A MUM claims her baby was left with horrific “blisters and burns” after wearing a supermarket nappy – though the chain suggests it was just severe “nappy rash”.
Rachel Hynd was horrified when she discovered her 13-month-old baby Thomas with raw, “blister-like” patches after putting him to bed with the nappy.
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The 23-year-old slipped him into an Asda’s Little Angels nappy after not finding her usual choice.
The tot wore it overnight on September 4, with Rachel saying he’d only been in it five hours when she heard an ear-piercing scream from his bedroom.
The mum-of-two was appalled when she took off her baby’s nappy and found his bottom was red raw – and claims the nappy was the only thing he had come into contact with.
The private carer, who lives in Dunfermline, Fife, said this was the first time her little one had ever worn Asda’s nappy range after her usual Pampers’ products were out of stock.
Rachel rushed Thomas to her local GP, who prescribed him with a course of burns treatment for the following week.
Asda said they were sorry to hear about Rachel and Thomas’ experience, adding that the nappies she purchased had since been tested and confirmed to meet their “rigorous safety standards”.
They said that their nappies are accredited by the Skin Health Alliance, whose research shows their nappies cannot cause chemical burns.
The supermarket explained that because a baby’s skin is delicate, it can react to exposure to urine and that nappy rash can often be more severe in babies with very sensitive skin.
Rachel described the incident as a “living hell” – adding that her tot was unable to sit in a high chair, pram or car seat while recovering from his injuries.
Rachel said: “The nappy was on him for five hours. I usually put him down and I don’t hear from him until the next morning. I woke up to my son in absolute hysterics, crying in pain.
“I’d never heard him scream like that before. He’s a very well contented baby.
“When I pulled back his nappy, I thought ‘what the hell is this?’
“His nappy wasn’t soiled, his nappy was dry. It was almost like the urine had stuck to his skin and the Asda nappy hadn’t extracted the urine.
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“There were cuts, blisters and scabs. I realised it was a burn. It was blistered and bleeding.
“The nappy was the only thing he had come into contact with. No child should have to go through that.
“He couldn’t sit in his high chair, he couldn’t crawl about.
I don’t want any other child to go through what we went through. It was appalling.
Rachel Hynd
“I couldn’t put him in a car seat or in the pram. He couldn’t put any pressure on his bottom.
“It was a living hell. It was really hard to manage.
“The burns have healed but he still has a scar on his bottom. I felt extremely guilty that I had purchased these nappies and put them on him.
“It was a living nightmare. When I pulled back that nappy, I never expected to be met with that.”
How to avoid nappy rash
Nappy rash is common in babies and you can treat it at home if you notice it on your tot.
Symptoms of nappy rash can include:
- Red or raw patches on your baby’s bottom or the whole nappy area
- Skin that looks sore and feels hot to touch
- Scaly and dry skin
- An itchy or painful bottom
- Your baby seeming uncomfortable or distressed
- Spots, pimples, or blisters on bottom – the spots can look red or brown, but may be less noticeable on brown and black skin
It can be caused by:
- Your baby’s skin being in contact with pee or poo for a long time
- Not cleaning the nappy area or changing the nappy often enough
- The nappy rubbing against your baby’s skin
- An allergic reaction to soap, detergent or bubble bath
- Irritation from fragranced baby wipes or wipes containing alcohol
- Some types of medicines, such as antibiotics or laxatives
- Thrush (a fungal infection)
You can avoid it by:
- Changing wet or dirty nappies as soon as possible
- Keeping the skin clean and dry – pat or rub the skin gently to dry it
- Leaving nappies off when possible
- Using extra absorbent nappies
- Making sure your baby’s nappies fit properly
- Cleaning your baby’s skin with water or fragrance-free and alcohol-free baby wipes
- Bathing your baby daily – but not more than twice a day, as washing too much can make the skin dry out
If the rash is causing your baby discomfort, a pharmacist can recommend a nappy rash cream or medicine to treat it at home.
They may suggest using a thin layer of a barrier cream to protect the skin or giving your baby child’s paracetamol for pain relief.
See a GP if your baby’s rash does not go away, gets worse or spreads, if they develop a high temperature or seem very uncomfortable.
Source: NHS
Rachel complained to Asda about the nappies and said she’s awaiting the outcome of their investigation after returning the products to store.
Rachel said: “I contacted Asda the day it happened, and they’ve been in touch asking me to return the nappies.
“I don’t want any other child to go through what we went through. It was appalling. I’ll never go near these products again.
“I’d rather drive to the end of the earth to get different nappies.”
Asda said that Little Angels nappies were the first supermarket brand to have been tested and accredited by the Skin Health Alliance.
The SHA appointed a scientific review committee to independently assess the research and development behind the science of Little Angels nappies and First Pants.
They said that all the materials in their nappies are dermatogically tested and deemed safe to use on skin and that their nappies are made and packaged in a closed environment.
Asda’s response
A spokesperson for Asda said: “We were sorry to hear about Ms Hynd’s experience with this product.
“The nappies she purchased have been tested by an independent laboratory, which confirmed they meet all our rigorous safety standards.
“We sell over 10 million packs of Little Angels nappies each year and each one is thoroughly tested before it reaches our shelves.
“In addition, our nappies are accredited by the Skin Health Alliance, whose research shows our nappies cannot cause chemical burns because they are made from inert materials and conform to internationally recognised standards.”
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