Cradle Cap - New York,NY

Updated on September 19, 2010
J.P. asks from New York, NY
12 answers

Help! My two month old is developing a mild case of cradle cap...I want to keep it mild and help it go away. Sheesh..people will think I don't take care of my lil guy! I bought some olive oil for it and rubbed it in and brushed and washed his hair...it took off some of it...should I keep doing this? Will the oil eventually irritate his scalp and cause him to break out? Thanks in advance mamas!

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A.S.

answers from Eugene on

In the bath but on baby oil, leave it of a little bit, brush/comb while wet it it will come off, then should shampoo. Depending on how much hair he has, it will take a few washes to get the grease out.

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K.A.

answers from San Diego on

I stopped using baby shampoo and just started using a little bit of my shampoo. I use one from Trader Joes (orange and grapefruit) which is a bit more natural. I noticed the baby shampoo was leaving a film in her hair and never seemed to wash out. I would use a comb while the shampoo was in to come loose the gunge on her head. It's completely gone now. It's the oil glands working over time, getting adjusted. You need something to cut through the oil not add to it.

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

Keep working until you get the scalp clear, over a few days if the scalp becomes irritated (my sons gets red, but it clears up quickly). Once the scalp is clear, get a soft brush and gently brush his scalp before every bath, this will help eliminate new flacks before they have a chance to build up and give that scabby appearance. Once he is older you can start using a medicated shampoo on occasion to help keep it under control, talk to your Ped about this. My son is 5, and he still gets cradle cap if we do not keep up with it.

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K.V.

answers from Phoenix on

You can do it once a day until its gone. Also try not to put beenies on until its all gone, if his head sweats it can make it worse (atleast I noticed that with my daughter). As long as your washing it after you do the oil and brush it should not irritate the scalp more. ((HUGS))

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H.R.

answers from New York on

my son didn't have cradle cap but he had very very dry scalp/eczema which is pretty much similar. His scalp was very dry but not crusty, and it would peel off. I could not resist trying to oil it every day, pick off the parts that were peeling, etc. I tried it all, eczema/dry skin treatment, cradle cap cream, olive oil, baby oil, breast milk, dandruff shampoo, even saw a dermatologist who gave me special creams. It'd work for that day and then be so dry again and I could keep his hair soaked in oil because he was born with a lot of it and would get it everywhere. I would put a hat on but that only lasted so long. Much of his hair fell out due to this and the pedi told me its common for kids born with head full of hair to lose it. Anyway, try different methods to see what works for your kid. It can be gross looking and you may wonder what people think, but true mommies and daddies know it is not something you did or did not do. It is so common. While he was going through that, I met so many other mommies who had babies with either dry skin/eczema, cradle cap, or some other type of dermatitis.

As hard as it is, I would tell you to wait it out. One day it will just be gone. I think around 5 months it was gone.

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J.P.

answers from Buffalo on

When my daughter got CC I used Bert's Bee's Honey and milk lotion (has a cow on the front.) Not sure what made me put lotion in her hair? But it worked great and made her smell...delish! It is also one of a very few lotions that help w/her occasional mild exema. Bert's Bee's makes great stuff for children and adults. You used to only be able to get it in Health food stores, but now they seem to carry it all over. CVS has it. I also second the Johnson's baby shampoo...yuck! I never used it. Good luck!

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K.B.

answers from San Antonio on

My son is 10 months and his cradle cap was getting worse. I used baby oil and brushed it while it was in his hair and then shampooed it out. I finally realized how drying the Johnsons Baby shampoo was when I washed my own hair with it so he now uses my moisturizing Herball Essense and has not had his cradle cap back.

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E.C.

answers from New York on

don't worry - everybody goes through it. stop now the 'what will people think of me' - it's a mommy plague and doesn't help good parenting down the road (caring about how kids behave in public - it's important they learn to behave for developing a sense of respect for others, obedience to you, and self control - not b/c of what others will think or say). yes, over time the olive oil will work. put on a cute hat that ties under the neck to hide the wet hair look.

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E.M.

answers from New York on

Hello!
Our pediatrician recommended baby oil. I put a little on his head, waited a few minutes and then combed. It worked great and there was no irritation! Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

T.W.

answers from Denver on

We used Neutrogena Body Oil when this happened with one of our twins and it worked like a charm. After a couple of times it was all gone. Wishing you the best results with this.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.W.

answers from Buffalo on

Olive oil has never irritated my babies(or mysef!) I would suggest leaving it on his head for a while, then wash it out if you want.
My Dr. had me sponge bathe my newborns with olive oil instead of soap. Bacteria doesn't grow in it as it does in other oils. The A and D vitamins absorb through the skin also. We had none of the usual skin irritations you hear of. (and my daughter has the most beautiful skin!)
I also use it for dry skin and other skin problems for older children and myself(some mixtures, but right from the bottle is OK). There are too many chemicals(some undisclosed) in most products out there and it works much better.

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I.J.

answers from New York on

Arbonne, a health and wellness company with a tremendous skin care line, has something for babies. All of our products are pure, safe and beneficial. Be in touch and I will happy to tell you all about it and give you a 20% discount. ____@____.com

Best, I.

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