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Cradle cap is an unsightly scalp condition that babies can have from birth. Although the exact cause of cradle cap has not been determined, oils on the skin, yeast growth, and the presence of maternal hormones in the baby’s body after birth are all factors that can contribute to it.
It isn’t painful but it can last for weeks or even months, but rarely for years. Cradle cap usually goes away on its own, but you can help expedite its removal with this safe method. I would absolutely attempt this method before using prescription medications on your baby.
Even for the worst cradle cap cases, a session a day for two weeks should remedy your baby’s cradle cap. If it isn’t completely fixed, there should at least be enough removed to see progress.
Our Experience with Cradle Cap
After my son was born, I waited a couple of weeks to see if the cradle cap would begin going away. When it didn’t, I then tried one of those silicone cradle cap brushes and it didn’t help at all.
His pediatrician said it would eventually go away on its own, and usually before the baby turns one. So I waited a couple more months and when it still remained, I tried this method to remove it. This method has been passed down by the elders in our community and it is completely safe to perform on your baby.
The Cradle Cap Removal Method I Used:
Take a dime-sized amount of coconut oil and massage it into your baby’s hair and scalp. Coconut oil or any food oil that you and the baby aren’t allergic to will work just fine. Coconut and olive oil are great oils to use on the hair. Olive oil absorbs well into the hair strand and promotes healthy hair.
Take a fine-toothed comb and gently comb your baby’s hair starting at their forehead and comb towards the crown of their head. As you do this, you should be able to see the flakes coming off their scalp.
You should clean off the comb every few passed so you don’t leave the flakes in your little ones’ hair. Depending on how much hair your baby has, you might be able to move the comb from side to side or even in a circular pattern while you are combing to better remove the flakes. Be careful to not tangle their hair and be gentle with their fontanelle.
Feel free to add more oil to help loosen the flakes from the scalp. Don’t worry if you don’t get it all in this first session. It might take a couple sessions spread out over days or weeks to remove all the cradle cap. Make sure you aren’t too aggressive with the removal; you don’t want to damage their scalp which could cause hair loss.
My son was so relaxed that he fell asleep about halfway through the session. I wouldn’t suggest spending more than 5 minutes combing your baby’s hair. Watch for signs of redness which is a good indicator that you are either combing too hard or for too long.
Things to Know:
Those silicone cradle cap brushes don’t work very well and the key to removing the flakes is lubricating and moisturizing the hair while using a firm comb to remove the flakes.
Using a brush is a bad idea because the bristles move too much and will pull out and break off your baby’s hair while not effectively removing the flakes.
If you just try to wash the cradle cap off, you won’t have much luck. Also, be careful of the type of baby shampoo you are using on your baby’s hair. Many “baby-friendly” shampoos are toxic, so be sure to check the ingredients before you use any shampoo on your baby. Gently combing the out their hair with a moisturizer or lubricant is the best way to remove the cradle cap without damaging your baby’s hair and scalp.
Once you remove the cradle cap, you will be free to brush and comb their hair with a nice baby hair care set. I love this one here, because it can grow with my son into toddler-hood, and it even came with a rattle that he loves to play with while I brush his hair.
Summary:
Massage a food oil onto the scalp and gently comb away the flakes over multiple sessions. Don’t do more than one session a day and only comb for 5 minutes. Stop combing if the baby starts crying or if the scalp becomes reddened. Try this method before seeking out a prescription remedy. Most cases of cradle cap don’t need medical intervention, so this might save you some money and time spent on a doctors visit.
