A practical guide to baby poop consistency — what's normal, what's not, and how to spot constipation early.
The Bristol stool scale is a clinical chart used by doctors to describe poop consistency in plain terms. It was made for adults, but it's surprisingly useful for babies once you adjust for age.
Knowing where your baby's poop falls on the scale helps you spot constipation, diarrhoea, and digestion changes early.
The scale, in plain English
| Type | Looks like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hard pellets, like nuts | Severe constipation |
| 2 | Lumpy, sausage-shaped | Mild constipation |
| 3 | Sausage with cracks | On the firm side, generally fine |
| 4 | Smooth, soft sausage | Ideal for older babies/toddlers |
| 5 | Soft blobs, clear edges | Slightly loose, fine |
| 6 | Mushy, ragged edges | Mild diarrhoea |
| 7 | Liquid, no shape | Diarrhoea |
What's normal at each age
Newborn / breastfed (0–6 months): Almost always type 5–7 — soft, runny, often seedy. That's not diarrhoea; that's how breastmilk works.
Formula-fed (0–6 months): Type 4–5 is typical — softer than adult stool but more formed than a breastfed baby's.
6+ months (on solids): Stool firms up into type 3–5 range. You'll start to see actual logs.
A breastfed baby with type 7 stool isn't necessarily having diarrhoea. Pair the consistency with frequency and how the baby seems — fussy, fewer wet nappies, smelling strongly different — to spot real diarrhoea.
Spotting constipation
Constipation in a baby is less about frequency, more about texture. A breastfed baby can go a week between poops and be fine. A baby with daily but rock-hard pellets is constipated.
Signs to watch for:
- Type 1 or 2 stools
- Visibly straining or in pain when going
- Pellet-like poops in nappies
- Streaks of bright red blood (from anal fissures)
- Very dry mouth, rare wet nappies (dehydration component)
Call your pediatrician if your baby is showing constipation signs alongside reduced wet nappies, vomiting, a swollen tummy, or hasn't pooped at all in their first 48 hours of life.
Spotting diarrhoea
True diarrhoea is:
- A sudden change in your baby's normal pattern
- Watery, frequent, and often more than usual
- Sometimes with mucus, blood, or strong smell
- Comes with fewer wet nappies, low energy, fever
This is when dehydration risk is real. Call.
Track consistency, not just colour
PooPeeMilk lets you log both colour and consistency in one tap. Over a week, you'll see your baby's actual baseline — which is what makes a deviation easy to spot.