💩 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 the United Kingdom
UK pediatric care runs through the NHS. Generally well organised. Can feel slow at peak times. Your first call is usually NHS 111. Free, 24/7. They triage what is going on and tell you what level of care to seek. Sometimes a GP appointment via e-Consult. Sometimes A and E. Occasionally an ambulance. Out of hours GP services run evenings and weekends. Walk in centres and Urgent Treatment Centres handle the mid range stuff. A and E is for genuine emergencies, not routine fever queries, where you can wait many hours. For babies under 3 months though, A and E is the right call regardless. The NHS Pharmacy First service can also handle minor childhood things now without a GP appointment.
In the UK, call NHS 111 for non-emergency advice 24/7. For emergencies, call 999. Many GP practices have an after hours triage line. Your Health Visitor is also a valuable resource for baby questions during weekday hours. Pharmacies like Boots offer free advice from pharmacists for non-emergency concerns through the Pharmacy First service.
What British mums actually deal with
British mums often feel pressure to wait it out before bothering the NHS. This is wrong thinking. NHS 111 was designed for exactly these calls. Staff are trained to triage and there is genuinely no judgment for calling. Health Visitors are an underused resource. They expect to hear about concerns in young babies. They can advise on what is normal during teething (mild temperature elevation, yes). True fever above 38 Celsius is something else and worth a proper assessment. British medical practice runs more conservative on medication than American practice. Calpol is the workhorse. Talk to your GP or pharmacist before alternating with Nurofen, NICE specifically does not recommend routine alternating.