I started using talc at the insistance of my mother (she talc'd us for years, I can remember it being done), but found DS was a lot happier without it and less nappy rash - but that also could be because my mother insisted I only use disposable nappies at first. Once she left we were talc-free and cloth nappies and DS's bum looked a lot happier.

Mez, if you're worried about poo aggrivating the bum, you can just use some vaseline to form a protective barrier, but do wash it off in the morning.