Hi Welcome to Healthcare-Magic Greetings of the day Contrary to popular belief, green stool does not happen because your baby has caught a cold or is teething. But green stools over a period of time in an exclusively breastfed baby can mean that something is wrong, though not always. A baby who is being exclusively breastfed usually has stools which are bright yellow, sweet-smelling and the consistency of mustard paste. At times the stools may seem grainy and curdled. If you introduce anything else into a baby s diet, like formula or solids, then the stools will change, usually to become more like an adult s (more brown, solid and foul smelling). One possible reason for green stools is that your baby is getting too much foremilk and not enough hindmilk. The hindmilk provides most of the calories your baby needs, and makes him feel full. If he s only getting the lower-fat foremilk, he ll be hungry again very soon and will need to feed more often. His body may not be able to cope with the increased amount of lactose (milk sugar) from all the milk he is drinking. If he can t digest the increased amount of lactose properly, there will be more gas and water than usual in his intestines. This will give him cramping pains and runnier, green (often explosive) stools. Your baby could be getting too much foremilk if: he does not latch on properly: You can correct the way your baby feeds by asking the help of a breastfeeding consultant or expert. Also see our visual guide to breastfeeding to know what latching on should look like. you move him from one breast to the other before he lets go on his own: Make sure that you let your baby feed for as long as he likes. Do not take him off the breast before he lets go on his own. This way you will be sure he is getting as much milk as he needs and plenty of hindmilk as well. Consistently green stools could also be a warning that your baby is sensitive to something he is eating. What he is sensitive to could be in your milk from medication you are on or something you have eaten. If he is sensitive to something in your diet, there are likely to be other symptoms besides green stool such as eczema or a rash. Or it could be medication your baby is on that doesn t suit him well. If your baby is on an iron supplement, his potty can become dark. This is normal. Take your baby to the doctor if his stools are consistently green for long. It is best to let the doctor decide what the cause of the green stools are and whether you need to do anything about it. Green stools in a baby that is growing well and developing normally is not necessarily a cause for concern, provided your doctor is satisfied with how your baby is growing. If you are introducing solid foods, your baby s stool may resemble the colour of the food he ate. Green stool in a baby on solids can also indicate that he may be sensitive to that particular food. If you suspect your baby has a food allergy or intolerance, you should talk it through with your baby s paediatrician. Do get back to me for further queries Take Care Best Regards Dr Deepak Kishore MBBS,MS,MCH Consultant Pediatric Surgeon