Cradle Cap

Hello! I have a great solution for you: olive oil! This was recommended to me by the woman who cuts my 1-year-old daughter's hair. I had tried everything to get rid of her cradle cap without success ... but this worked like a charm. Simply rub a bit of olive oil into her scalp to loosen the flakes, and then shampoo as you normally do. My daughter's cradle cap was completely gone after doing this once and her hair is so nice and full now!

Good luck,
S.
www.1yearapart.blogspot.com

I know that if you mix Melaleuca oil and olive oil to together and rub it on the scalp. Then wash with shampoo. If you are interested in this let me know.

Hi L.,

My son had cradle cap and some one told me to do this. Before I gave him a bath I would use baby oil and a comb. And comb it out with the baby oil and it worked. It took a few times but I was happy that it worked for me. I hope it workes for you.

It's the medicated dandruff shampoo that he meant - it works.
Good old olive oil works too - you have to rub it in and scrape it gently away. Hope this helps

My daughter had cradle cap as an infant. I bought some natural stuff in the shampoo aisle at Target. Its a shampoo designed specifically for cradle cap. I forget what its called, though. I also occasionally would rub some baby oil on her scalp when I washed her hair before I shampooed. This helped keep it moist and some of the cradle cap would gently peel off. I know it looks horrible, but it doesn't really bother them too much and she should outgrow it soon.

I used baby oil before I would wash their hair; gently rub it on the scalp and wash it with shampoo aftewards.

Hello I am a hairdresser of 21 years and all Dr's will say use Dandruff shampoo. However I feel it is to harsh.
I have always told my customers and done it with my own, to use vegetable oil or olive oil. Rub it in to there scalp in the morning so it will not get rubbed off right away and keep doing it until the cradle cap goes away. It is a natural product and safe at the same time

Ok, I have never heard of dandruff shampoo on cradle cap. What I always used was baby oil. a few drops rubbed into her head then run a small comb all over her hair for about two weeks or until you see it all gone.

Jenn

Hi L.,
My daughter too had bad cradle cap as an infant (she's 7 now). She still has the occasional patch behind her ears - it has a different name now, but is really the same thing. I've used both olive oil and Selsem Blue. Gently working the flakes off with a little olive oil and a comb worked well, but if was time consuming. When she was much older, 2 years old I think, it came back. She has a lot of hair, so oil and a comb weren't going to work and I resorted to dandruff shampoo. I did have a long conversation with a pharmacist at Rite Aid about my options and he recommended the ingredients in Selsem Blue over other choices because he felt some of the others would be to strong for her. He was very nice and spent a lot of time with me looking at the ingredients in different dandruff shampoos. You could try talking to a pharmacist about what's available now, I find them to be very useful resources for these sorts of questions.

My suggestion to you would be to do what works with the amount of hair she has. I would also suggest washing less frequently for a while to see if that works. Since cradle cap is actually made of oily flakes (which is why baby oil dissolves them a little) that may or may not work. If it doesn't I would try a different shampoo, perhaps more frequently... My daughter definitely reacts to different shampoos and conditioners. FWIW, I've had a few people suggest looking into her diet. We haven't bothered because the patches are very small now and completely hidden by her hair. If they aren't bothering her, they aren't bothering me.

Good-luck,
K. L.

Hi L.,

The advice I got is to put baby lotion on their scalp and don't wash their hair often at all. It's not neccessary to wash them everyday with soap, especially their hair. I think the baby soap and lotion companies want you to do that but it just dries out their skin and scalp. I also wouldn't spend any money on expensive products (eg Arbonne) or prescriptions when a little regular baby lotion will work just fine.

Good luck.

J.

L.-
The best thing I've ever used on my children was Sea Breeze - you know the face cleaner? I apply some with a cotton ball - it loosens it up and then I peel it off with a small comb. If the area is large you may want to do in sections.

Did you try baby oil? Would rub the oil in and it would lossen everything and then shampoo as normal.

when my daughter had cradle cap all i used was a little baby oil and a soft baby brush After a couple times the cradle cap went away I also didn't want to use shampoo and my grandmother told me about the baby oil

Have u tried a differnt kids shampoo. My kids would get craddles cap if I used Johnson Johnson baby shampoo. I just went out and bought a kids shampoo that is tear free and that seem to keep it at bay.

