My son has strange looking stool?

Question

My 6 month old son has some mild diarhhea yesterday and today his stool has been more solid, but it's a weird gray-green kind of color. I know it sounds gross, but he hasn't had that color stol before. The closest was when he swtiched to formula from breast milk and that wasn't even this color. Is that normal? I know I may seem overly concerned, but he's had a cough for the last 2 days and I want to make sure he really is sick before I taking him to the doctor. If I can care for him at home then I would like to.

He's on stage 1 baby food and his cough is kind of like he's got something in his throat, but he isn't coughing up anything. He's fine otherwise.

Answer 1

While he is probably fine, it's good that you are paying attention to details. That's part of what makes a good mom!

It would be a good idea to talk to the nurse at the dr's office where you go. Usually they are busy and it takes about an hour to hear back from them, but she will have a good idea about whether something pretty bad is going around or something mild. She will also know whether it is safer to come in or stay home.

If he has just started new food it could be the new food is changing the way his stools look.

If there is any history of allergies in your and your husband's family then ask the ped dr about whether there is concern about food allergies. (Pretty uncommon at this age unless there is a big history of it in the family.) -- don't get too worried about that, just keep it in mind.

Answer 2

Is he on baby food yet? My daughter is only one month old and on the same kind of formula since birth and sometimes its real green and somtimes real yellow and sometimes runny like mild diarrea and sometimes hard like clay. As far as the cough I dont think thats a problem unless hes running fever and showing other symptoms or unless the cough is real harsh sounding with alot of mucus coming up I would talk to the doctor if you are really worried.

Answer 3

Sometimes change in the color of the stool especially in diarrhea is due to the liquids the baby is given. When my daughter is sick I give her Pedialyte in Grape, which turns her stools avocado green. One time I even gave her Gatorade in Punch and her stools turn red. That was scary!...but it was all in the liquids you give during the time they have diarrhea. You may call your doctors office and ask for the pediatric nurses that are standing by. I hope this helps.

Answer 4

My daughter just recently had her first diarrhea too (age 2). It was also a green color. We stopped giving her fruit juice for a few days and gave her foods that are more binding for a few days and it went away on its own. If your child has a fever I would probably call the dr. and see if he thinks you need to bring the child in or tell you how to treat it. (my memory escapes me as to what foods we did give her, but I just did a yahoo search for diarrhea and children and there were all sorts of articles on the subject.)

Answer 5

Talk to your babys doctor first. I know that sometimes the color of the stool can be the same color of the food that they ate.

Answer 6

Take him to the dr! No need in making a child suffer if you can get some medicine. And my children have never experienced something like that, so I couldn't help in diagnosing it. But the Dr. can!!!!

Answer 7

Your son will have many different colors of stool. You will see them all by the time he is 2. When my son eats fruity pebbles his poop is flourescent lime green : )

Answer 8

Rule of thumb: When in doubt, call your pediatrician. It never ever hurts to ask. That's what they're there for.

Answer 9

Maybe he ate something different. If you are not really sure, call your pediatrition, just to be on the safe side.

Answer 10

SOUNDS LIKE "SICK BABY POOP" NO I MEAN THAT......WHENEVER MY SON GETS SICK HIS POOP IS GREEN. BUT CALL THE DOC JUST TO BE SURE HE ISN'T LACKING SOME FORM OF VITAMIN OR NUTRITIONAL NEED