Your baby can’t talk but his poop can tell you a lot about his health, that’s why you should pay attention to his stools: color, consistency, frequency, and smell. Especially for a combo-fed baby because he drinks from two sources that’s why the poop will be different from exclusively breastfeeding. Therefore, I have done a lot of research from trusted sources and asked many moms to bring you this piece of content to help you to ensure your baby’s health.
In this article, I will talk about what a combo-fed baby poop looks like and what are the warning signs to worry about.
What does a Combo-Fed Baby Poop Looks Like?
Combo-fed baby poop is often brown and watery with white seeds like curdled milk with a smelly odor, and a frequency of 2 to 4 days, as it could change depending on the ratio and type of formula used for combination. This is all normal except for the black, red, white, and grey colors or not pooping for more than 5 days or very loose stools.
After eating solid foods the poop will have a firmer consistency and a different color.
I will dive into detail about mix-fed babies and constipation, and diarrhea. Also what color, consistency, frequency, and smell are when combined with different formulas, so stay with me !!
Combination Fed Baby Poop Color and Consistency :
A combo-fed baby has a brown watery poop with white seeds like curdled milk. In the case of using a ratio of formula more than breastmilk the poop will be mustard-yellow-like and a bit thicker. Furthermore, combined with formulas containing probiotics and a high amount of iron give a dark green poop, all that is normal.
The mix-fed baby poop is often greenish in the morning and yellow in the afternoon.
I will give you each time comparison between breastmilk and formula in terms of color, consistency, frequency, and smell to get an idea about what should your combo-fed baby poop looks like according to the ratio of formula with breastmilk and the type you are using.
Breastfed baby poop is often mustard yellow, green, or brown, pasty in texture with seeds, whereas babies who are on formula have darker poops with a yellow to a greenish color and peanut butter-like in consistency.
If you are seeing often a dark green color then you probably use a supplement with a high amount of iron, it’s fine, but if you want to avoid this color try to choose a supplement with a low amount of iron.
Related: best 9 generic brands for nutramigen formula (cheap!!)
Baby Poop Colors You Should Worry About :
- Black, or Red Poop:
After five days (when the meconium pass) if the stools are still black or become red, the baby may be bleeding from inside the digestive system, and you should call your pediatrician immediately.
The blood can be a soy or cow’s milk allergy or a result of constipation, or digestive problems, it can lead to diarrhea. In the case of milk allergy; switching to an amino acid-based formula is the best solution for your LO because the protein is broken into blocks (amino acid), so the digestive system can’t detect it.
Related: The best generic Alimentum formula (Tested by moms)
- White or gray poop :
White or gray poop colors indicate that your baby has problems digesting foods. You must call your pediatrician immediately.
How Often Should a Combination Fed Baby Poop? :
Moms are concerned about baby poop frequency, especially if the baby is not pooping for several days. Well, I’ve done the research, and found that most babies who are combo-fed poop every 2-4 days, this variation is due to formula type and the ratio of combination between breastmilk and formula,
An exclusively breastfed newborn poos more than who is on formula, it may be after each feeding. After 6 weeks, the frequency decreased to a poop every several days.
A formula-fed newborn may poop up to 5 times a day. After a few months, the frequency decreased to once a day.
Furthermore, the type of formula affects the poop frequency. Combo fed with soy formula is different from cow’s milk or goat milk.
Babies who are on soy formula poop once to twice a day, whereas, those who are on cow’s milk formula poop 3 to 4 times a day, and moms who are using goat milk formula say that their babies poop several times a day (5-7).
Related: Top 3 Generic Similac Soy Isomil Formula (Cheap!!)
Try to apply this information to your baby to see in which case you are to know the average poop frequency for your LO.
Finally, the poop frequency is not a big concern as long as it’s less than 5 days and the baby is passing a soft poop without struggling.
I wrote an article about a soy formula poop guide with pictures to see the color, consistency, frequency, and smell that should be in your baby’s poop.
Warnings sign :
If your baby hasn’t poop more than 5 days, it might be a sign of constipation and you should call your pediatrician.
Combo-Fed Baby Poop Smell :
- Newborns :
All newborns have meconium poop in their first few days, it has no smell and sometimes could have a sweet smell. That’s because their bowels are not colonized with bacteria yet.