I agree with the baby oil - my daughter had it until she was about 15 months old and when it was gross and bugged me, I would douse her with the baby oil (we got one marked "for cradle cap" but it was just really baby oil). And we've stuck with twice a week baths for her as she has sensitive skin all over too. Relax...they do grow out of it:)

Both of my boys had cradle cap really bad and I used Gentle Naturals, let it sit on their head for a few minutes, then used a fine tooth comb to loosen the flakes. It works great. I tried baby oil prior to that and it did not work as well. I remember buying it at Target but a poster below had the website.

I would try rubbing some olive oil on it first, to loosen the flakes. Then use a washcloth in the tub to remove them. That may help, and then maybe you won't need the dandruff shampoo! My pharmacist told me to do that when my son got a cradle cap-like patch behind his ear and it worked really well! Hope this helps!

my son had cradle cap when he was an infant. I just used Head and Shoulders. Just use a very small amount and massage it very gently into the scalp. And also watch you do not get it in her eyes it will really sting. Try buying a lil trial size at first if you are still a little hesitant.

Hello,
We have used a natural creamy product we found in the baby isle. It has pooh bear on it. It is Cradle Cap Care called Gentle naturals. I found it in the baby care isle at Kroger. I would guess Walgreens or a store like it would have it.
Gentle Naturals Cradle Cap Care

View Cradel Cap Care Product Label baby’s scalp with natural ingredients: calendula, jojoba oil, and vitamins A, D, and E. Unlike mineral oil, Gentle Naturals Cradle Cap Care contains a patented ingredient so it's light and non-greasy. Gently massage into baby's scalp. Loosen scales with a soft brush or comb. Leaves your baby's scalp looking clean and beautiful.

Length of Condition
Affecting about half of all newborns, cradle cap usually develops between two weeks to three months after birth. It can last anywhere from a few weeks to up to a year.

Comfort of Baby
Although it may not be pleasant to look at, cradle cap is harmless, causes no discomfort or itching, and disappears fairly easily with proper care.

My daughter had it bad too. It was actually turning orange. I did 2 treatments of baby oil. Left it on for the day. I washed it at night. After 2 times, it was gone!

Go to a grocery store or BRU or even Walmart and get Cradle Cap Care by Gentle Naturals. It has Winnie the Pooh on the bottle. it literally took it 98% away in one use, gone after 2. i LOVE this stuff! just use a baby comb to brush the dandruff stuff out of her hair. i had a towel under to to catch it all.

http://www.gentlenaturals.com/products/cradle_cap.cfm

hey L., a good trick is to soak her scalp with almond oil. apply it liberally, so it's nice and thick on there, of course not to the point where it could run down her face. leave it on for at least a few hours, then with her comb, gently start to work it over her scalp, scraping the cradle cap. it will start to lift, it won't hurt her because the oil will loosen it and soften it nicely. do this every few days until you feel you've made some headway. no pun intended. :)

Hiya! My son's case wasn't as severe as your little girl, but when he got flaky my pediatrician recommended using a soft brush while shampooing. I used a small, soft toothbrush. As far as the shampoo, i have never seen an infant dandruff shampoo, but i wasnt looking for one either. I would suggest asking the dr. regarding the brand u should use, or even do a search online for baby products that are kinda natural, or whatever. I would just make sure u use one that doesn't tingle or something crazy like that!! Maybe even test it out on yourself before using on baby... Hope this helps!! Good luck!!!

My son had awful cradle cap at an early age. My ped told me to use baby oil once or twice a day and very gently loosen the flakes with a baby hair brush or comb. I had to do this everyday for about a month and then it cleared up. I found that some of the baby shampoos dried his scalp out even more and made the cradle cap worse. I just rinsed out the baby oil with a little water.
Good Luck!

Yes. I was also recommended a dandruff shampoo by my pediatrician. I used Neutrogena Therapeutic T/Gel Shampoo and it did the trick. I only used it 2-3 times within two weeks time and my girls symptoms were under control. I would recommend having two people to wash your child's hair to be certain the shampoo doesn't go into the eyes. Good Luck!

I have used the Gentle Naturals brand on my daughter for her eczema. She has very sensitive skin and it helped a lot. I know they have a cradle cap wash, but I have never used it. I would trust that brand, though.

