Blood in Baby's Diaper or Rectal Bleeding
The short answer
Finding blood in your baby's diaper can be alarming, but the most common cause is an anal fissure - a tiny tear in the skin around the anus caused by passing a hard stool. This produces small amounts of bright red blood on the outside of the stool or on the diaper. Other common causes include milk protein allergy (in breastfed babies whose mothers consume dairy), swallowed blood from a cracked nipple (in breastfed babies), and constipation. While small amounts of bright red blood from a fissure are common, any significant or persistent rectal bleeding should be evaluated by your pediatrician.
By Age
What to expect by age
Blood in a young baby's stool is most commonly caused by: milk protein allergy or intolerance (small streaks of blood and mucus in otherwise normal stool), swallowed maternal blood from cracked nipples during breastfeeding, or a small anal fissure from constipation. In breastfed babies, blood-streaked mucousy stools that are otherwise normal in frequency may indicate a cow's milk protein sensitivity passed through breast milk. Always report blood in a young baby's stool to your pediatrician for proper evaluation.
The most common cause of rectal bleeding in toddlers is an anal fissure from constipation. Hard stools stretch and tear the delicate skin around the anus, causing bright red blood on the stool surface, in the diaper, or on toilet paper. The toddler may cry or resist having bowel movements due to pain. Treatment focuses on softening stools with adequate fluids, fiber, and sometimes stool softeners. Less common causes include bacterial infections, polyps, and inflammatory conditions. If blood is persistent, dark, or mixed into the stool, see your pediatrician.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- A tiny amount of bright red blood on the outside of a hard stool (likely anal fissure)
- Blood that resolves once constipation is treated and stools soften
- A one-time episode of streaky blood with an otherwise well baby
- Blood in stool occurs more than once or twice
- Blood is mixed into the stool rather than just on the surface
- Your breastfed baby has bloody mucousy stools (possible milk protein allergy)
- Your child has recurrent anal fissures from chronic constipation
- Large amounts of blood or blood clots in the stool
- Dark, tarry, or black stools (suggests bleeding higher in the digestive tract)
- Bloody stool with severe abdominal pain, especially if the pain comes in waves (possible intussusception)
- Blood in stool with fever, diarrhea, and your child appearing very ill
- "Currant jelly" stool - dark red, jelly-like stool (possible intussusception - emergency)
Sources
Related Resources
Related Digestive Concerns
Baby Constipation
Constipation in babies is defined by hard, dry, difficult-to-pass stools rather than by how often your baby poops. Breastfed babies can go several days without a bowel movement and still be perfectly normal. If your baby is passing soft stools comfortably, even if infrequently, they are likely not constipated.
My Baby's Belly Looks Swollen
A rounded, slightly protruding belly is completely normal in babies and toddlers due to immature abdominal muscles and their proportionally larger organs. However, if the belly becomes suddenly swollen, feels hard and tight, or is accompanied by pain, vomiting, or changes in bowel movements, it needs medical evaluation as it could signal gas buildup, constipation, or rarely, something more serious.
My Baby Has an Anal Fissure (Blood When Pooping)
A small streak of bright red blood on the surface of your baby's stool or on the diaper is most commonly caused by an anal fissure, which is a tiny tear in the skin around the anus from passing hard stool. Anal fissures are very common in babies and toddlers and usually heal on their own with simple measures like keeping stools soft. While this is rarely serious, any blood in your baby's stool should be mentioned to your pediatrician.
My Baby Eats Non-Food Items (Pica)
It is completely normal for babies and young toddlers to explore by putting objects in their mouths. True pica, which is the persistent eating of non-food substances, is uncommon before age two and may be linked to iron deficiency or developmental factors. If your child repeatedly seeks out and eats non-food items past the typical mouthing stage, it is worth discussing with your pediatrician.
Baby Burping Too Much or Excessive Gas
Frequent burping in babies is very common and usually normal. Babies swallow air during feeding, crying, and pacifier use, and this air needs to come back up as burps. Breastfed babies tend to swallow less air than bottle-fed babies. Excessive burping is usually caused by swallowing too much air (aerophagia), feeding too fast, an improper bottle nipple flow, or minor digestive immaturity. It is rarely a sign of a medical problem. Ensuring proper latch, paced feeding, and appropriate bottle nipple size can help reduce excessive air swallowing.
Baby Excessive Gas After Starting Solids
Increased gas after starting solid foods is completely normal and expected. Your baby's digestive system is encountering new proteins, fibers, and sugars for the first time and needs time to adapt. The gut bacteria are also diversifying, which naturally produces more gas. This typically improves within a few weeks as the digestive system adjusts to each new food.