💩 Baby Poop Colour Checker
Select the colour and consistency to understand what your baby's nappy is telling you
How to use this tool
Select the colour that best matches your baby's stool, choose the consistency and age, then tap Analyse Nappy for a detailed explanation and action guide.
- 1Select the closest colour from the grid
Tap the colour circle that best matches what you see in the nappy. If the colour is between two options, choose the closest one. The colour swatches represent the full spectrum of normal and abnormal baby poop colours.
- 2Select the consistency
Consistency gives important additional information. Watery stools indicate diarrhoea and possible dehydration risk. Hard stools may indicate constipation. Seedy/grainy is perfectly normal for breastfed babies.
- 3Select your baby's age
Age context is critical. Black meconium on day 1 is normal. Black stool on day 10 requires urgent medical attention. A breastfed newborn having yellow seedy stool every feed is perfect. The same frequency in a 2-year-old would be abnormal.
- 4Read the full analysis
The tool gives you a complete explanation of what the colour likely means, what might be causing it, and clear guidance on whether to monitor at home, call your doctor, or seek urgent care.
Day 1-3: Black sticky meconium (normal). Day 3-5: Transition to green-yellow (normal). Week 1-6 breastfed: Mustard yellow seedy (perfect). Formula fed from birth: Tan-brown formed (normal). After solids at 6 months: Brown, smellier, more formed (normal). These changes all happen naturally.
White, clay-grey or pale stool at any age (possible liver condition). Black tarry stool after day 3. Blood mixed through the stool (not just surface streak). Stool accompanied by severe vomiting, fever, and lethargy together. Baby has 8+ watery stools in 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should my newborn poop?
Is it normal for poop to smell bad?
My baby strains and cries when pooping. Is that constipation?
Can my diet affect my breastfed baby's stool?
How baby poop colour assessment care actually works in Australia
Australian pediatric care runs through a mixed public-private system. Medicare covers GP visits and public ED visits. Many families also have private health insurance for faster specialist access. Your first call for after hours fever or illness is typically Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. Free, 24/7 nurse line. The Maternal and Child Health Nurse system is one of the best in the world. Free and accessible. Royal Childrens Hospital Melbourne, Westmead in Sydney, Queensland Childrens, Perth Childrens. These are the specialty ED centres for serious cases. For rural and remote families, telehealth through 13Health in Queensland or HealthDirect federally is critical. Royal Flying Doctor Service covers the genuinely remote stuff.
In Australia, call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for free 24/7 health advice. For emergencies, call 000. Maternal and Child Health Nurses (free service in most states) can also help during business hours. Your GP is your first point of contact for ongoing concerns. The Tresillian Parent Helpline (1300 272 736) also handles concerns about babies.
What Australian mums actually deal with
Aussie mums tend to be pragmatic about baby illness. Cultural default leans toward "she will be right." Combined with reasonable access to nurses and GPs, this generally works. The Maternal and Child Health Nurse system is a treasure of the Australian health system. Use it without hesitation. Telehealth normalised during COVID and stayed normalised, which is genuinely useful. The unique Aussie concerns are bushfire smoke season and extreme summer heat. Babies are more vulnerable to air quality than adults. Sun and heat exposure can cause apparent fever via overheating. Always check core temperature properly (rectal or under-arm thermometer), not just the forehead, especially in summer.