There is a cradle cap product from Gentle Naurals that works wonders (so I've heard). My best friend's son had cradle cap REALLY bad and so she tried everything! When she tried this product, it cleared up within a few days. It has Pooh on the front of the box/bottle. You can go to www.gentlenaturals.com to see their products. I've used the tummy soother, and it seems to help my little one. Hope this is helpful!

Good luck!

We were told to use the really soft baby brush to scrub in circles for the cradle cap while shampooing my daughters hair. Our pediatrician also recommended using baby oil and then washing it out. It worked, but it was difficult to get the baby oil all the way out sometimes.

I also had the same problem with both my babies. I used head and shoulders and they were just fine. They also sell cradle cap shampoo at baies r us if you don't want to use head and shoulders. Another one that also worksis selsunblue. Good Luck!

L., wet your daughter's hair and use a soft baby hair brush and a little baby shampoo and just go in circles on the area while she is playing in the tub. Be agreesive. The area might look red for the first day but it will free up the pores and don't wash her head less. Repeat this process until it is gone. I helped a friend with her daughter's hair and it has not returned.

This is caused from oil so oil will loosen some but it is best to just use water and baby shampoo. I used to stick my daughter's head under the sink every morning and give her a quick wash off just to make her smell fresh and keep her head clear. Never had to deal with it again.

Make sure your rub behind her ears too, seem to be a collection place for the same kinds of oils. These oils start caking after awhile if not caught at the beginning. Nothing bad about it, it's just a not knowing to look for it situation.

Blessings, M.

DD never had it, but DH had it BAD for many months! He just turned a year 2 wks ago & I think it disappeared when he was around 10 mos or so? I'm not sure.

I agree w/ your hesitation on the dandruff shampoo. That sounds VERY harsh to me!

Olive oil works nicely. You just rub it into the scalp, gently w/ your fingernails & let it sit for 10-15 min before rinsing. You can apply it 4-5 times a week if you wish. You an also apply breastmilk to it (if you're nursing) whenever you like & massage it in.

Ultimately, it will go away when it's ready to. It just takes longer w/ some babies than others.

Good luck!

I used head and Shoulders on my 5 month I would use a very tiny amount enough for her head and then after that I usually used a tiny bit of baby shampoo. It worked wonders. AFter her bath, her cradle cap would just comb away I did this a few times maybe a hand ful of times and her cradle cap was gone. Hope this helps

Hi L.,

Here are some websites:

http://www.amoils.com/baby-products/cradle-cap.html

http://www.mothernature.com/Lirary/bookshelf/books/50/33.cfm

Hope this helps. D.

i used adult stuff on my kids, just make sure to not get it in there eyes and just use a bit. i would soap up their headsand then use a comb to help scrape it off. there are some baby products. Gentle Naturals has a cradle cap product, but i have never used it. you can find it at Babies R uS or Target.

I had cradle cap when I was an infant and still to this day I have problems with my scalp. I use organic coconut oil for my scalp. It's safe, natural and it works for me. And I also used it for my daughter and son when they were infants. You could put it on your babys scalp once or twice a week. If its severe, every other day. Leave the oil on overnight and wash your babies hair in the morning.

I also got some information off a website that might be of help to you and your baby:

If you notice that your baby has oily, scaly, or crusty places on their scalp, don't be alarmed! He or she probably has a condition that's known as "Cradle Cap." Cradle Cap, or Infantile Seborrhoeic Dermatitis, as it's known in the medical world, isn't contagious, nor will it harm your infant. If your baby has Cradle Cap, that doesn't mean that he or she is not being kept clean and bathed. It's simply a build-up of oils from the skin and dead skin cells. This condition is much like dandruff in an adult human. Except, with Cradle Cap, a baby's skin produces too much oil. Just like dandruff, though, it's easily treatable. Here are some home remedies for Cradle Cap that you can use to resolve the problem.

To remove the oily, scaly patches of dead skin from your baby's scalp, you can use baby oil. About an hour before you're ready to bathe your infant, rub some warm baby oil into his or her scalp. The oil will help soften and loosen the skin. Then, use a very soft brush to loosen the patches. Wash your baby's scalp with baby shampoo, and rinse thoroughly.

