Smart diapers keep track of baby’s well-being

A new diaper product does quite a bit more than what diapers have always done. Smart Diapers by Pixie Scientific, N.Y., N.Y., monitor for signs of a health issue, such as a urinary tract infection, dehydration or developing kidney problem. Using a smart phone, a parent can scan the QR code patch on the front of a baby’s wet diaper for an almost instant report.

The product also tracks a child’s health for months or years, automatically looking for emerging trends or patterns.

Kidney problems, for example, can develop for multiple reasons: premature birth, an infection, undiagnosed diabetes, etc. Typically, observable symptoms don’t show up until several years after a problem’s already begun. The Smart Diaper looks for early signs to make sure children who require diagnosis, monitoring or care will receive it before the observable symptoms set in.

For children who have already been diagnosed with a chronic kidney condition, Smart Diapers make a parent’s job easier by providing