Ideas for Cradle Cap

Mineral oil is toxic - don't put it anywhere on your baby - or yourself for that matter. You can try pure virgin coconut oil as an alternative - but the best thing I found to remove and prevent cradle cap on my sons was daily bathing and shampooing with a soft washcloth - even if they didn't seem dirty - think of it like brushing your teeth - you do that daily because plaque will build up otherwise - your baby's skin is the same - because he is so new and fresh all his cells are constantly growing and renewing - therefore there are dead skin cells as well as bacteria that need to be sloughed off - and they don't need any baby lotion or oil after a bath either unless the soap you are using is very harsh - look for natural soap instead of "baby" products at the drug store - if you think there is a dryness issue try a natural vegetable oil (coconut, olive, avocado, apricot kernel) but avoid anything with mineral oil or petroleum jelly or parabens as they are toxic to the body and only cause more problems than help resolve them - good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

sesame oil is the best, if the smell is too much olive oil is great.

You can also try Head and Shoulders (Pediatrician suggested it). Its what I used for my son and it worked great. Just be extra careful not to get into the eyes. Good Luck!

I use the scrubber that surgeons use to clean up before surgery. It has a sponge on one side and soft bristles on the other. I use it to wash my babies hair everytime I bathe them. If you know someone who works at a hospital they will give you one.

I have a 5 mo old and he has cradle cap bad! We've tried everything under the sun! Our most successful was while he is in the bath rub baby oil on his head and let it soak in for a few minutes. Then comb his head and the cradle cap spots and over and over. It removed the cradle cap the easiest. I did this everyday....big difference. We still get a few spots every once in awhile and I just start with the baby oil again. Good luck...I know how frustrating this can be.

Hope this helps my daughter had it. When I thought it was gone it would come back. I tried a lot of thing but what worked best for was baby oil. My mother told me to rub baby oil on her at bed time and leave it on over night then bath mid morning and srub gently. and you will see the diffrence. hope this works for your little one

My son had one of the worst cases of cradle cap, and what we did was got a nail brush (the ones you use to clean your fingernails) and washed his hair with it! It worked wonders! I hope that this helps.

Trish

Our doctor recommended any dandruff shampoo...said it's a form of dandruff. Both of my kids had it.

My daughter had this, too. I used baby oil, and there was a special brush my friend let me borrow---it never came back after I did that.

Try olive oil, also you can very gently brush his head with a soft tooth brush, I know it sounds weird, but they are a lot softer than combs, and it helps loosen it up, it also works as prevention, to just brush their head with it, it helps stimulate the skin (our birthing teacher taught us this)

i have a 6 week old little boy and I just used the scrubber from the hospital and Mustela newborn foam shampoo. It work like a charm! I wish I would have used it with my first child who suffered from cradle cap too. The shampoo is a little expensive but it will last a long time, it is gentle and smell good too.

Good luck
M.

My daughter had this - I did not want to use petroleum products (mineral oil, Vaseline), so I used Burt's Bees Baby Oil. I rubbed it in deeply, let it sit for a bit, then used a fine comb to comb out all the debris. I followed with a Burt's Bees baby shampoo. It worked beautifully- it never came back.

When you bathe you newborn, leave the shampoo in for 3-5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly..Then comb it out. Will clear it up!

Hi P., I used virgin olive oil. It's all natural and was in my pantry. I also used an extra soft childrens toothbrush to VERY gently brush off the skin, good luck

I would wash my child's hair, massaging the scalp with the shampoo in, then rinse and comb through with a narrow comb (I know it sounds terrible, but a lice comb works best!) Good luck!

Hi P.,

My mom suggested this for my baby and I really didn't believe that it would work, but eventually decided to try it and it did. Take a little baby oil (Johnson's or whatever your favorite brand/scent is) and rub it on their head. Then just take a baby comb and comb gently from the front of their head to the back, against the grain of the cradle cap and it will start coming up, just like that. When you are done, just wash their hair with baby shampoo and it shouldn't come back. My daughter's didn't. :) Good luck!

S.

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I used olive oil (put on head, leave on for 5-10 minutes, brush with soft brush, wash) S.

My pediatrician told me to use Head and Shoulders shampoo. But be careful because it isn't tear-free. Neither of my daughters had cradle cap because of his suggestion. All my friends that used my suggestion had success as well. Good luck

My nephew had a horrible case of cradle cap. I just took baby oil and worked it in and softened it up and to get it off I scaped it off with my fingernails (in an itching motion) my nephew actually loved it. of course use very little pressure. then soon the cradle cap was just flakes that I shampooed off.

You can use olive oil to soften it up and then use a toothbrush to scrub it. I avoided the soft spot areas and then did it lightly when it starts to close.

Baby oil works well also. Even Aveena shampoo...while rubbing gently in circular motion with a really soft baby brush. Let the product you use "sit" on the head for about 5 minutes if baby will tolerate it.

I also tried the olive oil, but it just made it worse. My pediatrician suggested a dandruff shampoo and Aquaphor. It worked great! You can find Aquaphor at Walgreens or Wal-mart. In fact, I now use Aquaphor for everything...It works wonders on all my families dry, cracked or irritated skin!!!