You can also use lavender oil to treat Cradle Cap. Lavender Oil is available at your local health food store. Place a few drops of this natural oil into the palm of your hand. Then, gently rub it over your baby's scalp. Allow the Lavender Oil to soak in overnight. (This is a bonus because Lavender is also known to be a soothing, calming herb.) Then, in the morning, wash your infant's scalp gently with baby shampoo. If any oil flakes remain, repeat the process.

Witch Hazel is another home remedy for treating Cradle Cap. Witch Hazel is extracted from a shrub. It's readily available at your local drugstore. Pour a quarter cup of Witch Hazel into a sealable container. Dilute that with a cup of warm tap water. Then, dip a clean, soft cloth into the solution. Apply the solution to your baby's scalp several times a day.

You can also mix together some virgin olive oil and some Tea Tree Oil to make a home remedy for Cradle Cap. Tea Tree Oil is a natural antiseptic that will help prevent infections. Place a dab of the oily solution onto the affected areas on your baby's scalp. Massage the oil in well. Then, use a baby brush to loosen the scaly areas of skin. Shampoo his or her head with baby shampoo, then rinse and dry well.

Studies have also found, that, if you're breast feeding your baby, adding foods that are high in biotin to your diet can be helpful in alleviating Cradle Cap. Biotin is a B-complex vitamin that's naturally found in milk, eggs, green vegetables, cereal, liver, and nuts.

Generally, if your baby shows the signs of Cradle Cap, the condition can be treated at home without a physician's help. But, in case the problem worsens, or spreads to his or her nose, eyelids, buttocks, et cetera, consult your physician at once.

Let me know how it all works out.

My 9 month old baby girl also has a nasty case of cradle cap that never totally goes away. Sometimes it's unnoticable unless you look closely other times it's flaking off in her thick and long dark hair. I have been using Head and Shoulders 2 in 1 (shampoo/conditioner) for about 2 months now. I don't use it all the time, just when I notice the flakes are really bad. If you do decide to try it be VERY careful not to get it near her face/eyes. It works for us, she cries because the rinsing takes so much longer since I have to be much more careful but she gets over it.

My daughter also had cradle cap and my pediatrician told me that when I bathe her to get her head wet and soapy, let it soak for a few minutes while she plays and then take a soft or used toothbrush and lightly "scrub" on the scalp. I have done this just about every bath for 3 months and the dead skin from the cradle cap is coming off and her hair is coming in where it was better now too. Her baths take a little longer, but it is working. The main thing is that her skin gets really wet so it is easier to brush off. Just think of it like getting her scalp "pruny!"

Hope that helps! I wouldn't want to used an adult, medicated shampoo on my baby either.
A. F.

My almost 3 year old still gets cradle cap so I know your pain! He also gets excema. I use California Baby super sensitive soap/body wash/lotion which has helped a lot. I use Burts Bee oil (yellow in color and is an oil blend with almond, etc.) to help loosen it and then wash it out. It seems to come back with things like swimming pool, etc. but I can ususally get ahead of it this way. Good luck. www.homemadegourmet.com/tuesday815101
www.caringbridge.org/visit/johnshannoniv

L. Try using neutrogena shampoo on your daughter. maybe even mix a little of the dandruff shampoo with it. or with the baby shampoo.

When my first daughter was only a few months old, she had cradle cap so bad she needed a prescription shampoo! Turns out it was just a stronger version of Selsun Blue (the bottle shape was identical and the ingredients were the same but apparently it was just stronger). I only had to use it 3-4 times and it was completely gone. Both my babies were born with a LOT of dark hair, so cc is REALLY obvious on their heads.

My ped. suggests olive oil on the scalp 15-20 minutes before a bath...then try to comb the flakes out...then rinse out, shampoo and rinse again. I hate doing it because it is really hard to get the oil out if they have a lot of hair and it makes the hair greasy if you don't get it out. Others have suggested baby oil works just as well-but then I also read there is an ingredient in baby oil that is drying to skin, so it might make things worse...so many different opinions on this.

I did buy some cc shampoo for my baby who is now almost 4 months. It was a NIGHTMARE to rinse out! I did the baby oil thing once a week and now the cc is just about gone.

Good luck...it's such a pain!

