Poop Color

My son has recently discovered fruit loops cereal and eats it as a snack every few days... his poop is now what my DH calls play-doh green. It is the brightest green you've EVER seen! The color just depends on what they eat, it's the consistency of it I am usually most concerned with. :)

poop color changes with everything we eat.. and kid poop changes as they grow and their bodies mature and get used to eating food.. I wouldn't worry.. as long as it's not black or have blood in it, she's fine. my son's poop for a while was beige, then a funky green color and now his is between light and dark brown. yogurt can change the color, certain vegetables, even if they have red popsicles or jello.. call your ped if you are that concerned, but it sounds ok to me..

Mel
there is no correct color of poop.
It all depends on what you eat.
(more than 24oz of milk will make it light colored)
(blueberries or blue kool-aid will make it green)

The texture is another matter.
It should not be formed. It should resemble peanut butter. anything harder could lead to constipation problems.
hope this helps

I think it depends on what she's eating. My daughter's can sometimes be just like yours if she has had a big meal or a lot of fiber that day or the day before. I'd say as long as it isn't diarrhea, not to worry. And I also agree with the other post - it can come in many colors and textures (gross I know) but as long as it's not white it's fine.

It was always my understanding from friends, family, and pediatricians that greenish and a range of browns were all fine. Black and hard are NOT good! Hard generally indicating not enough fiber --plus much harder to pass... So sounds like your daughter is perfectly normal!

M., I was told by my sons doctor, after calling because his poop was green, that I should not be concerned unless it is white.

It sounds normal to me as long as it's formed (not diarrhea), sinks in the toilet, and appears to consist of fully digested matter in general.

The reason I make these distinctions is that watching the poop was one of the key ways that we discovered that our son is gluten intollerant (celiac). His stools became light-colored, greasy, and ranged from soft/bulky to loose. He also got quite gassy and his stools floated (fatty stool where the body is expelling insted of processing normal fats in foods) and appeard mostly undigested. They also smelled TERRIBLE.

These are some classic signs of gluten intollerance that helped us to catch it early (thank god) but his stools weren't white or black (light brown, tan, and even yellowish), and I know some docs have suggested that these are the only colors to be concerned with. If fact, with celiac disease effecting an estimated 1 in every 100 to 120 people it's a lot more common than most of us ever realized!

In your daughter's case, if they're just softly formed and brown they're probably just fine. But if your mommy instinct is telling you that there's something not quite right about them, you're wise to investigate!

Hi M.,
My son had some very soft poop for a while and the Dr. recommended white grape juice instead of other varieties.
Good Luck

M.,

We should all be having at least 3 bowel movements a day. They should not be hard or black. It should not be hard to go. They should be soft and significant and should not smell. If there is gas, bloating and it smells, that means that foods are not being digested properly and are fermenting in the bowel.

I am a Nutritional Microscopist, someone who studies health at the cellular level. I specialize in detoxifying and balancing the body. In almost every client I see a blood profile called toxic bowel. Most of us are chronically constipated and don't even know it! Did you know that the #3 over the counter product is laxatives!!

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Sounds perfectly normal.

Hi M.,
This is the kind of information that your pediatrician should be keeping track of, and if he/she isn't, you need to bring it up now. Does it interfer with her bowel control? Is it easy for her to toilet train? Is she growing typically? I mention all these questions, because bowels can be a symptom of something as simple as the dietary additives, or something more complex which requires trained medical inquiry and attention. Whatever the cause is, smelly, soft stools are not typical and should be addressed with your pediatrician.

I wouldnt stress - as long as she is pooping and it isnt black, you should be ok.

If you're really concerned, I would check with your daughter's pediatrician. However, he/she will probably ask a few questions about her overall diet, weight/height, etc. I would start with taking a good look at her diet. Does she eat a pretty balanced diet? I believe that poop color can change depending on what you're eating. If she is not eating a variety of foods, that could affect the color and form. It seems like certain foods with lots of fiber or ruffage (spelling?), like strawberries, carrots, etc., affect the color and form. Best of luck!

Flooting poop is ok, and it The oil is causing the smell. As long as she doesn't strain or hurt, she is fine. The color relates to the amount of time it spends in the colon. Just relax. she is fine and so are you...
I only have 7 children, so I know a bit..