My Mom always said to put Baby oil on the head, and get a comb and comb out all of the dry skin, and to keep doing that. It will get better.

My 9 month old boys still have it a little bit. We just wet their heads when we give them a bath and rub a soft tooth brush over it, then wash their hair. It has helped, and has gotten much better.

My son had cradle cap too. My pediatrician gave me these suggestions. I put baby oil on an infant hair brush and brushed his head during baths. This should get most/all of it off. If it doesn't you can use Neutrogen T-Gel Shampoo (lather it on then let it sit for a couple minutes and you can comb most of the dry skin off). It's smells terrible so I would wash his hair again with baby shampoo after the T-gel. My son also had dry scaley patched behind his ears, the dr said that was part of the cradle cap. She told me to use a little hyrocortosone cream on it.

I always used baby oil with one of their little brushes and gently brushed to top of his head. It works great. You may have to do it over again, it usually comes back with in a few days, but one day all the sudden it will be gone.....good luck!

or even olive oil. just rub it on, then gently lif it off with a baby comb or brush, then wash and wash till it all comes out :)

but you can wait a while, it's not hurting him. it's not really necessary to clear it away.

Any kind of oil will work. I used baby oil because it makes them smell good.

In the baby section there should be Cradle Cap washes. I can't remember the brand, but it worked wonders on my sons. If you are very careful, you can put a little dandruff shampoo on it. It works really well, you just don't want to get it in their eyes. I've heard olive oil works well. Whatever you use, rub it into their hair, let it sit while you wash the rest of him, then take a soft brush and rub, wash it out and shampoo as normal. It may not be hurting him but it looks yucky and is a little concerning to mommies.

My pediatrician told me to use a dandruff control shampoo. I bought a sample size tube and it was perfect. I used it daily and it worked great. It didn't take it completely away, but it helped so much. Also lansinoh or vaseline after you wash. Good luck! And don't pick at it, it just makes it worse. It won't last but a few weeks. =)

Olive oil works.... just massage it into the scalp & then pick it out w/ your finger nails or a comb.... you may have to do it a couple times to get it all.... I have 3 girls & they all had it.... the 2nd one was older when she got it so I used Head n' Shoulders on her.... that took care of it. Therefore, when my 3rd got it I didn't do anything about it.... I thought w/ good shampoo it would go away.... well, I let it go too long & her hair started to fall out. :) Poor thing! Now she has peach fuzz along w/ long strands of hair. :) So my advice is to take care of it sooner rather than later. :)

Hi P.,

There is a medication that I know of sold at Babies R Us specifically sold for this. My sister used it and it worked great.

good luck
L.

I do not like putting petroluem products on baby's skin...found that warm bath water...then comb off with a fine tooth comb did well (I used a lice comb!)

Instead of mineral oil, try almond oil or coconut oil. Buy food grade, organic. If you are breastfeeding, I would add some Omega 3 fats into your diet. (flax seed, walnuts, and Carlson's fish oil would be really good!).

Baby oil (I like Burt's Bees Apricot Baby oil)is what is recommended or olive oil. I'd stear clear of mineral oil. Apply to the baby's head about 5 minutes before you bath the little guy. Then, use a gentle baby shampoo and comb or brush out the cradle cap. I use the comb I got at the hospital for my little ones when they were born. R., RN, CNM and SAHM of 2

My son had awful cradle cap when he was a newborn, we would put vasoline on it and then brush it with a baby brush and then wash it off every morning...it lasted several weeks until it finally cleared up on its own.

You can put baking a little baking soda in his bath water and it wil help with it. Good luck

A tiny drop of Neutrogena T-Gel mixed with baby shampoo in the palm of your hand. Cleared up my daughter's after only one shampoo. I never tried the olive oil....too messy.

I know this sounds weird but, olive oil...I put that on my babies head and then used a comb to get all the dry scales out and then washed with head and shoulders and then put a heavy duty lotion on (I used eczema cream because my oldest has eczema so it was already here) and poof it was gone.

My pediatrician suggests a thin coat of Vaseline. It's worked for my kids. He suggested putting it on before bed time and then bathing in the AM. My kids didn't have bad cases of it, but the Vaseline cleared it up pretty quickly. Good luck!

Please don't use mineral oil! Mineral oil is not recommended for babies because it can clog their pores. My doctor told me to rub some olive oil on it, use a baby brush to gently brush it in and then wash it out during the bath. She said to do the oil right before bath time. Don't worry too much about it. My son is 5 months old and is just shedding the last of it...note, I have not used the olive oil, I've just let it run it's course. So I'm sure using it would have helped it go away sooner...I'm just too exhausted after running after my 2 year old to do one more thing that wasn't a necessity...I'm sure you understand with a 3 year old as well! :) So, try the olive oil. I'd read that in other places as well, but like I said, his doctor told me this at his 4 mos. appointment when I asked about it.

I couldn't figure this one out with my first baby, but a friend of mine who just had her third used a clean new fingernail brush. She gently scrubbed his head with this and it took care of all of it. I'd probably use a little olive oil or baby oil first to soften the skin.