Every new parent can appreciate the chore that changing nappies can become but did you know that the contents of a baby's nappy can be a real eye-opener in more ways than one?

Baby poo changes both in consistency and colour as an infant develops, with the contents of a nappy being a useful indicator of a baby's health.

For the first couple of days after his/her birth, a baby passes meconium, a sticky, green-black substance that is made up of bile, mucus, cells from the bowel wall, secretions and amniotic fluid.

After a day or two, once feeding is established, the nappy contents turn browny-green as meconium begins to change to the typical yellow colour.

Bottle-fed baby poo is pale yellow or yellowish-brown in colour and is generally bulkier and more formed than a breast-fed baby's as formula is not as easily digested. Breast-fed babies' poo is usually bright, or mustard, yellow and a consistency similar to mustard too!

Once a baby starts tucking into solids, his/her poo takes on a whole new look, reflecting what they've been eating and smelling accordingly!

So you see, most of the time, your baby's poo is perfectly normal despite appearing in several different colours. Phew!

If you have any concerns contact your GP or health visitor straight away.