XP: Intro & EC/Cloth diaper ?

Hi Ladies!  I have lurked on here often, posted responses on occasion, and now I have a question.  But first an intro:  I am Katie and my (almost) 3 month old son is Samuel.  We babywear, ebf, occassionally bedshare, wear cloth diapers, and practice EC.

The past few days, S's penis has been very very dry (rough to the touch, white looking with dry skin...).  We have been practicing EC since he was 3 weeks old (I had been cueing him into his diaper during changes, maybe sometimes putting him on the potty), but something has clicked lately and we have had a lot more dry diapers.  Yesterday, I think he wet his diaper maybe twice (yay!).  I mention this because I don't know if the cloth is irritating him, and maybe the wetness of past diapers masked it? (or maybe it's the dryness that irritates)??  Also, the diapers don't seem to be as soft as they should be; could that be the problem and how would I fix that??  We have been using Tide Original Powder without problems since the beginning, and absorbancy is not an issue.

What do you think??  I posted on the CD board as well, but I posted here in case any ECers have experienced this.  Should I strip the diapers?  do some naked time to see if it helps?  put lotion on him?  If it matters, he was in disposibles recently for about 2 weeks, due to a long trip.  The disposibles kept him dry and he had no penis issues...

TIA!!