Green poop in kids can be alarming but is usually not a cause for concern. It may be caused by eating leafy greens and foods with artificial coloring or due to diarrhea or a bacterial infection.
Poop is usually brown because it contains bile, a brownish-green fluid that the liver
However, the color of poop may change daily.
Bile is a brownish-green color, so it can sometimes make the poop look green. In fact, green poop in babies and kids is not unusual and is not typically a cause for concern.
The reasons for green poop in kids may vary, depending on their age, such as in babies, infants, and children.
This article discusses what causes kids to have green poop and when to take them to a doctor.
Most of the time, as in adults, a kid’s poop turns green because the child has eaten something green. Foods that contain chlorophyll, which is the substance that makes plants green, can turn poop green.
Artificial food coloring and dyes may also have the same effect. This is especially true if the food moves too fast through the colon before it can transform into the typically brown-colored stool.
Foods that may cause green poop in kids include:
- leafy greens, including spinach, kale, and lettuce
- candy, frosting, or cakes that contain artificial coloring
- iron supplements, which can turn the poop green or black
Diarrhea is often a culprit in poop color changes. Diarrhea happens when the small intestine cannot absorb enough water, which is
If a child has diarrhea, their poop may change because:
- diarrhea changes the amount of water and electrolytes in poop
- the material is moving through the digestive system faster than usual
Green poop may be related to acute or chronic diarrhea, which could have different causes.
Acute diarrhea
Acute diarrhea occurs when a person experiences three or more watery stools daily for less than
- norovirus
- rotavirus
- bacterial infections, such as Salmonella
- medications, such as antibiotics
- food poisoning
Parasites are another cause of acute diarrhea in children. Giardia, a parasite that spreads through contact with infected bowel movements, may cause diarrhea and greasy-looking stools that may look green.
Chronic diarrhea
Chronic diarrhea is when symptoms last for more than 2 weeks. In a baby or child, chronic diarrhea
- inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Crohn’s disease
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- food allergies, such as to dairy, nuts, and eggs
- food intolerances, such as to gluten and lactose
- hyperthyroidism
- cancer, although this is very rare
Green poop in infants under 6 months old is typical, and even reassuring.
According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), a baby’s first poop is usually sticky and green in color. This poop is called meconium.
Babies who are breast or chest-fed typically have mustard-yellow stools, which may look seedy or have slight hints of green. Poop color may change with the mother’s diet.
Formula-fed babies should have tan or yellow poop with traces of green. Sometimes the poop may look more green than others.
While green poop in babies is nothing to worry about, green poop accompanied by diarrhea may be dangerous.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diarrhea is the
The primary risk from diarrhea is dehydration. Caregivers who notice signs of diarrhea in babies should carefully monitor for signs of dehydration. These
- absence of a wet diaper for 3 hours or more
- crying with no tears
- dry lips or mouth
- sunken eyes or cheeks in advanced cases
- sunken soft spot on top of the head, also in advanced cases
Loose stools are common in babies until they start eating solid food. If the baby shows no other signs of illness, loose stools or green stools are probably not caused by diarrhea.
However, caregivers should bring babies under
When a baby develops diarrhea, a person should continue feeding them as usual unless a pediatrician recommends otherwise.
Children who are sick benefit especially from breast milk, which can also prevent dehydration. A person may wish to consider feeding on demand whenever the baby wants to eat, even if it is more frequently than usual.
As children begin eating solids and eventually wean from breast milk or formula, food becomes a more frequent culprit in green poop. This includes leafy greens and artificial food colorings.
Parents should not worry about green poop as long as a child is otherwise healthy.
Diarrhea in children can be dangerous, especially if it lasts several days. Parents should monitor for signs of dehydration, which
- infrequent peeing or none at all
- dry, chapped lips
- low energy
- not sweating
- lack of tears when crying
- very dark urine
- irritability
To prevent dehydration, caregivers can consider offering their child a pediatric electrolyte drink and encouraging the child to continue drinking water.
Most cases of diarrhea clear up without treatment, but sometimes it is more serious. It is vital to monitor symptoms and ask a child to say if they begin feeling worse.
Not all poop color changes are as harmless as green poop.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends consulting a doctor right away if a person experiences:
- pale or clay-colored poop, which may indicate a problem with the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas
- black poop, which may indicate intestinal bleeding
If there is blood in a child’s poop, a parent or caregiver should contact their child’s doctor. Or, if there is a large amount of blood in the stool, seek immediate medical care.
A baby or child should also be taken to see a doctor if they have diarrhea and any of the following symptoms:
- signs of dehydration
- vomiting for longer than a day
- a fever higher than 100.4°F (38°C) in babies under 3 months of age
- lack of interest in drinking fluids
If an infant over 3 months of age has a fever higher than 102.2°F (39°C), a person should speak with their doctor as a precaution. As long as the child is still consuming liquids, it is fine for the infant to avoid eating for several days and their parent or caregiver may be able to wait until they get better at home.
A toddler may have green poop due to eating certain foods, such as leafy greens or foods with artificial coloring. Green poop accompanied by diarrhea may be a symptom of an underlying condition like IBD, IBS, and infections.
Green poop may be a symptom of a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection if it’s accompanied by diarrhea.
Rotavirus may cause frequent, watery, and foul-smelling poop that can also have a green appearance.
Green poop on its own in children is fairly common. It is usually caused by eating certain foods or diarrhea.
Sometimes, however, green poop that is accompanied by other symptoms of illness may be a sign of an underlying health condition that requires medical treatment.
A parent should consider contacting a pediatrician if something seems particularly untoward or if there is a major change in what is typical for their child.
