Member Login  not a member? sign-up now!  Customize to your
family and get personalized newsletters.  Easing Diaper Rash  By
Jessica Hartshorn  Practically a childhood rite of passage,
diaper rash affects about half of all babies, often showing up
when they begin crawling at 8 to 10 months, says Amy Paller,
M.D., head of the dermatology division at Chicago's Children's
Memorial Hospital. "They're not upright and spend a lot of time
sitting, so their skin has extended contact with dirty diapers."
A change in dietary habits is also to blame. Babies who start
out on formula, or switch to it from breast milk, tend to get
diaper rash more often than babies who are breastfed. "The
introduction of solid foods can also alter the acidity level in
stool, causing irritation," says Dr. Paller.  As a child grows,
his stool frequency will decrease and he'll be standing more,
which should lessen outbreaks. In the meantime, to help prevent
a rash, change diapers often and use a barrier ointment, such as
zinc oxide. If your