Mucus in a baby's poo, is this normal?

Yes, mucus streaks in a baby's stool are usually a normal finding, especially in otherwise healthy, thriving infants without other concerning symptoms. This is acommon concern expressed by parents in our allergy clinics. The appearance can be striking, with long ‘snot-like’ strands of mucous in and around babies' poo. Baby poo can vary in consistency, colour, frequency, and volume - it is after all a ppruct of the gut biome ‘zoo’ and food matter, hence variations are more common with weaning.

Where does the mucus come from?

The intestinal mucosa produces mucus as a protective barrier. It may be present in the stool of healthy infants due to the immaturity of their gastrointestinal tract and the rapid transit of stool, particularly in breastfed infants, who typically have softer, more frequent stools. This can be more common when weaning or teething.

When to be concerned?

However, persistent or copious mucus, especially if accompanied by blood, changes in stool frequency or consistency, poor weight gain, or systemic symptoms (such as fever or vomiting), may indicate an underlying pathology such as cow's milk protein allergy, infectious colitis, or other gastrointestinal disorders.