Ointments come into play when your baby has diaper rash and can't be naked. These are typically oil-based (Vaseline, A&D ointment, or plain olive oil) or zinc-oxide-based (Desitin, Balmex, or Johnson & Johnson). Ointments create a barrier, protecting your baby's skin, and have to be spread on thickly to work. If standard ointments are ineffective, you might ask your drugstore to order a thick cream called Triple Paste or Aquafor. Both are hard to find and expensive, but some moms swear by them. Others reach for Bag Balm, an ointment intended for use on cows with chapped udders. Bag Balm, used to treat a variety of skin problems, soothes soreness and inhibits bacteria growth, but it is only FDA-approved for use on animals. Check with your health care provider before using.

Don't apply over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream unless you've discussed it with your doctor. Extended use of hydrocortisone cream can thin a baby's skin.

If you suspect a yeast infection, ask your pediatrician to prescribe an anti-fungal ointment or use an over-the-counter antifungal cream like Lotrimin. However, if your doctor prescribes a combination steroid-antifungal cream like Lotrisone, only use it as long as recommended. Do not use it as a regular diaper cream, because the steroid can lead to serious side effects in children, including thinning of the skin.

In Hawaii, where the humid climate makes diaper rash a real problem, moms use pure cocoa butter to prevent diaper rash. Cocoa butter is available at most drugstores and comes in solid bars or sticks that must be warmed. (Put it in a jar, then sit the jar on a sunny windowsill or in a bowl of warm water. Test it on your own skin to make sure it's not too hot before applying to your baby.) If you live near a grocer that caters to a Latino community, you have access to another remedy — plantain leaves. Crush fresh leaves, and use them to line your baby's diaper.

If you're battling diaper rash and using home-washed cloth diapers, add vinegar to the rinse water. Urine is irritating because it is alkaline, and the acid in vinegar can make it less so. (Diaper services often treat their diapers in this way as a standard practice, or will upon request.) You can also add vinegar to your baby's bath water. Use about one cup of white vinegar in about six inches of water in a normal tub, or less than one-third cup in a sink or baby tub.

If you're using disposable diapers, consider peeling off the outside plastic cover and fastening a cloth diaper around it. That combination will prevent leaks while allowing air to get through.

If your baby has graduated to wipes, you should go back to using plain water to clean your baby's bottom while she's rashy. Diaper wipes may make the rash worse.