My 7 week old has mild case of cradle cap on his scalp but also has little on his brow, neck, and cheeks (looks like really dry skin on face but dr said its treated the same). Dr told us to use selsum blue (which seems harsh) or tea tree oil (strong smell). I'm looking for other remedies. There are so many out there. Has anyone experienced this with your infant and used a product that is safe & worked? Or have you used either of the 2 products my dr recommended with success?
Thank you everyone for your responses! This was my first time posting a question to mampedia & I'm so thankful I did. As a first time mom I feel there is just so much to learn and most of this information can not be found in a book. This wealth of knowledge is often best coming from experienced mom's like yourselves. So here's what happened. I used Mustela Foam Shampoo for newborns on his head and a gentle plastic brush given to me at the hospital. This has cleared up his cradle cap beautifully. I have continued to use this shampoo since I love the way it smells and it also continue to keep the cradle cap under control. For his cheeks I got California Baby Calendula Cream. I love this stuff!!! It smells so great, is gentle, and natural so I feel ok putting it on his delicate little face. This cream cleared his cheeks and brow line right up. When I'm breastfeeding him I have just rubbed a small amount in and it works wonders. I have noticed that if I don't do this daily his little cheeks start to get dry and red looking again. This cream is pricey but totally worth it. Since trying this product I have switched over to all California Baby products (except for the Mustela Foam Shampoo for newborns) & love them all. Thanks again for all your help.
My son was like that.
I just used Olive oil.
It will go away on its own too.
I wouldn't use Selsun Blue on a newborn.
I love Bert's Bees baby oil and a soft brush. It doesn't leave an oily residue and rinses out clean. I use it all over my baby's skin and she loves her massages.
Good Luck
olive oil and a soft, yet also stiff, little brush, i like an eyebrow brush (you know the kind with the eyelash comb on the other side). perfect for it. do it while they nap, they will stir, but in intervals wont take too long.
we used California Baby Calendula cream for EVERYTHING...it is wonderful...may want to try it. i think you can get it at target in the baby section for like 12 bucks...all natural...wonderful...i always give it as baby gifts now!! it lasts quite a while, so you don't need a ton.
good luck.
I used Aquaphor, both on my daughter's head and her face. Other people suggested Baby Oil to me, but I preferred Aquaphor because it doesn't run, and a small amount goes a long way and is very moisturizing. I couldn't stand the cradle cap on my daughter's head, so while I was nursing, I'd massage a bit of Aquaphor into the affected areas of her scalp, then use a fine-tooth comb to pick out the scaly stuff. (Blech!) The good news is, it will go away soon. :)
I used creamy baby oil on my kids' head and then would brush it with the baby brush I got from the hospital. I would be really hesitant to put anything on the face but just keep it moisturized.
I used olive oil and just combed it.
We used burt's bees dandruff shampoo, no harsh chemicals.
I use a baby hair brush when I bathe her and scrub it with regular soap.
Then after I use baby oil gel and rub it on her dry areas.
This will help.
All it is from is heads rubbing sheets and blankets...
Not a big deal.
Both my daughters had craddle cap -- i did not put anything on it. Just kept it clean and moisturize with baby lotion. My 2nd one had it worse than my first, it looked horrible, it lasted about a month - she had oiler skin.
I was too scared to put anything on her face, she was rubbing her face - so i did not want it to get in her eyes.
It goes away on its own.... =)
My doctor recommended Selsum Blue and warned that if it got in our baby's eyes it would burn. I didn't want to risk it so we tried Aquaphor Baby Shampoo & Wash. We used Aquaphor on his extremely dry skin after he stayed in the hospital for an extra week with jaundice, and it came with a sample bottle. It worked great! We are still using it even though his cradle cap is completely gone. The best thing is, its a baby shampoo, so it does not irritate him or burn.
My son had severe cradle cap, and we use Mustela foam shampoo. I think it is called Newborn Foam Shampoo. He is 4 now and still uses it because it comes back every time we stop. It works great and doesn't smell bad. You can buy it at Babies R Us.
Mustela has a newborn baby shampoo for cradle cap, it even has a soft scrubber. We only had cradle cap with our oldest and it went away with Mustela.
When my oldest daughter had cradle cap that is what the doctor told me to use (Selsun Blue Shampoo). He even told me if i didn't like the way it smelled that after I shampooed with the Selsun Blue and rinsed that I could shampoo with Baby Shampoo. Used the Selsun Blue at least 3 times a week along with using the baby shampoo after the Selsun Blue and in just a couple of weeks everything was gone. She is now 30 years old so I would say that is is a well trusted solution. Just be careful not to get the Selsun Blue in the eyes, or mouth when using it.
I just used olive oil. You could mix in a few drops of tea tree oil into the olive if you wanted. I would avoid the dandruff shampoo. My son got some in his eye as a toddler and was afraid of getting his hair washed for months.
I just used regular baby shampoo (whatever kind you use now) and a baby brush. Wash his hair like normal - before you rinse gently rub in circles with the brush. Took about 3 regular (not one after the other) washings to get it all clear. I do have to keep it up or it just comes back, but my kiddo likes the massage!
Coconut oil is fantastic for cradle cap and eczema! :) A little goes a long way.
I used baby oil but you can use any oil like coconut or olive oil. I think the tree tea oil is a good idea but I didn't think of it. You put it on and massage it it and let it hang out for a bit. Then use a comb to pick it out. You have to be a little rough to get it up but obviously watch the crown. It may take several times to get it all. It was so gross, all yellow on my son but it was localized to his head. Good luck!
My littlest had some dry, thick skin on his face between and into his eyebrows and on his scalp. After a warm bath I gently brushed the skin between his brows with the back of my fingernail and that lifted off the layers of skin, then I put a little baby oil on my finger and rubbed that in to soothe it. I also used a baby comb to gently scrape the flakes from his scalp with a little bit of baby oil after the bath, then washed his hair again to rinse it. I only use Aveeno on the kiddos since they've been sensitive in the past and would not personally use selson blue on them.
My son had cradle cap in his brows and scalp at this age and it took out all of his beautiful hair I was so mad. The doctor said....10 minutes before you wash it, rub a little bit of oil on the scalp. Any natural oil or even baby oil. Then shampoo. When youre done shampooing, get a soft brush and gently brush the flakes away. Do this everyday until it is all gone.
All of my kids had some (I have 6) and what worked for me was just baby soap (Baby Phisoderm) which is my FAVORITE and smells sooooo good. Put some on their head (also can be used for their body) and use a washcloth. I can't remember if it was a baby washcloth or regular one but it probably doesn't matter. Take the washcloth and rub circles on the scalp and the dry skin will come off. Some hair might come off also but will grow back : ) so don't be alarmed. Use gentle pressure and it will come off nicely you might miss some dry skin so just do it again when they take a bath again. Good luck.
Selsum Blue worked for us. Our doc told us to use just a " pea sized" amount.
