Your baby’s diaper can tell you more than you may think!
Did you know the colour in an infant’s diaper can give a glimpse into their liver’s health? While it may seem like a small detail, the colour of your baby’s stool or urine can be an early sign of how their liver is functioning. Liver disease can affect people of any age, even newborns, so being aware of changes can make a big difference.
Stool Colour
Healthy baby stools are typically yellow or green. Breastfed babies often have bright, daffodil-yellow stools while formula-fed babies have deeper mustard-yellow stools. If your baby’s stools appear to be pale in colour and resembling clay or chalk, this could be a sign of liver disease.
Urine Colour
A healthy baby’s urine should be colourless or very light yellow. If a baby has persistent dark yellow or brown urine, this could be a sign of liver disease.
When to Talk to Your Baby’s Doctor
If you notice that your baby has pale-coloured stools or dark urine, especially if persistent, it’s important to connect with their doctor. Early detection leads to better treatment and health outcomes.
Don’t Forget About Jaundice
In addition to dark urine and pale-coloured stools, jaundice can also be an indicator of liver disease in infants. Jaundice is a condition characterized by a yellow discolouration of the skin and whites of the eyes and is caused by a buildup of bilirubin in the blood. While jaundice is common in newborns, if it lasts for more than two weeks it’s important to connect with your baby’s doctor as soon as possible.