The most concerning poop variances are when a baby’s stool is a different shade than the typical brown or tan color of excrement. Green poop is the most frequent of these stool anomalies. A pediatrician often faces the question “why is my baby’s poop green?”. The good news is that green poop is not a cause for concern in babies.
Green poop is fairly common and is a typical variation of stool hue. This green color can be influenced by factors such as food, medication, and supplements. Rarely green poop may signal disease and is generally not a cause for concern barring a few exceptions. So, let’s talk about what it implies if your infant’s feces turn green, how it causes green poop, about what to do if your infant’s poop turns green.
In This Article
- What Causes Green Poop in Babies?
- Treatments Available For Green Poop in Babies
- How to Prevent Green Poop in Babies?
- When to Call a Doctor?
- FAQ’s
What Causes Green Poop in Babies?
Green excrement can come in a variety of hues. The green color can, but does not always, assist you in determining the likely cause. There are numerous reasons for greenish poop in newborns and toddlers, and they rarely suggest a major medical problem.
Green poop affects kids of all ages at some point, although the causes and frequency differ slightly on your infants’s age.
Factors can contribute to green or greenish excrement, including the following:
- In newborns, a green stool maybe due to the baby transitioning from meconium to regular stools.
- Breastfed babies who are getting more potion of foremilk than the hind milk may also have poop which is green in color.
- Babies who have eaten green leafy veggies such as spinach may pass a green stool.
- The artificial coloring that a baby consumes through snacks, cakes or any other food items can also result in green poop.
- Iron supplements are another most common cause for green poop in babies.
Treatments Available For Green Poop in Babies
Green Diarrhea rarely signifies a medical emergency, so contact your doctor within regular working hours if your baby has green poop and you are worried.
- Typically, your specialist will ensure that your infant’s green poop is concerning. However, they will also want to organize a medical evaluation for your baby in some circumstances to rule anything out.
- If your baby is acting unusually ill and has greenish poop, you must contact your doctor promptly, even if it is after hours, or get urgent medical treatment. Green stool, for example, accompanied by Diarrhea, can suggest a bacterial or viral infection.
- If your baby has had loose, green Diarrhea for several days, it indicates dehydration due to their illness. Most dehydration can be treated by hydrating your baby, but if your infant is also exceedingly lethargic or difficult to wake up, they may require treatment for their exhaustion.
- Also, modify the infant’s diet because green-colored stool is a typical variation of regular stool. Most cases of greenish poop need not require treatment. It can happen that your baby ate something green, causing their green poop.
[Read : Dehydration in Babies]
How to Prevent Green Poop in Babies?
It all comes down to the main reason. If it’s a harmless cause and no additional problems appear, you generally don’t need to bother about it. You would still not, for instance, stop giving your baby those healthful green vegetables only to change the color of their excrement.
- If the meal, vitamin, or drug is troubling them in another way, such as creating gas or other stomach trouble, you might consider removing it after talking to the pediatrician. If your baby feels discomfort due to the poop, immediately call the doctor.
- However, if your baby has green feces due to an illness, such as a stomach bug, it may be time to consider preventive measures and take your baby to the doctor.
- Of course, you can’t even stop every sickness, but you can make sure to wash well while changing your baby’s dirty diaper and making food, so you’re less likely to spread illnesses to them.
- Feeding cow’s milk to your infant may lead to green stools owing to lactose excess.
- Keep a record of your and your spouse’s health information to prevent giving your newborn food that could cause an allergic response.
- If your baby develops an allergic response, utilize an exclusion chart to determine which food is causing the reaction.
- The exclusion technique involves recording your and your infant’s food intake daily. Then, if the baby has another episode, the parent keeps track of the previously consumed foods. Remove the meal for a few weeks and then introduce it again; if another adverse reaction occurs, it means that your baby is allergic to that food.
When to Call a Doctor?
Greenish poop may appear unappealing, but it is usually not a cause for concern. However if green poop is accompanied by fever and if your baby is not behaving normally and is uneasy, this may indicate an infection- either bacterial or viral. This may warrant a visit to the doctor.
However, if you see a crimson tint in your baby’s stools, you should investigate further. Genuine bleeding in the feces could indicate gastrointestinal bleeding in your infant. It could be brilliant red blood or deeper maroon color. So, if you detect any stain of blood, contact your infant’s pediatrician.
For parents who have the concern “Why is my baby’s poop green?” it is vital to understand that a nappy full of green feces isn’t usually cause for concern — or a trip to the pediatrician — especially if your baby ate anything bright green or is recuperating normally from a slight stomach ailment.
It’s a positive sign if your infant is staying hydrated and doesn’t appear to be having any additional issues. However, if you observe other colors appearing, you should contact your doctor immediately.
[Read : How To Bring Down Fever In Babies?]
FAQ’s
1. What Kind of Infection Causes Green Poop in Babies?
Green poop in babies is frequently caused by diet, such as consuming leafy greens. However, it could also be caused by gastrointestinal disturbances or infection leading to diarrhea and watery stools. Bacterial and viral infections can both be responsible for green stools in babies. Additionally, a cold and congestion may lead to greenish streaks in your baby’s stool.
2. Does Teething Cause Green Poop?
Yes, teething can often induce green feces due to excessive saliva. Teething can also cause stomach issues in babies which can result in green poop.
3. When to Worry When Baby Has Green Poop?
If your baby is having watery green stools more often than normal and is showing signs of illness such as fever, lethargy, crankiness, cough and/or cold, you may need to see the pediatrician.
Read Also: Baby Crying When Pooping: Reasons, When To Worry, And Remedies
