Cradle Cap - Topanga, CA

Hello M. ...

I've been teaching childbrith education classes and infant care workshops for 27 years and I'm also a lactation specialist. And I know how bothersome cradle cap can be ... mostly for mom! It's very unsightly and looks somewhat like baby "dandruff", but it's not dandruff. It's an oily residue that's built up on the scalp.

Here we go with a treatment ...

Just put some baby oil all over your child's scalp. Then take a soft bristle toothbrush an go all across the baby's head in circular motions. Then shampoo with some type of mild baby shampoo. One or two treatments like this, and cradle cap is history! Please don't try to scrape or pick the residue off with your fingernails ... you'll just cause irritation.

Hope this helps and Happy Parenting,
M.

1 mom found this helpful

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Massaging olive oil into her scalp before a bath. It loosens the dry skin, hydrates and creates a barrier that the water and soap don't penetrate.

For my DS we used Neutrogena T Gel and a baby comb. I would comb out the clumps of gunk after we washed his hair. It eventually cleared up.

My son had craddle cap. It ended up causing a rash on his forehead. My doctor told me to use head and shoulders one time to get rid of the craddle cap. Also the current shampoo I am using says it helps. It is made by California Baby. You can buy it at Whole Foods and Target. I hope this helps.

M.,
We used Selsun Blue (on referal from our pediatrician) on both our daughters and it worked like a charm in 7-10 days.
Good luck! S.

I just used water to soften the skin and then gentle scrubbing with a soft rag(it came off over time) but I've also heard that baby oil works as well.

Our pediatrician recommended olive oil. It worked GREAT. If your baby's case is more severe and the olive oil doesn't work you should ask your Dr. which shampoo they recommend. (my understanding is H&S is a mild dandruff shampoo, Selsun Blue is stronger, and Neutrogena T-Gel even stronger)

Selsun Blue Shampoo!!! You'll have it gone in 2-3 days. I had no idea you could use it on kids until my MD told me to use it on my newborn. Good luck!

My GP (in Ireland-although I am from the Valley) had a compounding pharmacist make up a paste like substance of petroleum jelly and aspirin (salacytic acid). We had to put it on our DD's head for three nights without washing it off. When we washed it off, the scales fell right off. Up until that point nothing had worked so we were quite excited to find this solution.

When my daughter had cradle cap, we went the oil route. It kept recurring and she ended up with bald spots. When my second child had it, we took our dr's advice and used a shampoo with selenium (selsun blue was what we had on hand). We carefully washed his head, keeping it away from his face, about 3x over the course of a week or two. The cradle cap went away and never returned.

Tea Tree oil. You can find it at any GNC store or health food store (Trader Joes). Since she is so young, you may want to consult a pediatrian to get the ok and make sure she's not allergic. But the health food experts swear by it.
Good Luck.
M.

I just went to the dermatologist for my sons skins and cradle cap and the dr suggested using nutragina T-sol/sal formula for his cradle cap. Its worked great for him without scrubbing his head so it will probably work even better if you rub her head a soft brush. Hope this helps

My friend just went through this with her baby. I think finding a good shampoo, massaging, and doing an oil massage is the best route. I agree with other posters about being careful about what's in the products you use on your baby. My friend used Arbonne shampoo and baby oil (no petroleum by-products) and really liked it.

My 2 1/2 month old grandson has the same issue. What we have been doing is soaking his head in baby oil before his bath each night, wait about 10 minutes and then we take one of the fine tooth baby combs and comb through his hair. We have been doing that each day and little by little it has been going away...try that it also worked for my girls when they were babies. The doctor recommended Selson Blue, but i think the baby oil works better and the Selson Blue has kind of a medicine smell to it.

If you are using a bodywash/shampoo combo, try using a separate shampoo to wash his hair. A hair sytlist recommended that to me and my son's cradle cap disappeared never to return.

Good luck,
P.

Baby oil or indian sweet oil. Either will do the job.

Hi M.,

We used olive oil (any oil works, Vegetable, mineral-but don't use baby oil-for some reason it doesn't work, but makes it worse). Rub some (use your judgement- larger head=more oil than a smaller head-add more if needed) into her hair before bath time and let it sit in there for about 20 minutes or so. Then take an infant comb and comb her hair (this will get the flakes to come out, and wash as normal. Do this every bath time (or daily if you want to). It works over time, but every time you do this, you will see results until it goes away totally. The oil moisturizes her scalp. You can also go to the store and buy some cradle cap ointment that you use in the same manner.

Good luck getting rid of the Cradle Cap!

Cradle cap is just dry scalp. Try not washing hair daily. I usually wash my daughter's hair (she's 9 months) only 2-3 times a week. We also use baby shampoo or mild organic shampoo. The organic shampoo doesn't suds up as much, but gets the hair clean without the harshness of soap.

