Although pre-packaged wipes are convenient and fine for travel or outings, some babies can be sensitive to the chemicals used in the wipes. Leaving the infant's bottom open to the air from time to time during the day will help prevent rashes. It's also not necessary to awaken the baby from sleep to change the diaper. Some parents routinely apply a thin layer of Vaseline , A and D ointment, or a zinc oxide preparation such as Desitin, to the baby's diaper area at bedtime. These act as barriers that prevent the urine from touching the skin, and may help prevent rashes.
Diaper rashes occur equally often in babies who wear cloth or disposable diapers.
If you see a rash just around the waistline and the thighs, where the plastic of the disposable diaper touches the skin, your baby may be better with a different brand of disposables. If that doesn't work, you may need to switch to cloth. If you are laundering your own cloth diapers, wash them twice in hot water with a mild detergent. A cup of vinegar added to the rinse water may help prevent rashes by making the ammonia wash out more easily. Diaper services do this as a routine, and, in general, are excellent.