Caution! Here are the Foods That Cause Diaper Rash and Allergy

Knowing the foods that cause diaper rash is tricky…

You need to have the patience to figure things out.

Luckily though, there are many things that you can do to prevent your little one from a having diaper rash.

In this article, Newbabysmell.com will cover the below issues:

  • What a diaper rash is
  • Recognizing good and bad bowel movements
  • How food can cause diaper rash on your little one
  • A whole lot more…

So, hold on to that diaper cream real tight for the last time because by the end of this article, you might not be needing it any longer… diaper rash from food allergy might be the case!

Let’s get started…

What Does a Food Allergy Diaper Rash Look Like?

Diaper rash looks like red, irritated, and sometimes flaking skin.

It usually comes from infrequent diaper changing. It can also come from allowing the skin to stay in contact in high-moisture, warm areas.

Diaper rash can appear anywhere around the diaper area, where the skin has come in contact with a diaper.

Sometimes, it can appear on the legs and waist due to chafing. This can be from a diaper elastic or the bum and genitals because those are high-moisture areas.

Look for early signs…

You will definitely be able to tell if your child has a diaper rash. If your child has not already cried or squirmed enough to alert you, you will see it! oh my!

A variety of things can cause diaper rash. It will usually happen quickly after introducing a new food or a diaper product.

Rashes usually disappear after a few days after applying A&D ointment. These are like diaper creams and stop whatever it is that caused the inflammation in the first place.

Watch out mommy..

It is always better to be safe than sorry.

If you start seeing long-term redness, seeing a doctor is never a bad idea.

Read more about baby skin care here

Recognizing Good and Bad Bowel Movements

Diarrhea is a huge concern for all parents… It comes from the rotavirus usually.

In the winter, you have to make sure that your little one is well hydrated all the time. Some babies may have diarrhea when you introduce dairy products like Greek yogurt.

Put another way…

… this is a warning sign that your child may have food sensitivities. If you cut out a newly introduced food, it should go away within 3 to 5 days.

Around the 9-month mark is when you start introducing solid foods to the baby. During this time, you will notice some diaper changes..

That stool may change from more solid poops to colorful ones… Eww!

This happens when you introduced foods like toast then more colorful vegetables.

There are days when you incorporate more than one new food…

This is when you definitely will notice big diaper changes. The stool will not be like the ordinary. That is all related to the introduction of so many new foods that contributes to a stinkier poop.

It may not be the case for every baby, but make sure to take caution. During this transition period, many different things can happen during your baby’s diaper changes.

We want to stress that as long as their poops are solid and not watery that is fairly normal. A regular time period is around 3-5 days.

How Does Food Cause Diaper Rash?

Can food allergies cause diaper rash?

Diaper rashes are a fact of life when it comes to having a baby. Yet, there are some things within our control that we can do to avoid the situation.

By now, you should know…

… the baby’s diet, as they approach 3 to 6 months, will begin changing, which can be a shock to your baby’s digestive system.

Some foods will lower the pH levels of your child’s stomach, resulting in an acidic diaper rash.

Turns out…

… unlike a diaper rash caused by moisture, it will appear in places that are NOT directly in contact with pee and poop. 

Foods high in acid, like citrus and juices, can be upsetting for a baby’s digestive system. For babies that are still breastfeeding, foods in a mother’s diet can be causing high acid levels.

Even then, foods high in sugar or fat can also trigger diarrhea or make diaper rashes worse.

We also want to add that chances are, if you or your spouse also have inflammatory issues, your child may have it as well. This can go for allergies with certain foods as well.

Below are some foods that could cause an acidic diaper rash:

  • Citrus fruits (lemons, limes) and juices
  • Tomatoes and tomato-based products (this includes foods like spaghetti sauce)
  • Strawberries
  • Pineapple, and tropical fruits
  • Grapes
  • Raisins
  • Spicy foods (if you are breastfeeding)
  • Prunes, plums, apricots, and peaches (stone fruits can be acidic and cause diarrhea) 
  • Dairy products
  • Protein (oatmeal and beans)

Starting With A Bland Diet

Keeping with a bland diet for your child is best when starting to introduce them to foods. It does not matter if they are solid or otherwise.

Contrary to foods that can cause diaper rash…

starchy foods can also be less inflammatory for babies. This can help regulate your baby’s diet.

