Found in Diaper

Updated on February 10, 2010
N.F. asks from Saint Peters, MO
41 answers

Yesterday when I changed my son's diaper, I noticed there were "crystals" on his skin in the diaper area. It was like there were sprinkles of sugar put on him. Has anyone experienced this before? Do you know what it is? The only thing I can think of is it happened after I fed him some yogurt. His twin brother had some in his diaper too, but not as much. I made sure the yogurt didn't have corn syrup in it, but it did have added sugar. Could that be it? I haven't seen it when they've had other foods. Next week my sons will be 9 months old.

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So What Happened?

I'm glad I asked - what a relief! They were Huggies diapers. Thanks for all your replies!

Featured Answers

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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

Yup, defective diaper. the crystals are what make it super absorbent.
If you want a fun science projects, cut a diaper in half, shake (out come the crystals) collect and put them in a cup....now add water and see how much they can absorb.
Have fun!

3 moms found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

They're from the absorbancy stuff in the diaper. Sometimes when the diaper is really wet, it breaks open or something and those crystals come out. I had it happen several times with my first who work Huggies almost exclusively and Pampers sometime. I quit paying the high prices and started using Kroger Comforts and Target Up and Ups with my 2nd -1/2 the price, just as good and I've never seen a crystal!

2 moms found this helpful
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G.W.

answers from Kansas City on

I have had that happen from the absorbent gel from inside the diapers sometimes working its way out .. especially if they were very heavily wet.

More Answers

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C.T.

answers from La Crosse on

It's likely the gel from the diaper. They put a substance in diapers that, when wet, often gels up and puts out crystallized looking beads on the skin. Huggies are especially known for this.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.B.

answers from Kansas City on

It is likely the diaper gel stuff, but I believe there is a kidney disorder that results in crystals in the pee, so I would google that and mention it to the pediatrician next time, just to be sure. Does his pee smell really sweet like maple syrup? That also can signal a kidney problem. Just wanted to mention it so you can be sure he is okay.

1 mom found this helpful

S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

Same as the others said, the diaper is leaking the insides :)

1 mom found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

It could be the absorbant (gel-like) material in disposeable diapers!

1 mom found this helpful
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G.J.

answers from Chicago on

It's the crystals in the diaper that form a gel when he urinates. Cut open a dry diaper and see if its the same crystals.

It sounds like the diapers might be defective. If you see the crystals again, contact the manufacturer and request replacements.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.H.

answers from Detroit on

LOL~ Huggies was notorious for this with us. I never had a preference for that brand, either as it seemed they cut into his skin no matter what size or how I put them on him, and he was a small boy~ he didn't hit 'normal' until this year on the growth chart with the doctor.

Never had an issue with Target brand diapers and at night we used Pampers - especially as he got older as they contained the leaks better.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

those crystals are from the diaper. Its his urine. It means that the diaper didnt soak up the urine very good. Nothing too worry about.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.A.

answers from Wichita on

it is the gel from the disposable diaper, it happens more when the diaper gets really wet. nothing to worry about.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.S.

answers from Topeka on

Using disposables? If so, I'm about positive, it's the stuff they use in the diaper that "absorbs" the fluids. If the diapers become too wet and are no longer able to absorb anymore fluids, it may have torn a little bit, and the "stuff.. ie:crystals", came out. Don't worry, it's happened to us all.. and just means you should change it more frequently, or get a diaper that holds more "fluids", or that is more absorbant. :)

D.B.

answers from Wichita on

It's just a substance from the inside of his diaper. These tend to leak out a little bit sometimes when babies wet their diapers.

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S.A.

answers from San Francisco on

It might be from the type of diapers you use, I find the same kind of crystals in the diaper when I use Huggies.

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T.M.

answers from Columbia on

It's actually probably the diaper's water absorbing materials breaking free from the diapers. Sometimes when diapers get saturated, it starts to come out. No problem though to the child! :)

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H.S.

answers from St. Louis on

it's definitely the diaper..sounds like the absorbent gel leaked out

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C.J.

answers from Harrisburg on

Yes, it is the crystals in the diaper for absorption. Switch diapers or change more frequently.

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E.C.

answers from Kansas City on

they are called ployacriliamides. they are special absorbent material in disposable diapers. interesting fact, they were originally made in the 1930's for farmers to mix with their dirt to help the soil retain water during the drought. :) try taking apart a dry diaper and mixing the stuff with potting soil before u plant ur palnts :)

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N.H.

answers from College Station on

My child has the same thing a few times. It looks like maybe the urine crystalizing or something. i think it may depend on the kind of diapers used. I also think that it may depend on how long the child has had the diaper on before it is changed.

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J.K.

answers from St. Louis on

My son had this same thing happen overnight. I think he must have filled it up early on and the diaper started to break down. If it was an after sleeping in it all night or a long nap I would say that is what happened. If this happened within a couple of hours I'd say you need to switch brands, change their diapers more frequently since maybe they happen to urinate a lot or move them up to the next size since the smaller size got too full too quickly. I wouldn't worry too much about it. I know my son seemed to pee much more when he was a baby and filled his diapers up pretty fast!

