Breastfeeding moms should be aware that getting more foremilk can sometimes cause babies stools to turn green. Green stool would be more concerning in a baby that is feeding less, having a fever (rectal temp of 100.4 or higher), or a household contact with recent vomiting or diarrhea.

If your baby is having green stool but is not showing any signs of illness, having difficulty feeding, or signs of distress this is usually fine to monitor at home. Green stool is a normal variation of infant poop. Just like each baby is different, pooping patterns are widely variable even among infants of the same age. Breastfed babies may stool multiple times daily or only once per week, there is a large range of variability. Typically, formula fed babies stool at least once daily. For infants in the first two weeks of life, you should always contact the office if it has been more than 3 days since he or she has had a bowel movement. If the baby is spitting up much more than usual or much more irritable than baseline, that is also always a reason to call.

If the baby is feeding less or having fewer wet diapers that would be a reason to contact the office.

This is usually not concerning if the baby is otherwise doing well. When is it time to worry and when can a bowel movement be classified as “normal”? Our baby poop guide below lists the more frequently asked questions we receive, organized by age group. It’s a topic that no one really likes to talk about, and yet questions about infant stool are among our most common.

Green poop