The orange, brick-coloured stains in your baby’s diaper are urate crystals. They are made from substances usually found in your baby’s urine and can be worrying, especially if you are a first time mum. 

But urate crystals are common in newborns for the first few days and are usually nothing to worry about. They are quite common in breastfeeding babies and usually happen when the mum hasn't yet developed a good milk supply. The crystals should stop once your supply is regular, your baby is latching on properly and getting enough breastmilk.

If after first four days, you continue to see crystals in your baby’s diaper, talk to your doctor (if you haven’t already). She may ask you about feedings, your breastmilk supply if you're breastfeeding and check your baby’s weight gain. 

She is also likely to look for signs of dehydration, such as :

1. Dry and sticky lips

2. Going six hours without a wet diaper

3. Lethargy

Your doctor will probably suggest increasing feedings. This is especially important during the hot summer months when your baby is sweating and losing fluids.

Bear in mind, urate crystals found in a diaper are often mistaken for blood and vice-versa. You can distinguish between the two by looking closely at the colour. Blood is normally dark or light red as opposed to the crystals which are a brick colour or orange.