My 5 month old daughter has had craddle cap since she was born. We bathe her every 3 days and I use a sponge on her head and then after brush her wet head. For a while I was putting grape seed oil on her head before I bathed her. It is getting a little better but it is still there and is kind of turning a dingy yellowish color. I want to use only natural products - does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of it. I haven't been too worried but now I am just tired of it and want it to go away. Thanks!
Hi KE,
All 5 of my kids had it and I just ignored it. My Dr said I could "scrub" their heads with a soft toothbrush but it might make their hair fall out. So I just ignored it and went on with my life. I would say that it was gone before their first birthdays.
C.
Hi Amy - I tried everything with my 2nd to get rid of thick persistent cradle cap. I tried brushing, mineral oil, olive oil, vaseline you name it. All that really happened was that his hair got really dirty. He had it bad until he was well over 6 months old. The one product that finally worked was some Gentle Naturals Cradle Cap Care by Disney that I picked up in the baby isle at the grocery store.
It's very thick and creamy and it's applied in the bath and then you let it sit like conditioner for a minute or two. I used the soft scrub brush I got at the hospital and a very fine tooth baby comb to thoroughly work the thicker crud out of his hair. His cradle cap was pretty bad and it was virtually gone the first time I used the product. It also was relatively easy to wash out compared to the oils.
Hope that helps you!
C.
My daughter had very bad cradle cap. I used the oil like others have posted, but I left it on all day. I used baby oil and just slathered her hair in it and left it. Before her bath that night, I used a very soft brush to remove the scales before washing her hair. I then put shampoo on her hair before getting it wet. I can't remember why, but heard that would help.
Both of my kids get patches here and there and I can just put oil on 30 minutes or so before bathing.
Good luck!
I just talked to my pediatrician about this. He recommended using Selson Blue or Head and Shoulders shampoo. He said to put it on like lotion, let it sit for a moment, and rinse it off. He said DO NOT do it in the bath as it could get into their eyes and is extremely painful (But to bathe them afterward). He said the other option was an over the counter cream (I forget the name) that you use 3 x's a day for a week.
The best part of the advice he gave me though was: you can just leave it alone. Its not a big deal. My son had a nice layer on top of his head. We tried the toothbrush and it just took his hair off. We eventually just picked a little off (with our fingers) everyday until it was gone.
good luck!
I did the same thing as Brenda. I put olive oil on my babies head about 15min. before her bath then brushed her head with a soft brush while in the tub and kinda scrub it with my nails too. it took it right away after about a week or two. But I also did it every other day.
My 18 month old has had it since birth and it too was/is very scaly, yellow, and gross. The only thing that has worked to get rid of it for periods of time is olive oil. We shampoo his head, rub in olive oil and let it sit for approximately 10 mins and then get the fine brush (like the ones you get from the hospital) and use the edge of the bristle and comb through his hair. It has taken it away for about 5-6 months at a time. Good luck!
I googled this for you. http://www.gentlenaturals.com/products/cradle_cap.cfm
minerole oil(sorry about the spelling, very tired) works very well, the one thing I had to do with all three of my children was put oil on it, or lotion let it set for a few, then lightly scrap it off with my finger nails. Wish you luck on getting rid of it, that stuff is nasty.
You have gotten good and normal responses to your concerns. There isn't much more you can do. That earwax color on the scalp will keep showing up for months to come and you just have to keep doing the same things that the other mothers suggested. Your baby is growing so rapidly and constantly getting rid of old skin with new skin, just apart of baby life.
I did the oil and then scrubbed with a toothbrush (extra soft). Baby Girl seemed to enjoy the head massage. :) She hasn't had cradle cap since, once I was finally able to get it all off. I think I did it around 3 months. I just noticed today that it seems to be back, so I need to fix it before her birthday Tuesday, so I'll be checking back for other ideas, too, but that worked for me with the two that had it. GL!
