Dr. Lynn Cates
Specializing in pediatric infectious diseases and childhood immunizations.
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 Ask Dr. Cates
Infant with Gray and Yellow Stools | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Cates,
My two-month-old eats regularly, but has stools every other day that are gray with hints of yellow. Is she OK or is something wrong? Shouldn't she be having more dirty diapers?— Raylynn's Mommy in Tacoma, Wa | | | ANSWER |
February 26, 2002 | | | Dear Raylynn's Mommy,
This is a very common--and good--question for parents to ask. Two-month-old babies can have stools that vary quite a bit in color, consistency, and frequency depending on what--and how much--they are fed. They can have anything from several stools a day to one every couple of days, as is the case with your baby. What you describe certainly is within the range of normal for babies this age if she seems to be doing well otherwise, and passing her stools without much difficulty. Sometimes babies who have stools only every couple of days have constipation with rock hard little pebbles of stool that are difficult to pass. Questions that you want to think about are:
- Are her stools soft?
- Does she seem alert and active?
- Is she gaining weight at a good rate according to her growth chart at her regular visits?
- Does she seem well overall?
If your answer to all of these questions is yes, this is probably just a normal stool pattern for her.
That said, anytime parents have questions about their babies' stools, it's advisable to discuss them with their healthcare provider. Your baby's two-month check-up is an excellent time to bring up this subject because her provider will be able to examine, weigh, and measure her. I have found it helpful in answering parents' questions about stools to actually see the stool in question. You can bring her most recent dirty diaper with you when you take her to be checked. This way her provider will be able to see exactly what you mean by gray and yellow, etc. Just seal her diaper in a plastic bag and keep it in the refrigerator until it's time for your visit.— by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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