Change cloth diapers more often than disposables. If you use warm water instead of wipes, avoid using soap, which can be too harsh for baby's tender skin. When cleaning the genital area, always wash a baby from front to back. If you use disposables and your baby experiences frequent diaper rash, consider a possible allergy to the perfumes used. To heal diaper rash, let your baby go without diapers for a period of time each day.
Powders can aggravate rashes and do nothing to keep skin dry.
Use zinc oxide or petroleum jelly as a barrier against wetness. Raised, reddish-pink bumps in the diaper region may mean a yeast infection and could require an antifungal cream. If you suspect yeast, or if the rash is severe and lasts more than several days, call your baby's health care provider. A pink discharge in a newborn girl's diaper is normal and will go away in a few days. If your son is not circumcised, don't pull the foreskin back.