Noticing green poop in your baby's diaper can leave you wondering about their health and well-being. Thankfully, the occasional greenish stool is normal for a newborn, and it's often due to your baby's diet or a mild infection.
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. Learn more about what it means if your baby’s poop turns green, what causes green poop, and what to do if you notice it.
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What Is Green Baby Poop?
Green baby poop is exactly what it sounds like: stool that has a greenish appearance. The color can be light, bright, or dark green. And while it may surprise you, green poop is actually a variation of normal poop color, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Green-colored poop is especially common innewborns and babies, though toddlers and older children may also experience it. It's also normal for bothbreastfedand bottle-fed babies to have green poop occasionally, although it may occur more often in those drinking formula.
What Does Green Poop Look Like?
Green poop may happen on its own, though it might also be accompanied by symptoms that go along with an upset stomach:
- Green stool may also appear with loose stools, as in the case of baby 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 of Green Poop in Babies and Newborns
There are many causes of green poop in babies and children,and they rarely indicate a serious medical issue. Most commonly, it's due to something your child ate, a food intolerance, or an infection, such as a stomach bug. Keep reading to learn more about the causes of green poop.
Meconium
Your newborn baby's first poop will be greenish-black and tarry in consistency, says Linda Folden Palmer, DC, author of Baby Poop: What Your Pediatrician May Not Tell You. 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).
Excess bile
Stomach bile gives poop its signature brownish color. When poop is rushed through the digestive tract too quickly, the bile doesn't get digested, leading to a greenish hue, says Dr. Palmer.
Foremilk-hindmilk imbalance
Breast milk changes throughout 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 might be 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.
Green foods
Nursing infants may have green baby poop if the lactating parent 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 might be caused by an iron supplement, which is sometimes found in formula or supplements.
Food intolerance
According to Dr. Palmer, green baby poop could stem from food intolerance—either to something in breast milk or the baby's formula— though this isn't typical. Most babies will present with blood in their stool or red poop from food intolerances. "The number one ingredient that babies react to is cow's milk," says Dr. Palmer, 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.
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.
Green Poop in Toddlers and Older Children
Toddlers and older children can also have green poop. Here are some common causes.
- Viruses that trigger diarrhea, which sometimes has a greenish color
- Foods that turn poop green, such as spinach, other green vegetables, and foods containing green dye
- Toddler formulas or supplements
- Vitamins, particularly those containing iron
- Grape-flavored Pedialyte, which can cause bright green poop
- Certain medications
You may not be reviewing your older child’s stools as frequently as you do your baby’s or toddlers, but you can encourage them to report when anything is different about their poop’s color or consistency.
Are Breastfed Babies More Likely to Have Green Poop?
Both breastfed and formula-fed babies can have green baby poop. That said, the phenomenon is more common in infants who drink formula. This is especially true if the formula has an iron sulfate supplement or is iron-fortified.
Treatment for Green Baby Poop
Most cases of green poop don't require treatment because green-colored stool is a common variation. If your child’s green poop is caused by something they ate (such as green food) or a vitamin or medication they've taken, it’s not necessary to remove it from their diet.
That said, if the food, vitamin, or medicine is bothering them in some other way—such as causing gas or other tummy upset—you may consider removing it.
You might choose to intervene if your child's green poop is accompanied by physical discomfort, For example:
- If your breastfed baby has green, frothy poopsaccompanied by gas and spitting up, they may be experiencing foremilk/hindmilk imbalance, or afood intolerance or allergy. You can try to remedy these issues 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 illnessthat's causing loose, green stools, and they're also feeling unwell, you can talk to your doctor about treatment. You may also need to rehydrate them.
When to Worry About Poop Colors
According to the AAP, green poops are rarely a cause of concern, but certain poop colors 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.
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 green poop rarely indicates a medical emergency, but feel free to call your doctor during normal business hours if you're concerned.
Usually, they'll assure you that your child’s green poop is nothing to worry about—though in some cases, they'll want to schedule a medical examination to be sure.
That said, you should visit the doctor in the following situations:
- Your child is acting very sick (such as with fever, lethargy, or vomiting) and also has green poop
- Your child might be dehydrated; this can happen after several days of loose, green poop. Signs of dehydration include a decreased number of wet diapers, irritability, lack of tears, dry mouth and lips, sunken eyes, and sunken fontanel (soft spot on head).
- You don't think your baby is eating enough
