My 4 month old son has a dry scalp and I would like to know what to use to fix it??

Amaris - posted on 10/01/2009

Are you sure it's a dry scalp or cradle cap? Cradle cap is absolutely normal for babies around that age and can last to 6 mo to a year. Babies don't have the bacteria we have to keep overgrowth of skin from building up on the scalp and it's annoying, but it doesn't bother baby. You can use a Johnson's product, such as Head to toe baby wash,I think Huggies came out with a cradle cap shampoo, but not too sure. Use one of those and a soft baby brush and lather baby's hair with it, take the brush and gently go around baby's head in a circular motion all over the scalp a few times ( don't over do bc it will irritate baby's head!) and just do it once a day until it goes away. DO NOT pick off the flakes bc it can bleed and get infected! Also, be sure you are rinsing baby's hair under a running faucet instead of using a cup and the water in the bath. That fresh water helps to wash away the flakes, too. If none of this works or you need more help, go to your piediatrician! All my babies had thick full heads of hair, and my son had a very mild case of cradle cap. Trust me, this works, but if you continue having problems, it's best to talk to your baby's dr.

Stefoni - posted on 10/01/2009

My daughter had cradle cap really bad. I used Selsun blue shampoo just once a week. You dont want to use it too often because it is medicated and also every night before her bath I would rub baby oil all over her head, wait 5 minutes, brush her hair to loosen the dry skin and then give her a bath and wash with baby shampoo on the other nights of the week that you dont use Selsun blue. It didnt take long at all for it to go away.

Jennifer - posted on 10/01/2009

My daughter had this prob for a few days...This is what works.....When i was bathing her i would put a few drops of baby Oil on a washing cloth along with a few drops of baby wash and gently rub her head for a little bit and then i would just fininsh washing her and it got rid of the dry scalp and also made her skin nice and soft from the bit of baby oil on the wash cloth I didnt have to use lotion :D...Hope this helps

Alli - posted on 10/01/2009

Hi my lil girl had this, my mum told me to use a little slightly warmed olive oil i used it 2 or 3 times and it went it was briliant, hope it works

Kelli - posted on 10/01/2009

My doctor told me to use head and shoulders shampoo for my baby girl.

Danielle - posted on 10/01/2009

My daugther had it so bad that even the stuff the doctor would give me wouldn't even work. Their is this brush that I use on my daugthers head. I will do my best to explain the brush it is white, round, the little legs on it are soft. I would wipe baby oil on her head and brushed her head with that brush after every bath time. I really hope this helps you, I will find the brush and take a picture it. The brush is everything.

Danielle - posted on 10/01/2009

My daugther had it so bad that even the stuff the doctor would give me wouldn't even work. Their is this brush that I use on my daugthers head. I will do my best to explain the brush it is white, round, the little legs on it are soft. I would wipe baby oil on her head and brushed her head with that brush after every bath time. I really hope this helps you, I will find the brush and take a picture it. The brush is everything.

Lisa - posted on 10/01/2009

hey i dont know weather you have been to the docs. they might give you some cradle cap cream

Alison - posted on 10/01/2009

i reccomend Olive Oil, my son had really dry skin all over when he was born and the oil helps loosen it and prevent it drying out. This can be found in any chemist. Good luck.

Brittany - posted on 10/01/2009

use vaseline. and keep the hair and scalp clean. but always use vaseline!!

Sara - posted on 10/01/2009

My 6 month old had it so bad, and I used Johnson's Baby oil. All you need is a small amt. ( it goes a long way! ), and then rub into his scalp, then use a comb to comb it through. Let it sit for about 30 min. and then wash it out when you give him his bath. I use Aveeno baby shampoo/wash, which is good for sensitive or dry skin. I had to wash his hair a couple times to get the oil out, but it's worth it. I did that a week ago and his scalp hasn't been dry since:) Hope it helps!

Geraldine - posted on 10/01/2009

i used some baby shampoo for cradle cap made by a company called detinox in a white and green box ( they also do teething gel ) my little boy had eczema pretty bad and couldn't use johnsons or anything perfumed his scalp was covered all over every time i gave him a bath i used this to wash his hair within two weeks it has cleared up and i use it every now and then to make sure it doesn't come back

Brianna - posted on 10/01/2009

My son also has this issue. I massage a small amount of olive oil into his scalp before I wash his hair. I do this once or twice a week. It really helps his scalp, plus his hair is extra shiny afterwards. Just be sure you thoroughly rinse afterwards so his hair won’t be ‘greasy.’

