Baby Blood in Stool

Blood may appear bright red, dark, mixed through stool, or only on the surface. Because appearance does not identify the cause safely, contact a clinician promptly and describe exactly what you saw.

Treat blood as a prompt-call sign

If blood is visible, note whether it is a small bright streak, darker blood, mixed throughout, repeated, or accompanied by mucus, but do not use appearance to diagnose the cause. Call a clinician promptly. Seek urgent or emergency assessment for more than a tiny streak, repeated bleeding, black tarry stool, severe or persistent abdominal pain, a swollen firm abdomen, green vomit, repeated vomiting, poor feeding, pallor, lethargy, or difficulty waking. Do not insert anything, change formula, restrict feeds, or give medicine without advice while waiting.

Add feeding, urine, vomiting, and fever

Write every breastfeed or formula feed, whether the amount or duration changed, and the number and timing of wet diapers. Add vomiting, measured temperature with method, pain or unusual crying, abdominal swelling, sleepiness, and consolability. During diarrhea, fewer wet diapers, a dry mouth, fewer tears, sunken eyes or soft spot, and reduced alertness can suggest dehydration. Bring the baby's exact age and relevant medicines to the clinical handoff.

Give a concise clinical handoff

Start with exact age, time of the first change, number of unusual stools, and color and consistency in plain words. Add feeding, wet diapers, vomiting, measured temperature, pain, abdominal swelling, alertness, skin or eye color, urine color, medicines, formula preparation, and recent foods. Say whether there was blood and whether the stool was black, white, gray, or pale. Mention any safe photo or saved diaper.