Cradle Cap

Kim - posted on 01/30/2009

I use a tiny bit of Selsun Blue w/ baby shampoo. I also use a soft bristled brush to gently scrub her scalp. After 2 washes, it is just about gone. Just be careful not to get it in their eyes.

Sandy - posted on 01/29/2009

My mother-in-law showed me how to bath my baby and she shampooed her head very vigorously. She recommended using a baby hair brush or washcloth to get the cradle cap out. You have to be pretty aggressive. My baby's hair fell out and that is pretty normal. It came back very quickly though.

Liz - posted on 01/29/2009

I have always used baby oil for all 3 of my kids.  They bathe every other day.  I would put it in their hair and rub it on their scalp about 5 mins before I would wet their hair.  Use baby shampoo and rinse.  Sometimes you may need to wash a second time so their hair doesn't look greasy.  Towel dry their hair and use a soft brush.  Every time I would brush their hair, the flakes would fall off.  May not be able to get rid of all of it on the first day but repeat this next time they have a bath and within a week it should be gone.  It worked for us!  Also, it is normal for babies to lose their "baby hair" or "peach fuzz".  I don't think it has anything to do with the cradle cap.

Tove - posted on 01/28/2009

My baby's doctor said that it is nothing bad. Even children in playschool can have it still. And that often, when you have been able to remove some, new will come back. The recommendation was not to ever use your fingernails to scrape it off, as you usually have dirty under-fingernails (even if you've washed your hands some germs still may be there) and that can lead to an infection in the baby's scalp. Instead never mind the cradlecap, or if you do (it's only a cosmetic "problem") you can rub bebyoil on it half an hour before bathing the baby and then brushing the hair every night.

Rebekah - posted on 01/28/2009

Hi Sheena, Bi-carbonate of soda is the full name, we find it here in Australia in the supermaket with all the flours and baking products.  It is used a lot in baking.

Alison - posted on 01/28/2009

thanks everybody. glad to know there really are so many different approaches. Ill start at the first suggestion for a few days and if that doesnt work ill move onto the next till i find one that does. She has it really bad. Ive three kids and ive never seen anything like it. The doctors dont seem alarmed. It didnt help that i put greek first press virgin olive oil on it ( from my dads olives in Crete!!) and not only did it not help it dyed the cradle crap a dirty green colour....sooo not a good look, poor mite...lol

Sheena - posted on 01/28/2009

what is a bi-carb soda?

Alison - posted on 01/28/2009

Wow...I'm amazed by all the different recommendations given to everyone!

My 2 month old has it just a little bit and my pediatrician said it really didn't need to have anything done to it. But I've read you can rub some olive oil or baby oil into the affected area and then shampoo it out. I've heard don't shampoo it everyday and also make sure that your baby doesn't wear hats or caps indoors or in a warm car because the oils on their scalps build up.

As for the hair loss, I haven't heard of hair loss having to do with cradle cap. I have heard that babies lose their hair naturally (sometimes all of it!). Mine has lost hair around the back of his head where it rubs off from sleeping or lying down. I'll admit it does look a little funny. :)

Rebekah - posted on 01/27/2009

Georgia has had it for a couple of months, it is getting better, I was also told by my health nurse to gently use my fingernails and brush her hair regularly.  I was told today by my health nurse at my 6 month check up to make up a bi-carb soda and water paste and use that.

Brittnee - posted on 01/27/2009

I have had some outrageous advice given to me for cradle "crap." Geranium oil by my hippy of a mother, baby shampoo by the pediatrician, and using my own shampoo by my mother-in-law who is a labor and delivery nurse. What works for my now 2 month old? Using a dime-sized amount of my own shampoo (I use Tresseme), lathering it with my fingernails lightly and then when his hair dries, I use the scrub brush that doctors use to do a surgical scrub (it's square and has soft plastic bristles) and go in circles on the affected area while he's feeding. His scalp is a little red afterwards but doesn't hurt him. That works for me. Baby shampoo is too gentle to dry the scales out and oil is just greasy and only masks the scales. Hope this helps!

Alison - posted on 01/27/2009

my baby has it bad. Oil just seems to make it worse. Ive been told not to scrape it off or use oil by my midwife, to carry on using oil by my doctor and the peadatrician said try almond oil!!! I now just dont know what to do for the best.Has anybody else had such conflicting advice?

Rebecca - posted on 01/27/2009

My son got it at 3 months and the doctor recommended not using any oils as it it just masks the symptoms and adds to the problem.  Instead he recommended taking my fingernails and scrapping off the scales everytime I washed his hair.  It worked and it cleared up very quickly.  He explained that the condition was caused by dead skins cells piling up, so it's not contagious and is easily fixed.

April - posted on 01/27/2009

My three month old daughter has it, however its clearing up. My health visitor suggested only washing the hair every 2-3 days and when you do dry the hair with a towel briskley (as you would tossle a childs hair). On the days when you dont wash the hair gently rub olive oil into the hair/area. Also brush the area with a baby brush every day.

Cynthia - posted on 01/27/2009

my son got cradle cap at about 6 months. Our pediatrician told us to get Selson Blue moisturising and use it, just make sure you don't get it in their eyes. We used it one time and it was all gone. It worked great! Depending on the case it could take a few washes. I was amazed

Katharina - posted on 01/27/2009

My daughter had a little cradle cap around 4 month and from the first moment I used and olive oil based baby shampoo, In case you do not know we are only supposed to wash our baby's head every 2 days because they have a curtain oil that develops that protects their scalp and if washed off everyday this can cause dryness that causes cradle cap.. You can dab the area with a little olive oil on a cotton bud. Hope this helps you!!!

Lisa - posted on 01/27/2009

My daughter started getting cradle cap a little before 3 months, and then it was really bad by 4 months. She had no hair where she had it bad. In December we went to the pediatrician and she prescribed a 2% hydrocortizone cream. We put it on before bed every night and wash her head in the morning (leaning her back over the sink we use Olay Creme Ribbons body wash...the Dr. recommended using something that is good on adults instead of a baby wash). Her cradle cap was better in a couple days and her hair started growing in her bald spots within a couple of weeks.