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Diet, such as eating leafy greens, often causes green poop. Otherwise, the cause may be diarrhea or a bacterial infection. Poop is usually brown, but it can change color daily. This is not usually 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. What causes poop to turn green Share on PinterestEyeWolf/Getty ImagesPoop is usually brown because it contains bile. Bile is a brownish-green fluid that the liver produces. Brown poop generally means that the liver and the pancreas are working normally and adding enough bile to poop. Because bile is a brownish-green color, it can sometimes make the poop look green. In fact, green poop in babies and kids is not unusual. Sometimes, the stool might even look yellow or slightly orange because of the way bile has mixed with a baby or child’s diet. Diet and diarrhea are two of the most common reasons for kids’ poop to turn green: Diet 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 can 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 can cause green poop in kids include:leafy greens, including spinach, kale, and lettucecandy, frosting, or cakes that contain artificial coloringiron supplements, which can turn the poop green or black Diarrhea Diarrhea is often a culprit in poop color changes. Diarrhea happens when the small intestine cannot absorb enough water, which can often be due to a virus. Because diarrhea changes the amount of water and electrolytes in poop, and because the material is moving through the digestive system faster than usual, the color of poop can change. Some common causes of diarrhea in babies and children include:norovirusrotavirus, which doctors vaccinate most children againstbacterial infections, such as salmonellamedications, such as antibioticsfood poisoning Chronic diarrhea in a baby or child could signal an underlying condition, such as:inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)Crohn’s diseaseirritable bowel syndrome (IBS)food allergies or intolerances, such as to gluten due to Celiac diseasehyperthyroidismcancer, although this is very rare Parasites can also cause diarrhea. Since children are notoriously bad about washing their hands, they are more vulnerable to parasites. Giardia is a parasite that spreads through contact with infected bowel movements. People with giardiasis often develop diarrhea and a greasy-looking stool. Sometimes the stool looks green. Green poop in babies and infants Green poop in infants under 6 months old is typical, and even reassuring. Because newborns and infants should only consume breast milk or formula, the color of their poop tends to be more consistent than it is in older children. Breastfed or chest-fed babies typically have mustard-yellow stools. It 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 can be dangerous. Worldwide, diarrhea is the fifth leading cause of death among children under the age of 5 years old. The primary risk from diarrhea is dehydration. Caregivers who notice signs of diarrhea in babies should carefully monitor for signs of dehydration. These include:absence of a wet diaper for 3 hours or morecrying with no tearsdry lips or mouthsunken eyes or cheeks in advanced casessunken 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 2 months old who have diarrhea to a pediatrician. When a baby develops diarrhea, a person should continue feeding them as usual unless a pediatrician recommends otherwise. Sick children benefit especially from breast milk, which can also prevent dehydration, so a person should feed on demand whenever the baby wants to eat, even if it is more frequently than usual. Green poop in toddlers and children 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 include:infrequent peeing or none at alldry, chapped lipslow energynot sweatinglack of tears when cryingvery dark urineirritability 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. When to see a doctor Not all poop color changes are as harmless as green poop. Pale poop Pale or clay-colored stool may mean there is a problem with the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas. This is because there is less bile in the stool when it is one of these shades. A person should consult a doctor right away if this happens. If there are other symptoms, such as pain or vomiting, they must go to the emergency room. Dark poop Black poop is typical in newborns that are a few days old. This poop is called meconium. In older babies and children, black poop can mean there is gastrointestinal bleeding. A person should call their pediatrician if their child has black poop. If there is blood in a child’s poop or poops blood, a parent or caregiver should immediately take the child to the emergency room. Warning signs A person should see a doctor when a baby or child has diarrhea and any of the following symptoms:signs of dehydrationvomiting for longer than a daya fever higher than 100.4°F (38°C) in babies under 3 months of agelack of interest in eating 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. Outlook Parenting is full of scary moments. Many parents find themselves becoming highly attuned to changes in their child’s poop and will be able to detect early signs of illness. But green poop by itself almost never means there is something wrong, meaning parents can cross this worry off their list. As with all symptoms, they should contact a pediatrician if something seems particularly untoward or there is a major change in what is typical for their child. Last medically reviewed on September 7, 2022GastroIntestinal / GastroenterologyPediatrics / Children's HealthUrology / NephrologyParenthood 7 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Almajid, A. N., et al. (2021). Physiology, bile.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542254/Disease threats and global wash killers: Cholera, typhoid, and other waterborne infections. (2020).https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/global/WASH.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fhealthywater%2Fglobal%2Fdiarrhea-burden.htmlGotfried, G. (2022, May). Diarrhea.https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gastrointestinal-disorders/symptoms-of-gi-disorders/diarrheaInfant fever. (2021).https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/infant-fever/Symptoms & causes of chronic diarrhea in children. (2017).https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/chronic-diarrhea-children/symptoms-causesThe scoop on poop. (n.d.).https://badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/the-scoop-on-poop/What are some of the basics of infant health? (2021).https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/infantcare/conditioninfo/basicsFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M.D. — By Zawn Villines — Updated on September 7, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageWhat causes foamy bowel movements? Foamy or frothy poop is usually diarrhea-like and may appear to have bubbles in it. It may also seem oily or contain mucus. 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