Surprised to find yourself obsessing about baby poop? Like other new parents, you may be a little taken aback by the variety of colors and textures your baby produces. If you run across something new – like mucus – in your baby's poop, you may wonder if it's normal or a symptom of something amiss.
"A baby's gut is constantly adjusting to a variety of things – such as new foods and illnesses – and it can be sensitive enough to detect the smallest of changes sometimes," says Chandani DeZure, a pediatrician, neonatal and pediatric hospitalist, and member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board. "A wide variety of stool colors and textures is normal for babies!"
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What is mucus in baby poop?
Mucus is a slippery liquid made up of water, protein, salts, lipids (types of fat), and minerals. While we may find it gross, mucus is very helpful! It moistens tissues, protects organs from dust and germs, and helps the body eliminate these harmful substances. The nose and throat, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, and reproductive tract all contain mucus.
If there's mucus in your baby's poop, it'll look like slimy streaks. It may be jelly-like or stringy, and it's usually clear, though it may appear greenish, yellowish, or brown. It may even glisten a little.
Causes of mucus in baby poop
The intestines secrete mucus to help your baby's poop pass through, so some mucus is perfectly normal and useful. If your baby has more mucus than usual in their poop, it could be due to:
- Teething. Teething babies drool a lot. And while it may seem like you're wiping most of it off their chin, they also swallow plenty of it. This excess saliva – which often goes undigested – may show up as mucus in your baby's poop.
- Infection. A stomach flu or other infection can cause your baby's inflamed intestines to produce more mucus. Their poop may also be green or even have some blood in it. (Green poop isn't always a sign of infection, though.) If your baby has a viral or bacterial infection, they may also have a fever and be irritable. Check in with their doctor if you suspect an infection.
- Food allergy. An allergy to something in breast milk or formula can irritate your baby's intestines and make them produce more mucus. The most common culprit is a cow milk protein allergy. According to the American Academy of PediatricsOpens a new window, up to 3% of infants have an allergy to cow milk protein. If your baby has an allergy, they may also have vomiting, irritability, and blood in their stool.
BabyCenter Community member PaulaBM19911 says, "My breastfeeding baby had lots of mucus in her poop, so the pediatrician asked me to stop eating any kind of dairy and it got better!" - Cystic fibrosis. This rare, inherited disorder affects mucus production as well as digestive juices and sweat. In kids with CF, poop may look greasy and mucousy and have a very strong odor. Sometimes the stools are loose because the child can't digest food or formula. Cystic fibrosis is typically screened for in the newborn screen at birth.
- Intussusception is a blockage of poop in the intestine that stops anything other than mucus from passing through. (Eventually, if any poop is passed, it may contain mucus and blood, often called "currant jelly stool.") This is a medical emergency, and you would know something was wrong because your baby would have other symptoms, such as sudden, intense belly pain, vomiting, and a swollen tummy. Intussusception sometimes happens after a gastrointestinal infection, and it's most common in babies 5 to 9 months old, though it can happen in older babies and children, too.
Is mucus more common in breastfed baby poop?
Yes, it's totally normal for breastfed babies to have a bit more mucus in their poop. That's because their stool moves through the intestines more quickly than that of formula-fed babies. Younger babies, in general, also tend to have runnier poop, which can make it look more mucousy. As your baby grows and their digestion matures, their poop usually becomes more solid and less slimy-looking.
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Do I need to treat mucus in baby poop?
Usually no: Mucus in baby poop is very common and most likely not a reason to worry or seek treatment. But if there's a concerning reason for the mucus, your baby's doctor can help you address it.
For example, if your baby is formula fed and has a milk allergy, the doctor can recommend a different formula. If your baby is breastfeeding, it might help to avoid certain foods. (A small number of breastfed babies may be sensitive to dairy products in Mom's diet.)
If your baby has an infection, treatment will depend on the illness. For a viral illness, your baby may need more fluids and possibly medication to help bring down a fever. For a bacterial illness, they may need an antibiotic.
A child with cystic fibrosis is treated with medications, enzymes, and vitamin supplements. Intussusception usually requires surgical intervention, and prompt treatment is crucial.
Other surprising types of baby poop
Mucus isn't the only surprise you're likely to find in baby poop.
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Frothy baby poop may mean that your baby isn't getting enough full-fat breast milk. (They may also be gassy and fussy.) Fatty hindmilk comes at the end of feeding, so have your baby empty one breast before switching to the other.
Brightly colored baby poop (orange, green, or blue, for example) is sometimes a result of something your baby ate, such as orange carrots or sweet potatoes or green spinach or peas.
BabyCenter Community member NatD1225 says that her son started having bright green poop. "I figured out the reason – it was a supplement I had started taking. Once I stopped, it went back to the normal yellowish color."
Poop with chunks of food is common when food travels through your baby's intestines without completely breaking down. You may notice it if your baby eats a lot of a favorite food.
Hard, pebbly, dark poop happens when a baby is constipated. This is common when babies start eating solids, because their systems aren't used to digesting solids. If the stools are very dry or hard, though, it may mean that they're dehydrated and need more fluids.
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When to call the doctor
If you notice a little mucus in your baby's poop, there's no need to call the doctor. Do call, though, if your baby's poop:
- Has a lot of mucus or mucus that lasts longer than a day or so
- Is foul smelling (worse than typical poop)
- Contains blood
- Is black (if your baby's more than a few days old, and not taking an iron supplement)
- Is hard and pebbly for more than a day or so
- Is white, pale, chalky, or clay-colored
- Consistently contains undigested food (once they're eating solids)
Also call if your baby:
- Has diarrhea or constipation that lasts more than a day
- Has a fever
- Seems to be in pain, is inconsolable
- Isn't eating well
- Is vomiting