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C.I.

answers from Topeka on

It sounds like a layer of the diaper broke and the absorbent "crystals" stuck to your little one's tush!

G.R.

answers from Dallas on

i think is the gel of the diaper just to be sure wet a clean diaper with water and opened you will see that gel

T.J.

answers from Fort Walton Beach on

I agree with Denise... those are probably the crystals that diapers use to soak up liquids. They probably got some liquid and showed up bigger than when the manufacturer puts them in the actual diaper. Then, low and behold - crystals on baby's bum.

http://www.howstuffworks.com/question207.htm

If it's something else, you need to repost more details about the crystals.

Good luck!

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S.D.

answers from Topeka on

It is from the diaper.If these happen to get in your eyes they burn like crazy it feels like glass cutting your eyes,how they got into mine was I shook opened the diaper and all this fluff came out everywhere landing into eyes and hair

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T.M.

answers from St. Louis on

Actually, I believe they are from your diaper. I've noticed when my daughter wears Huggies that happens as well.

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S.U.

answers from Kansas City on

I believe it is from the diaper itself, once the diaper has absorbed urine the diapers will sometimes release the gel like substance through the inside surface of the diaper. I don't know if it's silicone or what exactly but you may need to just change diapers as soon as you notice your son is wet to avoid it. I'm not sure if all diapers are the same, you might look into changing the brand. Hope this helps.

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R.C.

answers from Huntsville on

It sounds more like there was a tear in the inside of the diaper.
Disposable diabers have a moisture grabbing substance in them that may look like crystal type material.
To test this, take a clean diaper, pour about 1/2 cup od water in it and let it sit for a while. Later, make a slit in the inner side and check for those crystals.
If you do not see the same substance as was in the childs diaper, call your pediatrician and give him the info.

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D.M.

answers from Phoenix on

its from the diaper. the diaper must of been really soaked or torn....happened with my daughter. no worries!!!! what brand are you using?

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J.H.

answers from Kansas City on

My daughter got this when I used Luvs diapers...I think it was the material and too much urine. My girls are 7 & 10 now, so it was a while ago...but if your using Luvs diapers this could be why your children are getting the crystals.

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T.C.

answers from Kansas City on

What kind of diaper's are you using?

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D.G.

answers from New York on

Could it be the "gel" in the diaper? When pampers or hugs get very full, I find they leak this gel like substance.

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G.J.

answers from St. Louis on

N.,

No worries, it is just from the diaper. Sometimes if they get a bit too full, or depending on the brand, this happens. If you ever put them in the pool with a diaper and not a pull up and the diaper breaks, you will see a lot of these "crystals."

Good luck and enjoy your babies! Mine are getting too big, too fast!

G. J. from St. Louis

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S.D.

answers from Indianapolis on

You left the diaper on too long and the chemical gel crystals came out of the diaper. Ick:(

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O.A.

answers from Nashville on

Yeap just a defective diaper.

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L.C.

answers from Kansas City on

Yep, I've seen all the answers, and I agree...it's the diaper.
This happened to me when I took my 17-month old granddaughter to church. It was a long service, and she had not been changed since after her bath the morning of, and it was around 3pm when my daughter was shock when opening the diaper. Either she or I knew what was going on down there. I came up with all kinds of "wazzo" possibilities. I asked one of the older church ladies, and she said it was from the diaper, and because my granddaughter had been going from teen to teen (who assisted us in keeping her attentive and under control doing the service), the rubbing of the diaper and the weight of her pee had exposed these crystals. It was my first time ever experiencing such. These were pampers, so I think any disposable diaper will bust if they are soaked for too long and roughed up by a lot back and forward movement.

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T.F.

answers from St. Joseph on

most likely it was from the diaper. sometimes diapers will kind of fall apart, and those little "crystal's" are what soaks up the urine. Don't worry, some diapers are more prone to it.

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M.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

Yep, it's from the diaper. Another reason I use cloth. Those chemicals on the skin scare me.

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A.D.

answers from St. Louis on

are you sure the "crystals" weren't those absorbent little gels that are inside diapers and come out when a diaper is very full? I know I was shocked the first time I saw those in one of my kids' diapers......

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F.W.

answers from Flagstaff on

I found that a couple of times- it's from the diaper. Either they were too full or they were faulty. This is the substance they use to absorb all the moisture. I know- it's freaky.

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R.M.

answers from Wichita on

it's part of the diaper. the urine will mix with the little particles and that's what it is. usually when the diaper is pretty full. don't worry. for real--it happens all the time.

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M.D.

answers from Boston on

The gel from inside the diaper has leaked out. Its nothing to be alarmed about, but perhaps change his pee-ful diapers more often so they don't get super-saturated and leak.

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