Bowel Movements & Diapers

The first bowel movement will be a greenish black and sticky tar-like stool.

The stools will turn brownish green to yellow as your child feeds better after 3-4 days of life.

The frequency of bowel movement can vary. In the newborn period, babies have more frequent bowel movements (5-10 times a day) and they are usually loose (the consistency of mustard). In the first few weeks of life, if your baby is not having a bowel movement every day, call your pediatrician. Notify your pediatrician if the stool is hard or if your baby has to push hard to have a bowel movement.

After the first 2-3 days of life your baby should have a minimum of 3-4 wet diapers per day. Occasionally, babies will have brick dust colored urine in the first week of life. This normally lasts 1-2 days until the baby is feeding well.

Read More: HealthyChildren.org

Go Back to All About Newborns

Share this article:



Help at Your Fingertips

Access this health library and much more, from anywhere with our free app for parents of newborns.



Stay connected to your children’s health:

Want pediatric news, kid-friendly recipes and parenting tips?
Sign up for our patient parent newsletter:

Other great ways to connect: