We get a lot of customers who have researched the best nappies and wipes brands for keeping rashes away. Every now and then a customer will write to us to say their baby has still developed a rash while using Joonya. One possible cause that is often overlooked is the acidity of baby’s poo.

Acidic poo nappy rash is caused by the PH level in the poo being too acidic (PH too low) and the cause is usually a diet that is high in the following types of foods:

• Strawberries
• Citrus fruits and juices
• Grapes
• Tomatoes
• Pineapple
• Raisins

and when breastfeeding, if the mother’s diet has too much coffee or spicy foods.

To rule out acidic poo as a cause of rash, a diet journal should be kept where you monitor what is being fed to your baby. If you have reduced the intake of the above types of foods for a few days and still the baby has a rash, then acidic poo is likely not the cause. But, if you have been breastfeeding and your baby is under 3 months old, we recommend you also read this article on the Australian Breastfeeding Association website, detailing lactose overload in babies.

This mentions lactose overload as a cause of acidic poo, often seen in babies consuming large amounts of breastmilk. A build up of lactose draws water into the lower bowel which is fermented by the bacteria there, giving baby gas and acidic stools.

If all of the above can be ruled out, and you’ve been changing nappies quickly after poos yet rash persists for unknown reasons, consult a doctor for expert advice on what to do next. The doctor may tell you that baby skin can sometimes react with inflammation after exposure to any new chemicals, even safe ones that are widely regarded as non-irritating to human skin.

I hope the above information is useful for anyone whose baby has been seeing persistent rash, even while using Joonya nappies and wipes!