Getting Ride of CRADLE CAP on 9 Month Old

Updated on January 02, 2008
T.P. asks from Saratoga Springs, UT
32 answers

My 9 month old still has cradle cap. I haven't really tried anything to remove it. I've heard about using baby oil, but what exactly do I do with it? I tried it today & ended up with a greasy haired baby who still has cradle cap! Help!

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So What Happened?

Thank you to everyone who responded! I ended up using Aquaphor Gentle Wash. It got most of it out after the first try. I didn't know cradle cap can come back so I appreciate the people who mentioned that so I can watch for signs before it gets bad. Thank you!

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K.W.

answers from Grand Forks on

T.,
We used baby oil as well or even when she was in the bath, with the baby shampoo, we'd take one of those soft baby brushes and just brush it in little circles. She really liked it. As a matter of fact, she is 16 months now, and she still goes into the brush drawer and brings us her brush and loves getting her head massaged and brushed!
Hope this helps!
:)
K.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.G.

answers from Boise on

I used baby oil on my kids when they had cradle cap. Do it in the bath, or before bathtime. Put the oil on his head and massage it in. If you still have the very fine baby brush from the hospital, you can lightly massage it in with that. The flakes will start to lift. Then wash kiddo's hair. You might have to do it over a couple days to completely get rid of it.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.H.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Hi T.,

In the baby section there is a cradle cap remover with Winnie the pooh on the box. It is gentle and worked the first and only time I used it on my baby. You rub it in, let it soak in a bit and then gently use a baby comb or brush to lift it off the scalp. You may have to use it more than once if it is solidly on there.

Good luck,
C.

1 mom found this helpful

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L.B.

answers from Sioux Falls on

There is a great shampoo out there that works wonders on this, its called Aveeno. Its a little bit more pricy, but it works very quickly to rid the head of it. My son and daughter still get this, if they use another kind of shampoo. The Gentle Natures works great too, however I find that it is very greasy even after shampooing. I also have found that with my son, if I keep his hair shortish, not crew cut, because I dont like them, but as short as possible, it really helps too. I wont cut my daughter's hair!!! lol (she finally has some hair, but she still looks boyish in it, I suppose because its so thin, so I want it to grow out more! lol) I hope this helps, and good luck!

2 moms found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

We had the same problem with our 4 month old. The doctor said to put 1% hydrocortisone cream on it up to 4 times per day. It worked like a charm and the cradle cap was almost gone in 48 hours.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.M.

answers from St. Cloud on

I have tried several of the remedies listed and none of them worked. I talked with my sons Dr. and just waited. It eventually went away. One thing he suggested to help remove was to use baby oil on it. Leave it sit for a few min and ten wash well. That helped remove some of the skin but it did not cure the problem. Good luck, it will go away!!

1 mom found this helpful
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K.C.

answers from Salt Lake City on

When my kids got that, I did two things. One, I used Aquaphor, it's a really thick ointment for severely dry skin, etc. It will make the hair greasy, but it will work. Then, (and you can do this after letting the soak for a few hours)you can wash it out. I like to get in the shower with my babies and just let the water run over their hair. (they like it, cause they are close to you, and it's wam and relaxing). While you're in the shower, gently scratch /massage their scalp - the skin comes off a lot easier when it's moist. Then after you're done, a lot of the cradle cap will be gone, and you can put a little more cream (or whatever) on their scalp to keep it from building up again. ... Other than that, they will grow out of it.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.W.

answers from Pocatello on

The nurses at the hospital told me to avoid or clear it up you need to "scrub" the scalp, and make sure you get all of the soap off the head. I wash my LO's head then make sure I rinse well, and then I have one of the hard bristle brushes and I use the side of it and I brush it over her head gently. She had cradle cap and after doing this twice it was gone. Now it is a regular routine and I haven't had any problems. Remember whatever you do you have to be gentle. That was my biggest problem. I was scared of hurting her, that is why I use the side of the brush and not straight on. GL

1 mom found this helpful
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S.P.

answers from Great Falls on

Keep using the oil. It looks horrible but it will clear it up in a few days. Also, I've found with my boys that johnson's and johnson's dried their scalp. I use sauve now and they even have some that's tear free. Don't worry, it doesn't hurt them, it just looks horrible. Good luck and I hope your holidays were good.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from Lincoln on

My son had it to and will still get it if I don't do the following. When he was born they gave us a little brush (like a fingernail brush) when we take our bath or just when we wash our hair we let the water soak on head then with the brush we put baby shampoo we use johnson and take the brush and lightly scrub back and forth it will take about a week, his head would be a little red. Make sure to be carefull not to do it too long. Also if it is really bad my peditrician said he could prescribe a shampoo. but try this, my friend also does it with the baby oil and brush. But when you get it gone just keep washing the hair and lightly scrubbing with the brush cause it will come back Good Luck!!