My kids both had cradle cap and the only thing I found that worked for them was a product from Arbonne International - it's a body oil in their baby line that I would gently massage into their scalp and then slowly scrape off the excess skin. Arbonne is a home based business and I have begun to sell it based on the results of the products. If you are interested feel free to contact me.
____@____.com Good luck!

I used baby oil. I rubbed it on in the bath and then combed through the hair to get the flakes out. Her hair was greasy for a day or so afterward but it worked like a charm and is more gentle than dandruff shampoos. Also, try bathing her less. She's not getting all that dirty so go with every other or even every third day. If it bothers you, just sort of wipe the rest of her down but don't wash her head. Our ped. recommended both of these and they worked wonderfully!

I was doing the moisturize and scrape thing forever. My ped recommended Selsun Blue original formula and it worked. I only used a drop and then I rinse rinse rinsed. I was hesitant too, but it seemed more humane to try it out then to keep picking at her all the time.

Good luck, I hope you find something that works.

i used baby oil on my son's cradle cap - you put the oil on, let it sit, and then genly use a soft toothbrush to rub some of the flakies off. it seemed to work well for us without using the harsher shampoo.
good luck!

I didn't read through all the other people (I am too lazy!! LOL) so this may have already been suggested.

My daughter had it BAD as a baby.

I used to get in the tub with her and use olive oil and a soft baby toothbrush and just scrub it off. It came right off. It never bothered her. I had to do it quite often for a while and then finally it pretty much stopped.

Hope this helps!

Any brand will do. Just use a very tiny amount. Your pediatrician is right. It'll take care of the cradle cap. Just rinse carefully so the suds don't get in her eyes.

My daughter, now 2, had the WORST case of cradle cap. She was born with a full head of hair, and by 5 months most of it was gone due to the cradle cap. My doctor recommended dandruff shampoo as well, even head n shoulders, just make sure to keep it out of their eyes. Well, I didnt feel comfortable using that, so after every bath and throughout the day I would comb baby oil into her scalp. It helped!

Yes, we have been using Neutrogena T/Gel on my 9 month old since she was 4 or 5 months old and it works great!!! She no longer ever scratches at her head. It made a difference from almost the first time we used it. I am just really careful not to get it in her eyes... and we do it last just before she gets out so the bath water with the t-gel doesn't splash in her eyes. (Even so, I think she has gotten the rinse water in her eyes before and it didn't bother her... I am just worried.) We tried olive oil and baby oil and rubbing and scraping and nothing else worked.

I swear by the Cradle Cap kit made by Gerber (I think). It comes with oil, a special comb, shampoo and lotion. It is a 3 step process that is explained in the instructions. It worked wonders for all 3 of my girls and I have little trouble with recurance. You can buy it at Target, Giant and probably other grocery stores.
Good Luck

I defiantely wouldn't use dandruff shampoo! there are so many chemicals in it that can get into your daughter through her skin... i used mineral oil on my son and though it was a little greasy it worked wonders. I have also heard vitamin e oil works too. Both are really inexpensive at any drug store. Good luck!
A.

My son had cradle cap and it was recommended by my ped that I use dandruff shampoo. I also didn't want to do this. My friend took veggie oil (canola I think) and put that on my son's head. We let it sit for a few minutes and then she used a fine tooth comb and combed off the cradle cap. It was a messy process. It took 2 shampoos to get the oil out but then his head was clear. That was 5 months ago and his head is still clear.

Good luck, hope this helps!

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned, but extra virgin coconut oil cleared my baby's cradle cap after 1 use (his baby acne after 2 uses). Good luck!!

I remember using olive oil on my son's head when he had cradle cap. I gently rubbed it on and then combed his hair with a baby comb.

L., Try putting massaging baby oil into her scalp, let it soak in for about 30 minutes then comb, comb, comb making sure the comb gets to her scalp. The of course wash her hair. You need to make sure that when you are cleaning, combing or brushing her hair that you are getting down through her hair to her scalp so that you don't just get rid of the problem just to get it again. My oldest had a bit of cradle cap when she was a baby because I was afraid to comb/brush or wash her scalp firmly. Good luck & best wishes.

