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Is it normal that my newborn poops after every feeding?

A person changing an infant baby's diaper
Photo credit: iStockphoto.com

Yes, it's normal if your baby is pooping after every single feeding. You’ll quickly discover that when it comes to newborns, poop frequency comes in a wide range of normal.

Some babies are just more productive poopers than others. It’s perfectly okay to end every feeding with a diaper change, or to not see a single bowel movement for a few days. Your baby pooping a lot probably isn’t an issue, unless you’re changing three or more extra-watery diapers a day. In that case, it could be diarrhea, which is something to let your baby's doctor know about.

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How often should a newborn poop?

It varies. Poop habits differ a lot from baby to baby. The average frequency is one or more bowel movements daily. But some newborns produce five or more dirty diapers a day in their first 2 weeks of life, while others go for days without pooping.

It’s not unusual for newborns to poop a lot, since they spend most of their waking hours eating. In general, breastfed babies poop more than formula-fed ones. In fact, your baby may poop while nursing and again once they’re done – which is why you may want to wait a few minutes after you're finished breastfeeding before swooping in with a clean diaper.

Because breastfed poops contain more liquid, they’ll look more watery than the stools of formula-fed babies. (See real photos of the different kinds of baby poop here.)

When a breastfed newborn poops after every feeding during the first few weeks, take it as a good sign – it means they’re getting plenty of milk. Even though formula-fed babies may have less frequent bowel movements than breastfed babies, it's normal for them to poop after every feeding as well.

The frequency of your baby's bowel movements may start to slow down by the time they're around 6 weeks old, but some babies continue their pattern of pooping after every feeding for much longer. (It’s not uncommon for some 1-year-olds to poop five times a day.)

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How long can a baby go without pooping?

If your baby hasn’t had a bowel movement in a few days, there’s no need to immediately fear the big “C” (aka, constipation). Babies can go days, or even a week, without producing a dirty diaper. A breastfed baby can go even longer – as long as two weeks without pooping if they haven’t started on solid foods yet.

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If the bowel movements your baby does make are soft, constipation probably isn’t an issue.  Exclusively breastfed babies rarely get constipated because breastmilk is an economical food. Your baby gets just what they need, with little waste leftover to poop out.

True constipation in babies typically happens from a change in diet, a lack of fluids, or an illness. The telltale sign is hard, dry stools. If your baby is constipated, they may get extra fussy and look like they’re straining uncomfortably when they try to go.

Should I ever be worried about my baby pooping a lot?

Generally, if your baby's bowel movements are fairly consistent and they’re acting like their usual self, frequent poops aren't a cause for concern. However, if there's a sudden change in your baby's pooping pattern and their stool becomes watery, check with their doctor. Very watery bowel movements could be a sign of an infection.

Call the doctor if your baby has any of these other poop-related symptoms:

  • Pulling their legs up to their stomach (a sign that their tummy hurts)
  • Straining to have a bowel movement
  • Poop that looks like small, hard pebbles or is extra watery
  • Irritability
  • A swollen belly
  • Blood in their poop
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If my baby is pooping a lot, are they more prone to diaper rash? 

Babies who have frequent bowel movements can be more susceptible to diaper rash. Constant contact with stool can irritate the sensitive skin on their bottom.

The best way to prevent diaper rash is to keep your baby’s bottom clean and dry. To start, change their diapers more often. Wash their skin clean with warm water during each change.

You may want to coat the area with a diaper rash cream or a product containing zinc oxide or petroleum jelly to create a barrier. And instead of putting on a new diaper right away, let your baby go diaper-less for a little while each day so their bottom can fully air dry. If these tips don’t relieve the diaper rash, give your baby's doctor a call.

Read more:

A new parent's guide to baby poop

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Age-by-age guide to feeding your baby

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Sources

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

American Academy of Pediatrics. 2020. How to tell if your breastfed baby is getting enough milk. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/How-to-Tell-if-Baby-is-Getting-Enough-Milk.aspxOpens a new window [Accessed May 2022]

American Academy of Pediatrics. 2009. Pooping by the numbers. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Pooping-By-the-Numbers.aspxOpens a new window [Accessed May 2022]

Çamurdan AD. 2014. Defecation patterns of the infants mainly breastfed from birth till the 12th month: Prospective cohort study. https://www.turkjgastroenterol.org/en/defecation-patterns-of-the-infants-mainly-breastfed-from-birth-till-the-12th-month-prospective-cohort-study-134541Opens a new window [Accessed May 2022]

Children's Hospital St. Louis. Undated. How long can a baby go without pooping? https://childrensmd.org/browse-by-age-group/newborn-infants/long-can-baby-go-without-pooping/Opens a new window [Accessed May 2022]

Gustin J. 2018. Characterizing exclusively breastfed infant stool via a novel infant stool scale. https://aspenjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jpen.1468Opens a new window [Accessed May 2022]

La Leche League International. 2018. Constipation? https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/constipation/Opens a new window [Accessed May 2022]

Mayo Clinic. 2020. Diaper rash. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diaper-rash/symptoms-causes/syc-20371636Opens a new window [Accessed May 2022]

National Library of Medicine. 2022. Constipation in infants and children. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003125.htmOpens a new window [Accessed May 2022]

Nationwide Children's Hospital. 2022. Constipation in infants: Symptoms, treatment and when to call a doctor. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/constipation-infantOpens a new window [Accessed May 2022]

Nemours. 2019. Your baby's growth: 3 months (for parents). https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/growth-3mos.htmlOpens a new window [Accessed May 2022]

Nemours. 2019. How can I tell if my baby is constipated? https://kidshealth.org/Hackensack/en/parents/constipated.htmlOpens a new window [Accessed May 2022]

Seattle Children's Hospital. 2022. Diarrhea (0-12 months). https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/diarrhea-0-12-months/Opens a new window [Accessed May 2022]

Stephanie Watson
Stephanie Watson is a freelance health and lifestyle writer based in Rhode Island. When she’s not busy writing, Watson loves to travel, try new cuisines, and attend as many concerts, shows, and plays as she can fit into her busy schedule.
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