How to clean meconium

Photo: iStockphoto

Baby wipes and warm cloths tend to just smear the tar-like first newborn poop around. Instead, try using olive oil on a clean cloth. It gently removes the mess and acts as a protective barrier that makes the next cleanup that much easier.

Is green poop normal? Here’s a guide to your baby’s poop colour.

Photo Gallery

Poo: Colour coding

1 / 6 Illustration by Dave Quiggle

Mustard yellow

Why: Mustard yellow is a very standard colour for breastfed babies. The "seed" texture is from partially digested fat and calcium (entirely common). What to do: Keep doing what you're doing!

 

 

 

 

 

A version of this article appeared in our February 2016 issue with the headline, “How to deal with meconium,” p. 40.