Cradle Cap is Not Hard to Treat
If your baby has flaky, dry scalp skin that looks like dandruff, or if your baby has patches on his or her scalp that are brown and scaly or even thick and oily, most likely, your baby has cradle cap.
Even though it might look unattractive, it’s usually harmless. Baby will likely develop cradle cap within the first few months of life, and it will usually go away by itself and the end of your baby’s first year to first 18 months. However some do have it for up to several years.
The same type of skin condition can show up around your baby’s eyebrows or ears, or in any skin creases. When it’s not on the scalp, it’s officially
called seborrheic dermatitis.
No one really knows what causes seborrheic dermatitis, but one possible cause is that baby’s oil-producing glands are overstimulated at the end of a mother’s pregnancy by her hormones. Rest assured, though, that it’s not caused by either allergies or poor hygiene, it’s not contagious, and it
usually won’t bother your baby at all although severe cases might cause itching and irritation
Treating cradle cap
If the cradle cap is particularly severe, you can try oiling your baby’s scalp, which will loosen the dry flakes and help them wash away in the next shampoo. Use almond or olive oil and use just a small amount. Leave it on your baby’s scalp for about 15 minutes and then comb or brush the flakes out with a fine-toothed comb or a soft bristled brush.
Then gently shampoo, leaving the shampoo on the scalp for a few minutes to help remove the oil, and rinse thoroughly. This process can be rather messy though!
Better results can be obtained by gently massaging Cradle-Cap Salve onto baby’s scalp taking care not to exert pressure on the fontanelle
Cradle-Cap Salve is a conditioning and nourishing cream for use on your baby’s scalp. This natural remedy contains 100% natural therapeutic ingredients which are gentle, effective, yet safe to use on baby skin.
For best results, after use of
Cradle-Cap Salve, gently rub your baby’s scalp with a
soft towel. This will loosen any dry flakes which can
then be combed or brushed out with a soft brush. Don’t rub too vigorously.
Follow by washing with a mild, baby shampoo If the cradle cap has spread beyond your baby’s scalp or has become infected, you may want to take your child to a doctor. The doctor may prescribe a cortisone cream if the baby’s scalp or other skin is very itchy or red, or if it is sore.
Recommended Reading
- natural baby care
- Side Lying Bottle Feeding of The Premature Infant
- My wife has been exclusively breast feeding our 3 month old daughter. How can we get her to take a bottle?
- What is your take on breastfeeding versus bottle feeding?
- How often does a 14 month old baby need to sleep during daytime?
- SIDS prevention
- Pregnancy Pains
- Advice on moving your baby on from breastfeeding to bottle feeding by Mother & Baby TV
- InfantSafeSleep
- Birthing Centers & Home Birth, Natural Childbirth, Waterbirth Facts
- Bradley Method Natural Childbirth
