Printable Poop Diary and Bristol Stool Chart for Kids
Plop! Oh, that familiar sound from those trips to the toilet. Now kids can keep track of bathroom adventures with the Bristol Stool Chart and a Printable Poop Diary!
How to help kids learn about poop
What does your poop look like today? Are you pooping in the morning, noon, and/or night? Was there a lot of poop, a little bit, or something in-between? Do you feel any pain in your belly or your bottom?
When you think about these questions, write down your answers in your poop diary. Then you can see if there are any patterns to your poop.
Why are poop patterns important to follow? They can help you understand how your digestive system works.
You can use the information from your poop journal to take better care of your body.
With your poop diary results, you can ask your doctor for tips on how to stay healthy, like eating nutritious foods, drinking plenty of water, and getting enough exercise.
What is the Bristol Stool Chart?
The Bristol Stool Chart is a picture guide of the seven different types of poop. This handy chart can help kids describe and learn poop facts.
| Type | What it looks like | How it feels | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little hard lumps, like pebbles or rabbit droppings | Hard to push out; possible belly pain | Constipation |
| 2 | Sausage-shaped but lumpy | Hard to push out of your bottom; uncomfortable | Constipation |
| 3 | Sausage-shaped with cracks on the surface | Easy to push out | Normal |
| 4 | Smooth, soft sausage or snake | Easy to push out | Normal |
| 5 | Small, soft blobs with clear-cut edges | Easy to push out; possible irritation around the anus | Diarrhea |
| 6 | Fluffy pieces with ragged edges | Easy to push out; possible belly pain and irritation around the anus | Diarrhea |
| 7 | Watery, with no solid pieces | Easy to push out; possible belly pain and irritation around anus | Diarrhea |
Bristol stool types 1 and 2 are usually a sign of constipation.
Types 3 and 4 are normal.
Types 5, 6, and 7 are usually a sign of diarrhea. In particular, type 7 can be explosive. When the liquid poop suddenly gushes out, kids often describe this type of diarrhea as “peeing out the butt.”
Check out page 97 in the Human Body Learning Lab book for a picture of the Bristol Stool Chart.
Download printable poop diary for kids
Please complete the form below to sign up for Human Body Learning updates and download this free printable poop diary for kids.
When you hit “subscribe,” the PDF file should appear instantly. Then you can download the poop journal to your computer and print it out.
Learn how the human body makes poop and pee!
Published on December 18, 2022. Updated on April 7, 2024 by Betty Choi, MD
Published on December 18, 2022. Updated on April 7, 2024 by Betty Choi, MD
Betty Choi, MD
Dr. Betty Choi is a Harvard-trained pediatrician who makes learning fun and doable. She created the kids’ anatomy book Human Body Learning Lab, which Science Magazine recommended as a “notable standout in the genre.”