As a parent, one of the things that constantly occupies your mind is everything related to poop. From monitoring how many times your toddler poops in a day to analyzing its color and consistency can be a bit overwhelming. But, if you've noticed pale-colored stools recently, it might raise some alarms. In this article, we will discuss what could cause pale poop in toddlers and when it's time to worry.
What does 'pale poop' mean?
Before we dive into the reasons behind why your toddler may have pale-colored stools let us first understand what exactly we mean by 'pale.'
Pale or white-coloured stool means that the colour of the feces is lighter than usual (normal range) which may appear greyish-white, clay-like texture (sorry for ruining breakfast). The normal range for colors of feces is yellow-brown; however, various factors can change this hue.
Is Pale Stool Normal for Toddlers?
No! While variations in color from time to time among adults are common depending on their diet and other health conditions they suffer from - with infants/toddlers - any variation outside of "normal" should be checked immediately as such symptoms are usually indicative that something isn't quite right.
Reasons Behind White/Clay-Colored Stools In Toddlers
The primary reason behind white or clay colored stool has got NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR TODDLER BEING A PICKY EATER OR JUST MISSING OUT ON HIS FOOD ENOUGH GALLBLADDER / LIVER FUNCTIONALITY. So let's explore other possible causes:
Lack of Bile
Bile gives our excreta a dark brownish-yellow tinge during digestion (it’s supposed to look like Nutella). Without bile secretion (biliary atresia), there won’t be enough stercobilin to paint the color of poop brown after bilirubin and bile salts pass through a series of chemical reactions during digestion.
Biliary atresia is rare, but with an incidence rate of 1 in every 10,000 infants born alive; if your little one was born with blocked biliary ductwork (due to inflammation or scarring), it could cause pale stools that are grayish-white.
Infant Nutrition
Toddlers who do not have proper nutrition can sometimes have white stools (not from missing out on their favorite chocolate, which would be weird) because they don't consume enough fats. This causes stool bulkiness due to indigestion – leading eventually to poor nutrient absorption and overall health problems - including bone density and even memory learning issues…yes, you heard me right! If your bambino doesn’t get their fair share of Omega-3s & DHA/EPA vitamins early on then all bets are off regarding how smart he/she will turn out!
Omega 3’s have been shown time after time again by researchers worldwide as being enormously beneficial for cognitive/learning processes throughout childhood into adulthood so keep those fatty fish sticks coming!)
Viral Hepatitis
Interfering too much with liver function can also cause liver disease such as hepatitis viral infection resulting in baby's feces becoming less pigmented than usual.
Another thing about hepatitis is that its symptoms aren't always noticeable until later stages where damage has already occurred within the body/glandular/tissue structures and can cause extra sensitivity towards light exposure or rashes under-your-baby's diaper area(ouch!).
When To Seek Professional Help?
Most times when toddlers/pregnant ladies experience constipation/diarrhea or irregularities in bowel movement/stool colours there's nothing major to worry about. HOWEVER!, any form of severe abdominal pain/bloating should ALWAYS be seriously investigated by a health care professional.
Likewise, white/clay-colored stool in your toddler should also always get checked out as it might be an indication of something wrong. You must investigate further – either with a pediatric gastroenterologist or specialist immediately (so don't wait!).
The result of various blood tests and scans can help quickly identify what the problem is though that's not to say everything will be clear cut / easy to diagnose since biliary atresia often appears like any other neonatal jaundice - making it more difficult for spotting "purposeful differences" without extra investigation during screening.
Conclusion
So there you have it folks. Pale poop in toddlers may sound trivial, but it could actually show some serious concerns about your child’s health. In this article, we’ve covered some possible reasons why your toddler's poop may appear clay-like or white which they state has got nothing to do with their picky eating habits (phew!).
Remember! If you notice any sudden changes in bowel movement & stool colors; seek immediate medical attention from professionals if symptoms persist too long unchecked because otherwise continuing down such dangerous roads/too-long periods may lead towards even greater problems later on -- mentally/physically(even fatal sometimes!).
Stay safe out there parents - and remember to keep an eye on what goes into AND OUT OF those little bodies!
WARNING: Hopefully now after reading these facts you won’t end up looking at Nutella the same way again... 😉