White Curds in Baby Poop: Common Causes And When To Worry

White Curds in Baby Poop: Causes, Symptoms And When To Worry

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White curds (streaks or chunks) in baby poop are not always a cause of concern. Milk curds in baby poop are small, white clumps of undigested milk fat. They can occur in both breastfed and formula-fed babies. While it is usually harmless, seek medical attention if your baby displays symptoms of allergies or other disorders in addition to poop discoloration.

Read this post to learn about the possible causes of white curds in baby poop and signs that suggest the need to see a doctor.

In This Article

Causes Of White Chunks In Baby Poop

The appearance of white chunks in the poop of breastfed or formula-fed babies is fairly normal. They may be clumps of undigested milk fat or undigested excess breast milk or formula protein that curdled.

Dr. Cindy Rubin, MD, IBCLC, a board-certified pediatrician and breastfeeding specialist from Westchester, Illinois, says, “White cottage cheesy chunks or curds in baby poop are not uncommon. We see this a lot, especially in breastfed babies but it can be in formula-fed babies. Poops change so frequently in babies that the colors could be almost anything in the rainbow.”

Other common reasons for white curd in baby poop are (1) (2)

Undigested food: If your baby has started consuming solid food, the white chunks in their poop may be undigested bits of food. It happens because babies cannot chew properly, and their digestive system is still adapting and developing as they grow and are introduced to new foods.

Quick tip

After starting solids, if your baby’s stools are watery and full of mucus, it may signify that their digestive tract is irritated. In such cases, introduce new foods slowly and reduce the amount of food you are feeding (3).

Undigested food may cause white curds in baby poop

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Infection/illness: Although it is uncommon for breastfed baby poop to have white chunks because of food allergy or illness, you cannot rule out this possibility. If you notice signs of irritability, fever, pale or whitish frothy stool, and uncontrollable crying, consult your doctor.

Symptoms That May Accompany White Curds In Baby Poop

Liver issues in baby may cause pale or white poop

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Although it is normal for babies to pass stool containing milk curds, consult your pediatrician if you notice the following symptoms as well.

Pale poop: Pale yellow or gray poop may signify that the baby’s liver is not producing enough bile (3).

White poop: Grayish or white poop in babies could indicate a blocked liver or biliary atresia. Though these conditions are rare in newborns, they should not be ruled out and require emergency evaluation by a doctor.

Other Colors Of Baby Poop

The color of normal baby poop varies as they grow, depending on their food, bowel function, and gut health. However, some common colors of normal poop are as follows (4):

Black poop: Also known as meconium, this is the baby’s first poop after birth. Black poop contains all the substances that the baby ingested while in the womb.

Yellow poop: Your baby’s poop will eventually look yellowish and grainy in the first week after birth.

Be watchful

Although yellow poop is common in breastfeeding babies, it should turn brown as the baby turns old. Yellow stool may indicate fat malabsorption and must be brought to your pediatrician’s notice (1).

Green poop: Once your baby starts consuming solids, the color of their poop may change depending on what they eat. Green baby poop signifies a diet rich in iron or iron supplements or can be due to green leafy vegetables.

Brown poop: It signifies healthy digestion with no cause of worry.

Red poop: If your child had anything containing food colors or beetroots, red poop is normal. However, if you notice specks of blood in the poop, consult your doctor as it may be a sign of constipation.

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Signs To Call A Doctor

Call a doctor if the baby has pain in the stomach or abdomen.

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White chunks in baby poop are not a cause for concern. Dr. Rubin adds, “Pediatricians will only truly worry about bloody (red), pitch black (digested blood), or stark white (problem with the liver) poop. The white would need to be throughout the whole poop for it to be worrisome, not just little chunks. If you see those colors, you should call your doctor right away. I would only worry about food intolerance if the baby is eating poorly, seems in pain with or after eating, or isn’t gaining weight well.”

However, consult your healthcare provider if the following signs accompany it (5) (6):

Diarrhea with blood specks in the poop

Gassiness

Pain in the stomach or abdomen

Pale yellow, white, or clay-colored poop

Lactose intolerance symptoms such as belly bloating, excess gas, or abdominal pain

Symptoms of a milk allergy, such as wheezing, vomiting, and fussiness after feeding

Frothy poop with mucus

Quick tip

You can manage milk allergy in formula-fed babies by switching to amino acid-based formula or extensively hydrolyzed formula. However, you can make this switch only after consulting your child’s doctor (6).

Whether your little one is breastfed or formula-fed, you may sometimes notice white curds in baby poop. Most commonly, this is a sign of undigested milk fat and will eventually go away as your baby grows and their digestive system develops. However, do not ignore this symptom if it is accompanied by white or pale poop, as it may indicate liver problems. Also, consult your healthcare provider promptly doctor if your baby develops signs of diarrhea with blood in their poop, gas, or abdominal pain.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do food allergies cause white chunks in my baby’s poop?

There is no evidence that food allergies cause chunks in baby poop. Food allergies in babies can be associated with diarrhea, blood, vomiting, skin rashes, colic or abdominal discomfort, and breathing difficulties (7).

2. What to do about white chunks in baby poop?

Look for the coexisting signs and symptoms when your baby has white chunks in poop. If they are healthy and not fussy or irritated, it can be undigested breast milk or other foods in already weaning babies. Liver problems can also cause white stool in babies due to a lack of bile. You should seek a pediatrician’s consultation in such cases.

Infographic: Symptoms Related To White Baby Poop And When To See A Doctor

White baby poop, though not of a regular occurrence, could indicate an underlying medical problem such as a liver problem when frequent. Here is an infographic describing the normal and abnormal signs associated with an infant’s white stools and when to seek medical help.

white chunks in baby poop whats normal and what is not (infographic)

Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.

Download Infographic

Key Pointers

White curds in the feces of newborns who are breastfed or fed formula are very common.
White curd in baby poop can be caused by undigested food, food allergies, or sickness.
Consult your pediatrician if you notice pale yellow or grey poop in babies along with feces containing milk curds.
If your baby exhibits lactose intolerance signs such as wheezing, vomiting, or fussiness shortly after feeding, contact your pediatrician immediately.

References:

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