Identifying Your Baby's Health Condition through Diapers

Though your baby's pee is slightly darker than usual, there are no other symptoms. Your baby is in a good mood and he is eating normally. When the weather is hot, your baby tends to perspire more. This may decrease the volume or frequency of his pee, resulting in darker-coloured pee.

When your baby's pee is pinkish, there is a possibility of blood in the urine. Bring his diaper along when you consult the doctor.

When your baby's pee is trapped in the diaper for a prolonged period, it will naturally smell of ammonia. You will notice this odour when you change your baby's diaper in the morning because it has absorbed your baby's pee through the night. But do remember to change your baby's diapers regularly during the day.

Your baby continues to have a persistent fever of over 38 degrees Celsius but there are no other symptoms, such as a runny nose or cough. If the high fever persists for a few days and your baby's pee has an abnormal odour, there is a possibility that your baby has an urinary tract infection.^*1

Although rarely seen during infancy, if your baby is a boy, there is a possibility that he has balanoposthitis.^*2 Though you may not notice pus on the diapers, your baby seems to have difficulty in peeing (the tip of his penis swells up but the urine discharged is thread-thin). If your baby cries loudly when he pees, there is a strong possibility that he has balanoposthitis. You should seek medical help immediately.

When the weather is hot, your baby tends to perspire more and pee less. Though the diaper may not be as wet as usual, as long as your baby is peeing every 3 to 4 hours, there is no cause for concern.

If your baby who is in the lactational stage does not pee for more than half a day, it is a cause for concern. Your baby may be suffering from dehydration.^*3

When your baby discharges poo that consists mostly of blood (the poo resembles strawberry jam or tomato ketchup), there is a possibility that your baby is suffering from bowel intussusception or telescoped bowel.^*4

Your baby's jaundice condition persists even one month after the birth, and the poo is whitish or cream coloured. Though the poo is not as runny as diarrhoea, there is a possibility that your baby has biliary atresia.^*5

When your baby's diarrhoea worsens, and the poo becomes whitish and there is a possibility that your baby has Rotavirus Diarrhoea.^*6

This may be caused by gastrointestinal tract bleeding,^*7 though this condition is rarely seen in babies.

When your baby is fed solids that are buttery or oily, you may find some mucus (like that of a runny nose) in your baby's poo. There is no cause for concern.

When your baby's poo is mixed with mucus and streaks of blood, seek medical help immediately. There is a possibility that your baby is suffering from bacterial enteritis (intestinal or bowel inflammation caused by bacteria).

High-fibre food may be discharged without being digested. There is no cause for concern as this is not a sign of an illness. This will be resolved naturally when your baby's digestive system develops.