These include, but does not limit to:

  • Potatoes
  • Rice
  • Crackers
  • Bread or toast
  • Plantain
  • Low protein beans or lentils
  • Bananas
  • Apples (or applesauce)
  • Toast

How Do I Avoid Food Allergies?

So, how does one go about starting to figure out what irritates your baby or not?

We mentioned using your dietary needs as a starting point and frame of reference. Below are a few more things you can consider.

It can help create a more regimented and definitive way to identify what is upsetting your little one.

B.R.A.T. Diet

The B.R.A.T. diet stands for “banana, rice, apples (or applesauce), and toast.” 

It refers to starting and keeping your child on a bland diet as you start introducing them to solid foods. This is mostly for when you are introducing your child to new foods.

It can also be a gastrointestinal reset if your child has a sensitive stomach.

As you introduce them to solid foods, you want them to be softer in texture. You also want to make sure that it is low in fiber to make them easily digestible. This is to avoid irritating their digestive tract.

Some other foods you can include in the B.R.A.T. diet includes: 

  • Water, formula, milk, or broth
  • Cereal, pasta, mashed bananas, applesauce, cooked vegetables, mashed potatoes, and soups with rice or noodles
  • Dry toast, crackers, pretzels, bread

We recommend that your child has small servings throughout the day. We also recommend stopping 2 hours before bedtime. You will notice that this diet is largely missing some important food groups.

We do not recommend your kiddo to be on the B.R.A.T. diet for the long term.

This is because missing key nutritional food groups can lead to malnourishment in the long term. We recommend that once you have found a good starting point for yourself, be ready to take the next step.

3-Day Rule

So you have found a good neutral point to start introducing foods to your child! It is still advised by some organizations to wait for 3 to 5 days between introducing them to new foods.

This gives you a chance to identify what it is that could be causing any upsets to your baby’s tummy. 

More modern parents and dieticians suggest that you can even get away with a smaller window. This is usually for parents that a limited diet can enforce picky eating habits.

Unless you also have food allergies, your child is not at risk for developing a food allergy either. It is possible to introduce your baby to your diet but in more isolated ways.

That said…

… you can give them lightly seasoned versions of the food you are eating. An example of this is avocado and sweet potato on the first day.

A more cautious approach to this is splitting the foods you want to introduce a day apart.

If your child does not take to certain foods on the first day, do not feel discouraged the first few times.

Chances are, your little one is not going to like an introduction to new vegetables the first time around.

Save It.. or Write It Down

This is not just a good habit to get into for recognizing what causes diaper rash with your child but also helps to keep track of what is happening with your child on a daily.

Their first few years are going to be a learning curve for you and your spouse.

You can save what your little one eats on your phones or through writing in a journal. This helps to systematically figure out what is causing their stinky poops.

If you are breastfeeding, it is helpful to include what I had eaten as well. I was able to deduce that spicy foods were something I had to cut out from my diet. We noticed that it was upsetting my child’s stomach.

In my own experience…

… I also find that journaling can be a nice memento to look back on. We can see what was happening on a day-to-day basis as we were figuring things out. It makes for a nice keepsake to look back on in the future.

Introducing Things Slowly

Like with vegetables, introducing our baby to acidic foods required us to work incrementally. It was a very slow process.

We recommend not to introduce acidic foods that cause diaper rash before 12 months.

But here’s the kicker…

This is not for every child. If your baby is showing signs like vomiting or hiccupping, this could be a sign of something else. They may not take well to these foods. It is also possible that your child is extra sensitive and gets reflux easily. 

For children that do not seem to have these problems, you would start small. You would increase the amount we give them of foods with tomato sauce or juice weekly.

For example, you can start with bland vegetables like broccoli and cabbage, then go with avocados and other fruits. 

Do not get me wrong, you might still occasionally get the rare diaper rash or two…This is especially true after a “rich” day of eating.

But this happens throughout trial and error and recognizing what works for your child. You will learn a lot about not just foods your baby enjoys, but also other things.

You will learn what weird things a baby’s body can do and how quickly rashes can just come and go.

We highly recommend these tips and suggestions. They help guide you to understand a bit more and avoid acidic diaper rash in the future.

Disclaimer:

The information in this article is only a guide for educational purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for advice from a medical professional or healthcare provider.