L.,
When my son had it as a baby, my pediatrician told me to use Selsun Blue. I, too, was shocked (not a "baby" product) but it worked. I just was very careful not to get it in his eyes. I used to use O. of those bath aid sponges for in the tub and laid him on that and washed his hair while he was lying in the tub. As a matter of fact I just gave the balance of the bottle to a friend whose 8 mo old has it so it won't last for long with treatment. I've also heard that baby oil helps--just don't let him get ahold of it! Dangerous for them if swallowed. Good luck!

Nope, didn't use dandruff shampoo. Rather, I used baby oil. When my daughter was in the tub, I would massage the oil on her scalp. I'd use the little brush the hospital sent me home with -- it had very soft, plastic teeth with a sponge on the other side. Anyways, I found this to be helpful.

In addition, I've heard olive oil works and the dandruff shampoo (like a Selsun Blue) works very well.

Good luck!

T. :)

I don't think that I would use dandruff shampoo on a 9 month old. Both of my kids had cradle cap and I used over the counter cradle cap shampoo from either the pharmacy or WalMart. I also heard that you can use olive oil, the trick is you need to use a very fine tooth comb. I always used the comb that they got in the hospital it is small with fine teeth. I used for my daughter an organic cradle cap medicine that I got on the internet. I just googled it and read thru each on and bought it and it worked. Hope this helps. V.

I used johnson baby oil in my sons hair and massaged it in before his bath and just used his comb and kept brushing it through while he played in the tub. worked great plus he was busy playing so he didn't seem to mind. hope this helps!

L., A friend of mine with twins just went through this and she used head and shoulders. I haven't heard her complain. My son had a mild case of cradle cap and our ped said to wet his head and but baby oil on it, let it sit for a minute and take an old soft toothbrush and message his scalp, rinse and then I always washed his head again with baby shampoo. It did clear up. Good luck!

This is what I think. My pediatrician also, told me to use dandruff shampoo like twice a week. I think it got worse.
So I stopped and was not very comfortable with it anyway. I put some baby oil on his head in the beginning of his bath and then at the end washed his head and gentle brushed the craddle cap area. It worked and we have not had a problem since. hope this helps

My daughter had cradle cap when she was a infant, and her doctor told me to put baby oil on her head and use a soft toothbrush, or one of her soft brushes, and kinda scrub or swirl the brush to get it loose, and then comb it out, shampoo after. This loosened it all up...and most of it came off, but you might have to do it more than once depending on how bad it is. It worked for me....hope it works for you. =)

My daughter had awful cradle cap for at least a year-I forget exactly how long. The only thing you can do is wait it out. I wouldn't put the chemicals of the dandruff shampoo on such a young scalp. Washing with gentle plain hypoallergenic soap, scrubbing gently with the baby brush, and then dabbing with olive oil helps moisten it-but really, the only thing you can do is wait. Suddenly one day it will be gone.

I swear by Gentle Natures, with the Pooh bear on it. For both my children. My son's cradle cap was very stubborn, but it eventually went away after a few treatments.
My 2 month old had cradle cap, I used the stuff once, and it hasn't come back and it has been several weeks. I wouldn't use the dandruff shampoo, just because it could run in their eyes. And because their skin is so sensitive, you don't know how it will effect them. You can also go the Olive oil route. But take your time and make sure you gently scratch it all our with a comb. My son actually like it and found it soothing. Even fell asleep a few times while I was scratching his scalp. Best of luck!

Hey L.,
Whatever you do don't use dandruff shampoo on her!!! I am a hair stylist....
My kids had cradle cap really bad too, my son's did not go away until he was almost 2.
I used EVOO, rub it on the area then take a fine tooth comb and gently comb the scalp from forehead to back of the head. Then reverse the direction to loosen it up.
Wash her hair twice after you feel you got it off.
I did this two times a week for about three weeks and felt like it was off. My daughter's came off all the way but my son had a tough patch by his soft spot that I just gave up.
My kids were bald for a very long time and both have very blonde hair so it was more noticeable.
Let me know how you make out!
I also did this process to them while they were having a bottle so they were a little occupied!
J.

I know you're getting conflicting messages, but I used Selson Blue (recommended by my ped) & it did work. Don't be surprised if you do see that it's come back after some time. Some kids just are prone to it while others are not.

They have a couple different brands of baby shampoo for cradle cap at places like babies r us. I would probably try that before any adult dandruff shampoo.