Jennifer - posted on 10/01/2009

I use baby magic wash and lotion and when i get her ot of the tub she gets a healthy bunch on her head while its still wet from her bath- got rid of craddle cap so worth a shot

Bethann - posted on 10/01/2009

Baby oil worked for all three of my children!!

Diana - posted on 10/01/2009

Does your son have cradle cap? Coz that could be it and you will probably need to get him a cradle cap shampoo from your local pharmacy. Or else go see your pedeatrician and get your doctor to give him a treatment.. Dry scalp is temporary and it would eventually go away.. Don't worry too much.. :) Baby oil also helps in getting rid of scaly scalp.. You can brush it off gently but dont force it to come off..

Sherrie - posted on 10/01/2009

my son just got over this. Our Doctor said it is the soap. Try not washing his hair with soap when you bathe him. Just use water and he said to use a soft tooth brush and scrub it when you are bathe him some to break up the died skin.

Samantha - posted on 09/30/2009

put a bunch of baby oil gel in his hair. Let it sit a moment. Then take a fine tooth comb and gently remove the dry skin. also if you wash his hair with head and shoulders shampoo once a week. I've heard that works awesome!

Cristina - posted on 09/30/2009

Hi! My doctor recommended using a soft-bristled toothbrush in the bathtub with baby oil or shampoo, whatever you have, and just gently rubbing the dry parts of the scalp. It took a few times, but it seemed to help with our son. Eventually, they do grow out of it, it just looks funny for awhile. :) Good lucky.

Kellie - posted on 09/30/2009

My son had a very dry scalp and we used hydrocortisone cream, found at any drugstore or target. It worked so well.

Nikki - posted on 09/30/2009

if your baby has white dandruff lookig stuff like on his head or forehead around the hairline. Then it is not dry scalp; its called Cradle cap. It is a little of dry skin that flakes off but it is normal, most babies get it. Just while giving the baby a bath lightly rub a baby wash cloth with baby shampoo on his head and eventually it will come all off. :)

Kristina - posted on 09/30/2009

my son had something similar, but what i did was after washing his hair i combed threw it to get all of that dry skin loose, then i put baby oil and that did the trick.

Shelly - posted on 09/30/2009

johnsons baby oil with aloe vera

Regina - posted on 09/30/2009

rub olive oil on hishead like really rub in and leave for about 1 hr and wash out it work for my son on it only takes a few days

Sarah - posted on 09/30/2009

If the baby oil doesn't work, I would definitely try the cradle cap shampoo made by gentle natures. I used it twice on my son and that was all it took. Good luck!

TONDELE - posted on 09/30/2009

THE BEST THAT I HAVE SEEN WORK AND DOESNT HARM THE BABY IS OLIVE OIL. ITS NATURAL WITH ABSOLUTLY NO CHEMICALS IN IT. LOOK FOR THE EXTRA VIRGIN IF YOU CAN BUT APPLY IT WITH YOUR FINGER TIPS TO SATURATE AND THEN USE THE FINE TOOTH BABY COMB TO GENTLY LIFT IT OUT. THEN YOU CAN EITHER LEAVE IT IN OR WASH IT OUT. WORKS EVERYTIME.

Tiffany - posted on 09/30/2009

Really for that nothing really works I have a 4 month old too and he has it. I just kinda goes away with age!

Jen - posted on 09/30/2009

For my 2nd son, I massaged his head with vaseline before bathtime and shampooed it out. After a few times, his scalp was fine. Also, I washed all my babies with Dove unscented.

Mel - posted on 09/30/2009

baby oil or olive oil always does the trick use a baby brush to brush it through and leave it for a day. i use to do it nearly everyday and both of my kids cradle cap dissapeared fairly quickly.

Lisa - posted on 09/30/2009

put baby oil on his head and rub it with a soft bristle brush. do it like an hour before bath time

Michelle - posted on 09/30/2009

My Daughter had this when she was that age. I used Olive Oil and massaged it on her scalp for a few minutes and then a few hours later bathed her with Aromatherapy bath gel. It went away after a week or so.

Rosangela - posted on 09/30/2009

my 2 month old had the same thing i put a lil olive oil on her head i left it for 4 minutes then i brushed trough it, after i washed her hair very well to take the oil off and its been a month and i haven't seen anything on her head

Crystal - posted on 09/30/2009

put the baby oil on his head and leave it one for 1-2 hours then wash it out. I fixed my daughters scalp in 1 week.

Rachel - posted on 09/30/2009

I found the best product for this to be primrose oil. It is a good source of essential fatty acids (EFAs), Omega 6 predominantly. It is in capsule form, which I break open and then rub over my son’s scalp.



