Can Baby Poop Smell Like Fish?
Baby poop can smell like fish on occasion, and can be alarming to parents. However, this isn’t usually anything to worry about. Learn more about why babies sometimes have a fishy-smelling bowel movement and what may be causing it.
Reasons Your Baby Has Fishy-Smelling Poop
- High protein diet: If your baby is consuming a high protein diet, the fat and protein can combine to create a fish odor.
- Vitamins: If your baby is already taking multivitamins or other supplements, this could be to blame for the fishy poop odor.
- Gut imbalance: If there is an imbalance of bacteria in the gut, this can create an unfavorable environment for digestion and create a fishy smell.
- Medications: Certain medications can change the smell of your baby’s poop if they are taken for a long period of time.
How to Treat Fishy-Smelling Poop
Although a fishy-smelling poop is usually nothing to worry about, it’s best to take a few steps to help prevent it from happening again:
- Increase the amount of fiber in your baby’s diet.
- Limit their intake of protein-packed foods.
- If your baby is taking multivitamins, talk to your doctor about changing the dosage.
- Try probiotic supplements to help balance out bacteria in the gut.
- Avoid taking certain medications for a long period of time.
If the problem persists, you should always consult a doctor for further advice. Generally, though, fishy-smelling poop tends to resolve itself on its own and isn’t cause for concern.