Infant Hair Question

Updated on June 24, 2008
K.R. asks from Omaha, NE
21 answers

I'm not sure if there is anything I can do about this, but I thought I'd put it out there and see if anyone has any advice! My 7 week old was born with a full head of light brown hair...my concern is that his hair is extremly oily and often looks wet, sticks to his head and dark brown (which may have something to do with the heat/humidity of the summer).

The only time it is "fluffy" and light brown is for the day (or less) that I wash it. I know I can't be washing his hair everyday, and am getting resigned to his greasy look, but I'm wondering if anyone knows of something I can do to help his hair!

Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Thank you everyone for your advice and support! I know he'll outgrow this at some point, but until then you all gave me a lot of wonderful suggestions! My first child had cradle cap and the doctor had us use dandruff shampoo (which a lot of you suggested) and since he is starting to get cradle cap as well I may just try this one first...but I have a wealth of other ideas to use if this doesn't work! Thank you all again!
K.

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J.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

I washed my son's hair every day from birth using the little brush from the hospital and shampoo. We never had a problem except a little cradle cap that went away very quickly. I don't see anything wrong with washing his hair every day!

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A.M.

answers from Des Moines on

Hi K.,

I have had friends with the same situation. Unfortunatly both my children were bald:-)

I have used on myself when I haven't had time to wash my hair the next day a little bit of baby powder on my scalp to dry up the oil in my hair...just remember a little goes a long ways:-) Good luck.

A.

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J.S.

answers from Green Bay on

My daughter has cradle cap pretty bad, so my doctor actually did recommend washing her hair every day (even 2 times a day if needed). I give her a bath every 3 days or so and the days inbetween I just lay her on a towel next to the sink and wash her hair only with her head over the sink. We actually switched to T-Gel shampoo. We have to be careful not to get it in her eyes, but it has helped a ton! So it certainly would be worth trying to wash it every day.

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D.L.

answers from Janesville-Beloit on

All I could think of was the way I used to "freshen-up" my hair years ago by taking some corn starch powder and applying it. Then brush real well.

Course you could always cut it real short and not actually wash his hair at bathtime but wait til morning. Too much oil on the scalp is not good for hair growth.

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R.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

I have washed my daughter's hair everyday since birth, so I don't think there's anything wrong with washing it every day if you want to! I know they say babies don't need a bath every day, yaddah, yaddah... but it is part of our bedtime routine, so we do it every day - we just use Cetaphil soap since she has sensitive skin and her skin stays nice and soft. I actually used to use it on her hair too until it got long. Anyway, I would try some dandruff shampoo like what the other mom's are recommending and try washing more often and scrubbing a little with your fingernails to get off the excess oils from his scalp. Good luck!

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L.D.

answers from Minneapolis on

He might still be dealing with the hormones from birth. I think 7 weeks is around the time our baby had acne from over active oil glands. My doctor said to use an unsented lotion on her skin. Maybe rubbing lotion or powder on his head would help. Be careful with powder because it can cause respitory problems if inhaled.

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M.L.

answers from Appleton on

Hi K.-I went through the same thing with all 3 of my girls. They also were born with a ton of dark and long hair and it also looked very greasy in the beginning. I think it may have more to do with the hormones in their bodies mixed with the humidity but rest assured they grow out of it rather quickly. Just keep washing every other or every 2 days and pretty soon it will just be "normal" Congratulations on your new baby boy, I'm sure you will have so much fun watching your boys be brothers to eachother. :)

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B.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

I think that's just how their hair is at that early of age. I think it all evens itself out. There are alot of things that newborns have and outgrow or whatnot like cradle cap,baby acne etc.

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L.F.

answers from Sioux Falls on

Hi K., my name is L. Faber and besides being a full time engineer, single mother of 2 awesome boys, I am an independent consultant with a wonderful company called Arbonne. Arbonne produces all pure, safe, and natural health & wellness products forumulated in Switzerland. We have several hair lines that I would love to have you sample for free. If interested, please contact me at ###-###-####. I could get them in the mail today.

Good luck and stay HAPPY!!!!! L. L Faber

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T.J.

answers from Bismarck on

I use a baby brush and a little shampoo. Scrub lightly with the baby brush and then rinse. This seems to last a little longer than a regular shampoo. It also gets to any scaly patches better than just your fingers.

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T.P.

answers from La Crosse on

On the days that you don't wash it, rub a little baby powder between your hands and then on his head and then comb it, this will absorb the extra oil.

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M.T.

answers from Madison on

Hi K.,

Your son may have cradle cap. My daughter had it really bad until she was about 6 months old. OUr doctor recommended using dandift shampoo. On the days you give him a bath try using a tiny bit of Head and Shoulders Shampoo, and let it sit on his head for a few minutes. Becareful when you rinse it will sting if it gets in his eyes. On the other days wash/wipe his head off with a warm damp wash cloth. My daughter's cradle cap got worse in the summer, especially on hot humid days, but this worked better than anything else we tried. Good Luck,

Megan

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J.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

Why can't you wash it everyday if he needs it? Everyone has different skin and hair - some more naturally greasy than others. I've never heard of daily washing being a problem unless the child has naturally dry hair and scalp.

SAHM of seven

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A.T.

answers from Davenport on

You could try the old baby powder trick. You put a little bit of baby powder on baby's head (probably easier by powder a dry wash cloth and then using that to apply the powder), let it sit for a few minutes, and then brushing it out with a soft baby brush.

With oily hair in the heat, though, what can't you wash every day with a gentle baby shampoo?

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S.O.

answers from Wausau on

Every child is different, but you could certainly take a damp washcloth or sponge and go over his hair everyday. Especially in the summer. It is also just the earlystage. Someday you'll remember back when his skin and hair was so soft because it won't be anymore!

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J.D.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

my sons' hair was llike that when he was baby, he'll be 11 in July. I remember wondering the same thing but never really finding a solution, his hair was suppose to be blonde but when it was greasy it looked medium brown. He did eventually grow out of it but I know it did take probably 3-6 months. I am sure that is not what you wanted to hear. Once it was gone it never returned and even know his hair is grease free :)
I also noticed that his face was greasy as well but again that subsided as well.

Does your son have cradle cap? Mine did and when we treated that it seemed to help if I remember right (it's been a long time). Well I know I wasn't much help but I thought I would let you know you are not alone.

Karla mom to 2 wonderful boys. Typical 12 yr old and special needs (Angelman Syndrome) almost 11 yr old. SAHM over the summer, school associate during school year.

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C.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

my son's hair was exactly like that. totally normal.

(now at 10 months, his hair is a big ol' ball of fluff!)

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S.S.

answers from Wausau on

Of course you can wash his hair everyday! Chances are that if his hair is receiving excess oil, so is his skin. In the humid summer weather everyone uses their skin oils and sweat glands if they are functioning. Babies can have a bath every day during times of excess environmental heat exposure. It is actually therapeutic for a baby to have a bath before bed; it calms the infant & relaxes muscles for sleep while offering comforting smells. We don't use harsh cleansers on babies, but if the child were to develop dry skin, use lotion or back off on the baths. He may also get enough benefit from a sponge bath and hair rinse.

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E.B.

answers from Duluth on

My kids sure didn't have a full head of hair, but what they did have, I noticed (finally) got greasy after we were around family...because everyone was touching and patting his head! I don't know if this is a possibility, thought I'd throw it out there!

B.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

I don't see why you can't wash his hair every day.... my boys have had a bath every night before bed since birth.

D.K.

answers from Sioux City on

My sister used baby powder on her little ones and that seemed to help.

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