I like this better than baby oil since baby oil usually contains mineral oil. Mineral oil is produced as a byproduct of the distillation of gasoline from crude oil. Mineral oil is leftover liquid. Mineral oil acts as a thin layer on the skin. It is difficult to absorb and clogs the pores, slowing the skin's ability to eliminate toxins. You can find more information at http://www.personalmd.com/news/a19981228...

Kim - posted on 09/30/2009

Stop wishing his hair for awhile let the oils come back.. Use baby oil.. and if ya take them too the doc they have shampoo that will help...

Allison - posted on 09/30/2009

My daughter had bad cradle cap for quite a while and the doctor finally told me to use a little bit of baby oil and then brush through with a soft bristle brush. At first, I was doing it too softly. He said that you really have to scrub at it and you won't hurt your child's head. This made a big difference and it finally started to go away. Also, use a gentle soap such as Dove unscented because even Johnson's baby wash can make the dry skin worse.

Bianca - posted on 09/30/2009

my son had it too. i just combed it out and it never came back. putting lotion will make it come back so try maybe some baby oil. lotion will eventually dry up and make "cradle cap" again. just go to babies r us and grab the brush and comb for infants and when you comb his hair it will fall off!!

Sarah - posted on 09/30/2009

Go to the store and buy the stuff for cradle cap or eczema. Its in a green bottle in baby isle. you can find at walmart rite aide wallgreens pretty much anywhere. Or you can try aveeno. If its cradle cap should go away soon.

Olivia - posted on 09/30/2009

Olive OIL works miracles, rub it on and comb it through,

Casey - posted on 09/30/2009

Like Tanya Bell, my doc said baby oil & a fine tooth comb.

Kaye - posted on 09/30/2009

My son has really sensitive skin. I tried everything on his cradle cap and nothing worked. I was told it would just go away by itself. When he was 3 I was told to try Ojon shampoo and conditioner (all totally natural ingredients.) It had disappeared after 3 washes. It's quite expensive but well worth it!

Ashley - posted on 09/30/2009

just don't scrub it... I made my daughter's hair fall out on top by doing that when she was a baby. I heard about coconut oil and tried it. I now use it for everything from diaper rash to moisturizing dry skin to eczema to stretch marks to cooking oil. It's really good for a lot of things.

Ashley - posted on 09/30/2009

coconut oil! solves everything

Kristi - posted on 09/30/2009

The baby oil thing worked for me to!!!

Marie - posted on 09/30/2009

I sell botanically-based products with Arbonne and we have an incredible baby line that I have seen work for this issue. (it's all I use on my son) there is a hair/body wash, lotion and oil. I'd love to send you a free sample if you'd like to try it. Be careful because most products out there have fragrance, dyes, mineral oil, or animal by-products, all of which we don't use and you want to avoid because they can cause reactions and absorb into your system. I would steer away from baby oil (it's mineral oil) which clogs pores causing possible reactions and preventing the skin from functioning properly. Hope this helps! Here's my email : andrewandmarie@gmail.com

Heather - posted on 09/30/2009

My son's dr told me to put almond oil (just a little bit) in his bath. Then I used a soft bristle brush in his bath to get the dead stuff off.

Sarah - posted on 09/30/2009

i have a son who is three now but when he was little he was very dry and the best thing i used after using a lot of things was olive oil it does make there hair greasy but it works...x

Tasha - posted on 09/30/2009

forgot lol...also i noticed that when he would get hot and sweaty it would make it that much worse, so if you notice the baby getting hot or something i'd probably at least wash it with a towel or wash his hair and then apply the lotions or cremes...good luck i hope it works!!

Tasha - posted on 09/30/2009

Quoting Brianna:

My daughters pediatrician told me to use selsun blue shampoo once a week and also baby oil.

i agree,my son had the same problem from birth that has continued through now, the pediatrician told me to use selsun blue and to use the baby brush to scrub softly a few times a day.I took him to a dermatogist last month and she said the same thing, now when he showers/bathes i have started using head and shoulders and using either keri lotion or vaseline on his hair/skin daily....cocoa butter works wonders on skin too!! good luck

Andrea - posted on 09/30/2009

You have a lot of replies already so I hope I am not repeating anyone else here, but my dd did the same thing, and her Dr pointed out to me that alot of baby soaps/lotions/shampoos have a bit of alcahol in their ingrediants, and some babies are exceptionally sensitive to it. Swith to one without alcahol in it and see if that helps, we use Aveno baby wash and soaps and it got rid of it for us.