Hello! I am not a mother, but I have cared for ten beautiful little ones for two years now. I am a proffesional infant teacher in one of the best nursuries in the country! (well, I was, but I had to quit because I am moving )

i want to tell the world that white ointments such as desatin completely suck! Sorry for the graphic language, but that is my honest to goodness opinion of the stuff. It smells bad (the smell makes me sneeze like crazy) and it doesn't get rid of rashes, and it doesn't prevent rashes.... The best ointment in the world is a & d ointment! It gets rid of rashes, and keeps them away! All of the babies in my nursury are now using a & d with every diaper, because I preached about it to my mothers, and none of them- even the ones who used to get rashes really bad- get rashes. If there is a persistent rash, I recommend pinxav. I like that just about as much as a & d, but it is more expensive, smells bad, and makes all their diapers pink (eww) but it is amazing at getting rid of raw diaper rash. Another ointment that prevents rash (but will not get rid of existing rash) is vaseline with every diaper. It keeps the moisture off the skin.

Also, I want to say *never never never* use baby powder! It can get into baby's lungs and cause severe lung disease- using baby powder is about the same as putting your baby in an asbestos-lined crib!

-eff