Baby oil worked great for my son, I would use it at bathtime and massage it into his scalp(make sure you rinse well so it doesn't appear greasy). Also, I would take his soft brush and comb backwards to flake out the cradle cap this worked well too. Hope this helps.

Use olive oil & a fine tooth comb, you'll be amazed at how much stuff you get out! Shampoo & repeat as many times as needed. I'd do it over the course of a couple days so she doesn't get too mad!

My firstson had this really bad. Take some baby oil and rub it on her head to losen any scabs. Gently brush head with a soft baby brush. Then wash head with Head and Shoulders Shampoo taking care not to get it in her eyes. After a few days you should see improvement with a week or 2 weeks until it clears.

My 8 month old son does too, and we've been using EVOO... it has been improving tremendously. massage on the head and then let it sit for about 2-3 minutes, and then bathe your daughter. we've been doing it for almost a week now, and I think by the end of this week, it should be all gone! :)

Tena M has good advice! My best friends baby just went through this and did the exact same thing with the baby oil and it worked. Also there is a product called Mustela (you can find it at Babies R Us) and the baby shampoo is really good for craddle cap and smells so good at the same time!
J.

safflower oil (from the grocery store next to the olive oil) works best for us. i use that and sometimes calendula cream from california baby. calms it down immediately.

I had a daughter in the same situation. My doctor told me to use baby oil on her head to help loosen the dry skin and to use a comb to brush it out. It seems to work

Rub vaseline on your daughters head and comb it out then wash her head with baby shampoo. Usually works the first time but tough cases take 2 to 3 times.

Hello M.,

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My pediatrician recommended putting the baby shampoo on her brush and scrubbing her head with the brush to wash her hair. It worked within a week for my daughter. We just used Johnson's Baby Shampoo.

M.,

My friend's baby had horrible cradle cap. Her baby sitter coated his head with A&D ointment (the orange stuff, not the white), let it sit, and then washed it off. Cradle cap is gone. It seems weird but it worked.

:-)T.

My pediatrician recommended tar-based dandruff shampoo (such as Nutrigena T Gel). I used it and in 2 shampoos, the cradle cap was completely gone! She had it pretty bad, too. You just have to be careful because it's not a kids' shampoo, so obviously do everything you can to keep it out of her eyes. I never had a problem!

Yes! I have 3 kids ages 11,9,7 they all had cradle cap and my pediatric doctor used to tell me to put some baby oil on their scalp and let it sit for a while which makes the dead skin soften and easy to scrape up with a fine tooth comb. Good LUCK!

M.-Hi there! My two children suffered from this as well-they are now 5 and 7 1/2 and they still have a few little spots that I have to take careof but mostly is has gone away with time. I had purchased the Gerber Cradle Cap kit that has a solution you put on their heads, behind ears, etc. and then you use a little brush to gently "exfoliate" the dead skin and wash it away. Although this product does work, it leaves your little one's hair sooo greasy that it really isn't pleasant and it takes quite a few washings to get it all out. So, my solution is simply to use baby oil on their scalp in the bath and let it sit while they bathe and then use a baby brush to do the exfoliating process and wash it all out. This will not clear up in one application-so know that it will take a while to get it all to go away, but it will eventually clear up and if you are lucky there won't be any lingering spots like I have had with my kids, but they too are minor and easily treated! Good Luck! -H.

Hi M.,

I know that Arbonne Baby Care products is a perfect solution to your little girl's cradle cap. Give it a try and I know you will be pleased.

Blessings,
D.
www.debiwigchert.myarbonne.com

Dial soap was her hair with it. I thought it weird but in just 4 shampoos it was gone

I would try putting some olive oil on the cradle cap and then use a soft tooth brush to help dissolve the cradle cap. It may take several times of doing this, but it will help to dissolve the cradle cap.

i let our daughter soak in her bath for a bit then take a fingernail brush (the bristles are stiffer than a baby brush) and lightly brush the dead skin off her head. because it is wet it comes off easier. it was incredibly easy and quick =)

Usually B vitamin deficiency, especially B6. If nursing mom can take the vitamins, or find in capsule form and give to baby by opening capsule and feeding to her. Recommend B6 and B Complex. May also give brewer's yeast to mom or baby.

Oil on scalp, like virgin organic coconut oil (smells wonderful) or olive oil is also good. Don't use baby oil, which is mineral oil and will leach oil-soluble vitamins.

Dr. A. Dunev

Both of my older ones had it at one time or another. The best way to get rid of it is to use baby oil or even cooking oil apply to the head, rub in with fingers, leave on for 5 to 10 minutes. Then using a soft toothbrusrh gentley rub the area. After that use a dandruf shampoo to remove oil and bulid up. After that you can wash the hair again with your regular shampoo. Repeat this process for one to two weeks or as long as needed to remove build up from head. It dose not hurt htem and is cost effective.

