For most parents, changing a baby's dirty diaper is one of their least favorite tasks. This isn't to say that they won't complete the necessary task to keep their baby clean and smelling somewhat fresh— it's just that it isn't exactly fun. This isn't even taking into account the horrendous blowouts and astonishingly stinky messes your little one can produce. If you've ever asked, "how could this come out of something so small," then you might be curious about the really gross things that happen in your baby's diaper. (And if you haven't or have a weak stomach, then you may want to stop reading now, as sh*t's about to get real.)
Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I've always been perplexed by the various textures, colors, and amounts of matter I found in my son's diaper. Though he may have graduated to using the toilet, some of those diaper surprises will stay with me forever. You're definitely not alone if you've stared in disbelief while your little one is blissfully unaware chilling out on the changing table. So if you want to know what's really going on in your baby's diaper, even the gross things, keep reading for some mind-blowing info on blowouts.
1They Basically Shed
As parenting expert Holly Pevzner told Parents that meconium, "your baby's first stool is jam-packed with materials your baby ingested in-utero, like skin cells that have been shed, mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, water, and lanugo, which is the fine, soft hair that covers baby's body." Yup, it's super gross and it's definitely in your infant's first diaper.
2They Can Get A Yeast Infection
According to Baby Center, "even if your child is a boy, the moist environment of a wet diaper can easily cause a yeast infection, especially if there's already an untreated diaper rash." Although this infection is typically associated with women, Baby Center further reported everyone has a negligible amount of this fungus on their body. You should take your baby to their pediatrician if you suspect they have a yeast diaper rash.
3Pimples Can Develop
A lot of infants get tiny little bumps in the first months of life, and that's completely normal. And if you think that these little irritations actually resemble acne, then you wouldn't be wrong. According to What To Expect, "maternal hormones stimulate baby's sluggish oil glands, causing pimples to pop up." There isn't reason for alarm, though, since this is only temporary and can be easily treated with regular washing and changing.
4Their Stool Is Seedy
I'm not talking about seedy in the suspicious sense of the word here. According to the official site for the Blank Children's Hospital, "breastfed baby poop is typically seedy and pasty in texture and may be runny enough to resemble diarrhea." Don't freak out if you think you're seeing seeds, tiny balls, or cottage cheese in your baby's diaper. It's just how they process breast milk.
5Little Crystals Can Appear
As it turns out, the clear crystals are actually just water absorbent material from your baby's diaper, according to Baby Center. Thankfully, the substance in many disposable diapers — which is called sodium polyacrylate — isn't harmful to your baby's skin, as Baby Center further noted. One way to avoid their appearance is to make sure you're regularly changing them before they get over-saturated.
6Their Pee Smells
Similar to yeast infections, it can be easy to think that certain things only happen to adults. But, as pediatrician Dr. Marie Gauthier told NPR, "if [their] urine smells stronger than usual, the risk of having a urine infection is a bit increased compared to a child not having smelly urine." If they haven't had asparagus lately but their wet diaper is stinky, you may want to check with their physician.