Cradle Cap

[amyamy1973]

Ugh! Ds has such bad cradle cap! Ped told me to use baby oil but it doesn't seem to be working -- and feels kind of unnatural. Anyone got any tips? I'm think about taking Vitamin E or Omega 3 supplements that will pass to him through my milk. Is that crazy?

[Pumplicious]

Relax and just gently brush it off with a baby hairbrush. It will go away.

[RedheadbyChoice]

Burt's Bees baby oil is by far my favorite thing for it. But, it's never a big concern for me. I pick at a bit while nursing, but other than that, it's just not a biggie. I don't think that taking vitamin E or omega 3 supplements are going to make a bit of difference for his scalp, though. So while I certainly wouldn't call you crazy, :D I don't think it will produce the desired effect for you.

[HIJKMommy]

I usually do baby oil in his bath and brush with a fine tooth comb, then I wash it like regular to get most of the oil out. I also second the Burt's Bees Oil as well.

[amyamy1973]

Oh, I didn't know Burt's Bee's made a baby oil! I'll try that thanks.

My first had cradle cap and it was like you said Red, just something I picked at while nursing. :) But ds has it pretty bad; it's dense all over his scalp and he's starting to scratch at it a bit. If he does, or if I pick at it, his scalp gets pretty red and inflamed. I've been doing baby oil twice a day for 2 months. Several times a week I wash his "hair" (it's peach fuzz really) with Aveno and brush it out. Sometimes this helps but then it's back just as bad the next day. I know it's not a big deal. I'm just a little frustrated that it's not getting even a little better. And I worry that's itchy for him.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm sure that a more natural baby oil will make a difference.

Cheers,
Amy

[hotlama]

I used olive oil on dd after reading on this board what baby oil is made of. The olive oil worked really well.

[amyamy1973]

Thanks hotlama. I'm scared to ask what baby oil is made of. Did you leave the olive oil on all day or just use it in the bath, or overnight?

[cc1003]

I take Vit E and Omegas and it definitely helped ds's cradle cap a lot!

[amyamy1973]

Really cc? Awesome! I took it for dd's eczema and seemed to help. I'll go back on it. Can't hurt right?

[TheNewMogey]

Selsun Blue is a good shampoo to use for cradle cap. Rub baby oil on the babies head and let the oil sit for a while on the scalp and then use a soft tooth brush and push the brush back and forth vigorously and then comb the dried skin out. Then you put the baby in the bath and use Selsun blue. That is what my Ped. told me.

[cbreeding]

I also used olive oil. I usually put it on an hour or two before DD's bath, then brushed her scalp before shampooing. I have also used it on her skin for dry patches.

[SingingMom]

My DS had really determined cradle cap. He had it in his eyebrows. It was thick and yucky looking.

But it didn't seem to bother him.

What worked for him was getting his hair wet in the bath, then rubbing oil in it. I let it sit in there while he played (or, while he was too young to play, while I washed the rest of him.) Then I washed his head with baby shampoo and scrubbed gently with a soft baby brush.

For his eyebrows, I gently wiped them with an oily washcloth. Later, I wiped them with a wet washcloth. It didn't get all of it, but he didn't look quite so scaly.

Later I found that washing his head with Dove Nutrium pretty much washed it out without having to use the oil. Mostly.

[KristyDi]

I use coconut oil. Rub it in, let it sit then gently brush te scalp in different directions. Then wash the oil out. I do that about once a week. I don't use soap on her at all between these times. I find the soap makes it worse when used more often.

[tbird027]

I've also used olive oil and it worked wonders.
I would put it on his head at the start of the bath and wash the rest of him then go back and wash it off with his Mustella shampoo, hard to find but I got at Babies R Us.
His doctor told me that I could also use Head and Shoulders or Selsun Blue. Me personally would rather go with something that made specifically for him that won't burn if it gets in his eye; so I went with the Mustella.
Hope this helps

[DecemberBaby]

I tried everything for my DS cradle cap. It was so bad. Selum Blue, lotion, Mineral oil... nothing worked. Then one day I put Bactroban cream on his head because he kept scratching him self because it itched. Then an hour later I was breastfeeding and picked it all off easily!!!! Bactroban has a mineral oil base. SO if nothing else works that worked for me. I tried everything!!!!!!!!!!!!! But you need a prescription for it. I had some in the cabinet

[whitnessforhim]

Selsum Blue worked for us too but she only had a minor case and within a couple of washes it was gone. Hope you find something that works.

[madelsmama]

Olive oil or the Burt's Bees Apricot oil are both great. Let it set for a bit and then come through with a very fine tooth comb. Worked every time.

[LisaS]

I usually do baby oil in his bath and brush with a fine tooth comb, then I wash it like regular to get most of the oil out. I also second the Burt's Bees Oil as well.
Agreed

[LisaS]

An hour before shampooing, rub your baby's scalp with baby oil, mineral oil, or petroleum jelly to help lift the crusts and loosen scales.
When ready to shampoo, first get the scalp wet, then gently scrub the scalp with a soft-bristle brush (a soft toothbrush works well) for a few minutes to remove the scales. You can also try gently removing the scales with a fine-tooth comb.
Then wash the scalp with baby shampoo, rinse well, and gently towel dry.
http://children.webmd.com/tc/cradle-cap-topic-overview