My 10month old had horrible cradle cap. It seemed to keep getting worse instead of better. I finally tried putting baby oil on his head and scrubbing it with a soft toothbrush before his bath. One time and it is completely gone! I wish I would have done it months ago :).Good Luck, I hope it works for you.

Tea tree oil is great for that....

My oldest had this until he was almost 2 and it drove my nuts! I tried the oil thing, and the cradle cap shampoo, nothing worked for him. My pediatrician suggested Selsum Blue shampoo. I tried it, and boy did it work! I used it on my second when he still had it after a few months, and it went away so fast.

Olive oil rubbed on scalp where cradle cap is works wonders. Just massage it in and comb cradle cap out of hair/scalp. Do before bath then wash well with baby shampoo.

My son had cradle cap into his first year. I tried everything. What seemed to work best was Aveeno non scented lotion. I put it on his scalp and let it loosen the dead skin, then comb out. I avoided washing his hair or getting his scalp wet as this seemed to make him worse. Hope that helps!

Have you ever tried baby oil rub it into her scalp at night and wash her hair in the moring do that for a few days hopefully that will work

all my 3 kids had cradle caps when they were babies. i would massage their scalp with mineral oil, let it soak for 30 min, then gave them their bath. worked everytime!

I saw many people suggested baby oil, but another alternative if you don't have that on hand is Vaseline. We used that daily before washing my son's hair to help loosen the flakes. It really helped. Another thing, people told us NOT to wash his hair frequently to avoid cradle cap, but we found that it got worse when we didn't wash his hair (and it started spreading to his face as well). Once we started the Vaseline and washing hair regimen every day, the cradle cap eventually disappeared. Plus, he got some great spiked hair-do's for awhile since the Vaseline didn't wash out very well. :)

M.,

Check out Green Cradle in Studio City on Ventura Blvd. They are an organic "pharmacy" for babies, pregnant woman, families.... totally amazing, very knowledgeable. Find them on-line also, although all of their products might not be posted yet.

www.greencradle.com

Good Luck,
K.

I used to use a little baby oil and a VERY fine tooth comb (a baby comb) and the combination would get it all off for the moment. I know with a couple of mine, the cradle crud was persistent but did taper off. If you don't notice a progression of less, I would see a doctor. Good luck and God Bless You!

I heard that neutrogena dandruff shampoo can help..

Try putting Olive Oil and or Mustella Newborn Foaming Shampoo. I used it from the day my Children were born and they never had cradle cap. I have been told the olive oil does wonders.

T.

Hello! I had excellent results with Arbonne's ABC baby oil for cradle cap. It's not like regular baby oil, it doesnt have any mineral oil in it. I dont sell it anymore, but if you want to try it I can help you find someone who does, or you can go online to arbonne.com and they can find someone for you. It's also excellent for eczema and extremely dry skin, and great for little massages at night to help them sleep. Good luck!

I feel for you M., I have twin girls who have cradle cap sooooo badly, I feel awful for them, because it must itch. My doctor told me to use Selsum Blue shampoo for a few weeks and try to gently rub off some of the scales, and it's doing wonders after only one week. This is hard for me because my son had a little bout with cradle cap and baby oil worked so quickly, but is no luck with my twins. Selsum is wonderful and takes away that weird smell that goes with cradle cap, they smell like little tiny rose buds!! Hope I am helpful!!

We massaged baby oil into our son's scalp and let it soak in for a while then while in the bath we used his baby brush to scrub away the scales. We did this daily for what seemed like weeks. It finally went away.

A little about me:
My son is 9 months old. He is my only. I work full time and so does my husband.

My son still had it when he was a little over one. I careful shampooed his head with dandruff shampoo and used a soft brush and scrubbed his head. Carefully (CAREFULLY) rinse without getting it in his eyes. Do this like once a week until gone. I've also heard you can use olive oil. It really depends on how much hair your little on has.

Hi M.,

I used pure Olive Oil to oil the babies scalp and I also used the brush from the hospital to get rid of the dry scalp. Don't wash the baby hair as often until it heals.

Hi M.,

My four-year-old and six-month-old boys both had bad cradle cap and the stuff I bought at the store didn't work. My pediatrician recommended washing the head with Dove soap (I used the liquid kind) and it worked for both the kids! You might want to see if your ped's office has any sample sizes--I got one a couple months ago at mine. It doesn't take much and it only took my kids a couple washings until the cradle cap was gone. Hope this helps! : )

Y.

VASELINE! works for everything. have 3 children and all had cradle cap. rub it into scalp with q-tip at least once a day. it helps moisurize it...will seem kinda messy and not easy to wash out but it'll solve the problem in a few days for sure. Hope that helps!

Kim Atkins
Prudential Locations LLC
Aiea, Hawaii