- After a Few Days :
As long as your LO is growing up, the smell will gradually change, I’ve searched a lot and found that babies who are mix-fed have very smelly poops and farts. This is due to the formula, especially if it is a soy or cow’s milk formula, the odor will make you run out of the house, and the smell is like rotten eggs.
While breastmilk poop smell is like yogurt or popcorn odor, it may change depending on what you eat.
The bottom line is that the smell of combo-fed baby poop tends to be the most eaten source by the baby (formula or breast milk). And is not a concern as long as the color and consistency are normal.
Tips :
If your baby’s poop starts smelling rank, try to switch to another formula, that works every time.
Warnings signs :
A foul-smelling for several days might be an allergy to something, it’s recommended to consult your pediatrician.
Combo-Fed Baby and Constipation :
For sure you have noticed that your combo-fed baby doesn’t poop a lot, maybe from 3 to 5 days, this will freak you out for sure. I will cheer you up, it’s normal as long as his stools are soft and don’t struggle when passing out.
However, if you notice these signs then it may be constipation. You should call your pediatrician :
- Being very fussy and spitting up more often (infants)
- Difficulty passing stools or seeming uncomfortable
- Hard, dry stools
- Pain when having a bowel movement
- Belly pain and bloating
- Large, wide stools
- Blood on the stool or toilet paper
- Traces of liquid or stool in a child’s underwear (a sign of fecal impaction)
- Having less than 3 bowel movements a week (children)
- Moving their body in different positions or clenching their buttocks
Source: Medlineplus.gov
If your baby has constipation and you search for the best soy formula for constipation; this article will help you.
Mix-Fed Baby Poop and Diarrhea :
If you see mucus in the poop or your LO has a poor eating, fever, or is sick, then it could be diarrhea. And you must see your pediatrician.
« if stools suddenly increase in number and looseness, suspect diarrhea. If it lasts for 3 or more stools, the baby has diarrhea. »
Source: www.seattlechildrens.org
Mucus in Combo-Fed Baby Stool :
« A small amount of mucus in stool is usually nothing to worry about. Stool normally contains a small amount of mucus — a jelly-like substance that your intestines make to keep the lining of your colon moist and lubricated. »
Source: www.mayoclinic.org
For newborns, it’s not a concern when passing with meconium. Furthermore, it can be a sign that your baby is growing teeth.
Moreover, mucus with constipation, diarrhea, or blood can be a serious problem, then you should call your pediatrician.
Mixed Feeding Baby with Goat Milk Formula :
goat’s milk formula is recommended when your baby is sensitive to breast or cow’s milk, it’s much easier for your baby to digest because of oligosaccharides prebiotics.
A mixed-feeding baby with goat milk has a thick greenish-yellow poop and a soft-wet texture with no lumps. The greenish-yellow color comes from the iron in the formula. On the other hand, the soft to runny texture is coming from the breast milk.
Mixed Feeding Baby With Differents Brands:
- Enfamil NeuroPro :
Moms who are using Enfamil NeuroPro are seeing a dark yellow, sometimes orange mushy to runny poop, a frequency of 2-4 poop a day, and the smell ranges from mild to absolutely heinously stinky.
Related: Best 9 Generic Brands of Enfamil NeuroPro Infant Formula
- Similac Pro advanced (ready to feed) :
Many users of this formula say that you will see a big poop with brown color and a smell like death, the frequency is a poop every 2-3 days.
- Similac pro sensitive :
Well, I have found only the frequency; a poop every 4 days.
Related: Best 7 Generic Brands For Similac Sensitive Formula (Cheap!!)
- Enfamil Gentlease :
A poop once a day to every few days, with a greenish color and smell like rotten cookies. The consistency is runny to peanut butter like with curds.
- Similac Total Confort :
Moms on this formula found in diapers a runny poop with a green to dark green color and a foul-smelling odor with a frequency of twice a day. Most users of this formula recommend switching it.
Related: Best 6 Generic Brands For Similac Total Comfort Formula (Cheap!!)
- Neocate Formula:
When introducing this formula you will see 1 to 2 dirty diapers every few days with a bad smell. The poop is runny and more green.
If you are using a hypoallergenic formula; you may want to see what does a hypoallergenic formula poop looks like?
Conclusion:
have you seen how much information could a baby’s poop give about his health, try to apply it to your baby and call your pediatrician if you see any warning signs, and along with time, you will get used to your combo-fed baby poop color, consistency, frequency, and smell and you will notice any change quickly.
If you still have questions feel free to comment below.
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