In African countries, mainly due to malnutrition, gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhoea are reported to lead to the death of about 525.000 children per year under five years old, constituting the second cause of death in the childhood.
Despite that, prevention and diagnosis of such deseases are not often available and/or affordable in low- and middle-income countries. In this scenario, a sustainable and easy-to-use device able to readily alert parents and caregivers about the potential onset of gastrointestinal disorders in infants is here proposed. It consists in a smart, washable diaper enabling a straightforward monitoring of the gastrointestinal health of the baby implemented via low-cost technology. Based on the principle of common pH eassays, the diaper evaluates the stool pH and - if out of standard ranges - visually indicates that some disorders may arise, changing the colour of its fabric accordingly. In addition, a data-storing module relying on open-source electronics is integrated in the diaper gor reporting to clinicians.