What goes in must come out

The colour and texture of babys stool is a much discussed topic among new mothers. The colour and texture of stool depends on the diet of the baby. Heres a guide on babys stool. In this articleMy babys stool changes colour everydayWill introducing solids change her stools again?Should I worry if the colour of my babys stools is startling?There is not much difference between her meals and her stools!When should I be worried?My babys stool changes colour everydayAfter this stage, your babys stool will reflect her diet. If it is breast milk, the stools will be golden yellow, sometimes loose, even watery, sometimes seedy, mushy, curdly, or the consistency of mustard. If it is formula, the stool will be soft but better formed than a breastfed babys stool and anywhere from pale yellow to yellowish brown, light brown or brown-green.Will introducing solids change her stools again?The introduction of solids in your babys diet will bring about some changes in her bowel movements. Expect her stools to become increasingly adult-like. A breastfed babys stools will change from soft, mustardy, non-offensive stools to thick, dark, smelly ones. A breastfed babys stools may remain somewhat softer than a bottle-fed babys up until weaning.When solids are introduced in a baby’s diet, adequate amount of liquids, fresh fruits and vegetables must be included in her diet after consulting a paediatrician in order to prevent constipation.Should I worry if the colour of my babys stools is startling?The more varied the meals, the more varied the stools. If you stop and think a minute, you can figure out the reason yourself. The scary red colour could be the result of beet juice. Sandy stools are fairly common and could be ascribed to certain foods like oats or cereals, which appear sandy after their journey through the digestive tract. Some baby food products have been known to colour stools such dramatic shades like fluorescent green and pinkish red. So do not panic.There is not much difference between her meals and her stools!Once they start solids, a babys stools often reflect her most recent meal in colour and texture. So do not be alarmed if after giving her carrots for the first time, her next bowel movement is bright orange. Babies have immature digestive systems because of which much of what they ingest does not change very much on its way out. Foods not chewed thoroughly or those that are harder to digest may come out whole or nearly so.When should I be worried?Due to the natural laxative present in breastmilk, babies who are breastfed exclusively do not find any problem while passing stools and the texture and colour of their stools in normal as well. However, in the cases where babies do not get adequate amount of breastmilk may cope with dehydration and may face difficulties while passing their stools. In this case you must consult a paediatrician. Formula-fed babies are also very susceptible to constipation.As mentioned above babies may pass stools that are red in colour after consuming foods that are red in colour, for example beetroot. However, you must also report to your doctor if your find stains of blood in your baby’s stools. If your baby is passing watery stools once in a while it is not a cause of concern but if your baby continues to pass watery stools you must bring it to the notice of your doctor. Watery stools can be a sign of diarrhoea in your baby. If you find that there is something unusual with your baby’s stools, you must surely talk to your doctor. You doctor is the right person to suggest you right remedies for helping you to deal with the issues related to your baby’s stools. Do not give any over-the-counter medicine to your baby to soften her stools without consulting your doctor to be on a safer side.