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Your quick and easy guide to newborn nappies

You’ll soon reach expert level at identifying, sniffing out and changing nappies. But until you get well versed in your baby’s bowel movements, we’ll help you figure out what’s normal.

THE 1ST NAPPY

The first stools are called meconium. This tarry, sticky gunk is made up of digested mucus and amniotic fluid that baby swallowed while in utero. Expect the first black-green coloured meconium nappy within 24 hours after the birth. “Colostrum has a laxative effect, helping to ‘flush’ out the meconium,” says Leana Habeck, registered nurse and qualified lactation consultant at The Breastfeeding Clinic.

CHANGES TO EXPECT

The colour and consistency of baby’s poo will change gradually. “Stools become lighter in colour, changing to greenish and then to yellow (around day four or five) and becomes softer, and more liquid,” says Darol Wilmot, registered nurse and midwife at All About Babies. Depending on how baby is fed, there are different “normals”.

NORMAL BREASTFED STOOLS ARE

Mustard yellow to green or brown.

Seedy & pasty in consistency,

like scrambled egg. Could be runny. Could change often and without warning.

No offensive smell.

NORMAL FORMULA FED STOOLS ARE

Shades of yellow or brown. Pasty consistency, much like peanut butter.

Fewer and smellier stools than in breastfed babies.

IS SHE CONSTIPATED?

“It is very unusual for a breastfed baby to become constipated, as breastmilk is high in lactose and very well digested,” adds Darol. “Formula fed babies very often do become constipated as this milk is more difficult to digest than breastmilk.”

Most healthy babies will have a bowel movement as soon as they are fed. However, some will not pass a stool at every feed, in which case you should remember that as long as your newborn does not have to strain too much and the stools are a normal colour, he is not constipated. It is also normal for a healthy newbie to grunt and strain during a normal bowel movement – again, this is not a sign that your baby is constipated.

Hard, round, pellet-like stools are a sign of constipation at this stage. As long as his poos are a soft consistency, your baby is not constipated – even if she has not done a poo in days. Unlike adults, the frequency of stools is not an indication of constipation in babies this young.

If your formula fed baby has hard irregular stools that often causes him to cry while passing them, take him to a healthcare provider to discuss changing his formula. Only a clinic sister or doctor is allowed to give you advice.

TIPS FOR DIARRHOEA

Very frequent, watery and green stools (possibly also smelly) might mean diarrhoea