doesn’t mean there’s a problem.
Almost all infants’ first poops will be thick, black and tarry looking. These stools are called meconium and are completely normal.
When your baby starts breastfeeding or drinking formula, their poop will turn green or yellow and have a more liquid consistency. Breastfed babies’ poop will stay in the green-yellow-brown palette as long as they continue breastfeeding.
Formula-fed babies’ poop will typically be slightly lighter, but similar in color to breastfed babies. Slight changes in color are typically the result of your baby’s intestinal lining or how they digest milk and aren’t concerning.
As your baby begins to eat solid food, it will change the color of their poop. This is natural, but certain colors can tell you something about your baby’s health or signal a warning sign.
Red baby poop
While it may look startling, red poop is almost always caused by red food or medicine. The exception? Bloody stool, which can signal allergies or bleeding in their gastrointestinal tract. Call your doctor if you see blood in your baby’s poop.
Green baby poop
This is completely normal, even when it’s dark green. Dark green poop is usually caused by bile, a fluid made in your baby’s liver that aids digestion. Inspect dark green poop closely (yes, this is your parental duty) to make sure it’s not black, as that could be cause for concern.
Black baby poop
If your baby has black poop after their very first poops, it could be a sign of stomach bleeding. Look at the poop under bright light and if it’s black instead of dark green, call your doctor.
Yellow baby poop
Any poop that is yellow, orange or brown is completely normal.
White or light grey baby poop
This is the one shade that should almost always alert you of a problem. White baby poop could signal that your baby has a liver condition and isn’t digesting food properly.
When should I call my pediatrician?
Most colors are normal but call your doctor if your baby’s poop is white, black or has blood in it.
Infant poop consistency
Baby poop is softer and more liquid than older kids’ stool. The following consistencies are normal for breastfed and formula-fed infants:
- Soft and somewhat runny
- Slightly seedy
- Pasty (more common in formula-fed babies)
If your baby’s poop strays too far from these textures, that’s when you should get concerned.
When should I call my pediatrician?
Two situations should ring minor alarm bells:
- Very loose or watery stool for three or more diapers, which could lead to dehydration
- Hard, pellet-like poop — a sign of constipation
Never give your infant laxatives, enemas, suppositories or other stool stimulators without asking your doctor first.
What to know about poop for babies with complex medical needs
Babies who spend time in the NICU or have complex medical needs often need extra care or follow different developmental timelines than other babies. Parents need to learn new information about their baby’s condition and what to look for.
When it comes to baby poop, parents whose babies have medical conditions should be on the lookout for the same things mentioned above, with a few additions.
Poop for babies with gastrointestinal issues
Babies with gastrointestinal conditions or complications will face the greatest impact to their digestive systems. Their bowel movements and developmental schedule won’t be the same as their peers’. Here are some gastrointestinal issues that affect a baby’s poop:
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC): This is a serious intestinal disease for premature babies that occurs when the small or large intestine becomes inflamed. This can sometimes create a hole in the intestinal wall that allows waste to move into the baby’s bloodstream or abdomen, which can make the baby very sick. Both diarrhea and constipation can be symptoms of NEC. Some babies with NEC need to have some of their bowel removed, which affects their ability to absorb food. This can make them more prone to liquid stool and weight gain issues, even as they grow older. Our neonatal and gastrointestinal experts work together to get the best results for babies with NEC.
- Babies with blockage or narrowing of bowels: These bowel issues often require surgery. Bright green poop or no pooping for the first few days of life are warning signs for blocked or narrow bowels.
Reaction to medication
When babies leave the NICU, they sometimes remain on medication or have different dietary needs. This may change the color or consistency of their poop. These changes shouldn’t alarm you, but you should know what to expect, so you can spot anything that really is a problem.
- Antibiotics: When babies are on antibiotics at home, they often have looser stool and are at higher risk for developing diaper rash. If your baby is on antibiotics, try to change their diaper soon after they poop and apply a barrier cream like Vaseline® or Desitin ® as a preventive measure.
- Fortified breastmilk or medication: If your baby needs more calories, they may be given fortified breastmilk for feeding at home. Our doctors might prescribe medication to take at home for several conditions. Both of these could change your baby’s poop, so talk to your doctor to know what to expect.
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