What is it? Your child’s poop can tell us a lot about their health! While color and texture changes are often normal, sometimes they can signal something more serious. Knowing what’s typical and what’s not can help you decide when to relax and when to reach out.
COLOR
Yellow -normal: especially in infants who are breastfeeding
Green - normal: common in infant to toddler age, also can be more green during stomach bug illnesses when stool is moving through the tract faster (i.e. diarrhea)
Brown -normal: especially once child is eating solid foods
Red - abnormal: can mean a sign of bleeding or from food/medication:
Foods:
Beets, red dye (kool aid/jello, etc)
Less likely but possible if child ate a large amount of the food - tomatoes, cranberries, rhubarb, red peppers can make the stool look more red
Medications: Cefdinir
Black - abnormal: can be a sign of bleeding as well.
Some foods such as licorice or grape juice in large quantities are thought to cause a darker color change
Stool can also sometimes look close to black if your child is on iron supplements or taking Pepto-bismol
White / light grey: abnormal: can be a sign of liver disease
TEXTURE
Seedy: breastfed babies
Soft / mushy: common in all infants / many toddlers
Watery with chunks: when transit time is fast like during a stomach illness or diarrhea
Constipation: Type 1 being most constipated and Type 7 being diarrhea.
When to Manage at Home
✅ You can manage at home when:
Stool is yellow, green, or brown
Your child is feeding/eating well and acting like themselves
You see an occasional change linked to a new food or mild stomach bug
When to Contact Poppins
📱 Contact us when:
Your child has red stool not linked to food/medicine
You see ongoing diarrhea, constipation, or mucus in stool
You’re unsure if stool changes are normal
You notice new abdominal pain, vomiting, or low energy
When to Visit Your Pediatrician
🩺 Go to an in-person appointment when:
Black stools not linked to foods, iron, or Pepto-Bismol
White or grey stools (especially in infants)
Ongoing weight loss, poor growth, or feeding difficulties
Recurrent abdominal pain or fevers with stool changes
When to Go to the ER
🚨 Seek immediate emergency care if your child is:
Bloody stools that are heavy, persistent, or not linked to foods/medicine
Severe dehydration (very little urine, dry mouth, sunken eyes)
Persistent vomiting with stool changes
Severe belly pain, extreme sleepiness, or if your gut tells you something is wrong
If your gut tells you something is wrong, don't hesitate to reach out. Need help? Reconnect with our on-demand team of medical staff available 24/7
Need more support? Help is just a text message away.