1 mom found this helpful
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N.F.

answers from Boise on

Hi T.,

We used Selsum Blue and a soft baby brush to wash his hair once a week (and then regular soap the rest of the time). I started applying lotion, like baby lavendar lotion, to his scalp and that helped a lot. The flakes didn't go away immediately, but got progressively better. His scalp still gets dry so I continue to use a little lotion after bathing. I try to wash his head vigorously with my fingertips (but I use a feather-light touch around/over the soft spot and I don't scrub his head harder than he can hold it steady). His hair does get a little greasy after the lotion, but it isn't too bad--it looks more like I applied hair product.

You might try to take extra measures to protect his head from both sun and wind when going outside. If you wash his hair more than three times a week you might try using just water sometimes. Hope this helps.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.H.

answers from Saginaw on

Hi my son has this really bad at about 5 months and a little bit again a fae months ago, he's 22mo. now. We used multiple things and the best was Gentle Nature it;s in a tealish colored bottle and says cradle cap right on the front they carry it in most stores in with all the other baby lotions, shampoos and stuff. i think they have the baby pooh characters on the. hope this helps for you i would def. get some and try. it's a litte greasy but not anything like oil. you put just a tiny like dime size amount in your hand and rub it into their scalp and then wait a minute. then take a little comb and comb right up to the scalp and alot of it will get caught up in the teeth of the comb. i kind of picked the remaining small spots with my nail, it doesn't hurt them and once it is softened up it comes off pretty easy. Jen

1 mom found this helpful
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K.T.

answers from Provo on

I am a cosmetologist. I recommend the baby oil. Leave it on for a little bit. Use a soft brush, to brush it out. You won't get it out in one try. It may take a few days. You might see it come back. Just use the oil, and brush it out. I see this happening quite frequently on older children who are not scrubbing or scratching their scalps when they wash. Especially at work. They do not realize that they have to scrub out the sand/dirt/sweat from the playground.
Do be gentle, but scrub or scratch it off. Put some baby oil on the scalp, then scrub and scratch it off, then wash it off. Repeat if necessary.
If that is not working, after giving it a couple of weeks, try a professional product. One of the best professional products on the market is Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Shampoo. I recommend this for anyone who has dandruff, dry skin, or excema. It works better than any product you can buy from the drugstore (ie. Head and Shoulders, Selsun Blue, etc.).
After you get it off, find a nice natural bristle (also called a boar bristle) brush. I have a paddle brush that has the boar bristles on it. I use this on my 11 month old daughter and she has never had a problem. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.V.

answers from Milwaukee on

T. my first son had cradle cap so bad that all his hair fell out so when my next child had it I tried a couple different things but the baby oil worked the best. Cover his scalp gerously with oil and rub his scalp in a circular motion with a soft baby brush, this should help. Try to avoid picking or scratching it, you do not want to irritate his scalp. Good luck!

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S.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

both my children had cradle cap. The only thing that got rid of it was the kids shampoo from Melaleuca. I tried baby oil, gently scrubbing, etc. Two or three shampoos from Melaleuca product and it would disappear. Still is the only shampoo that they don't get dried skin on their scalp.

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D.H.

answers from Fargo on

The trick is Selson Blue shampoo, not the cheaper stuff the Selson Blue brand name. Work it into a lather and brush with baby brush and do that for a week straight even if it looks like it done. It may sound crazy but it works. I have a 3 month old and it is all gone and her hair is growing fast.

D.

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M.W.

answers from Milwaukee on

My daughter has had cradle cap, in fact she still has it, she is almost 2. This is going to sound gross, but when she would relax on our laps my husband and I would stroke her head gently with our nails, and in doing so some would flake off. We wouldn't press hard at all, cause we did not want to "dig into" her scalp; just a light scrape.
A friend of mine who had a son with it said she just used a little Head and Shoulders shampoo. She would leave it on for a minute and wash it off, trying to avoid the eyes. She would use it maybe once or twice a week. We bought some and tried it and it seems to be working well. In fact, her cradle cap is almost gone.

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L.P.

answers from La Crosse on

Yes, baby oil works :) Basically you put it on and let it soak, wash the hair and use a soft brush on the hair/scalp. You may have to do this a couple times and it won't come off pretty (it will look sore) but it works!

L. PC

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S.W.

answers from Sioux City on

Baby oil rubbed into the scalp and left for a while, couple of hours. Then if you wash his hair, it doesn't stay oily. When you wash it use a soft bristle baby brush and scrub it a little. Usually clears up after a couple of times.

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K.W.

answers from Milwaukee on

The big thing is to use something natural. Since baby oil is just mineral oil the body doesn't absorb it. With natural oils your body can take it into your pores and treat the condition without clogging pores and leaving that greasy mess. Truly Daisy Blue Naturals Calendula n Honey oil works wonders! Any dry patch is gone! I've used it on my son with wonderful results! It's amazing how different it is from mineral oil. Also I used the oil for diaper rash. It was easier than cream--no touching his sore butt and the rash would be gone the next time I changed his diaper! Awesome.

http://3563.daisybluenaturals.com

I'm happy to help you out, let me know if you have any questions. Natural products truly make a difference.

K.

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M.T.

answers from Eau Claire on

I have 3 kids and I have used the baby oil and soft brush for all 3 kids and it worked great for them. You have to let the baby oil set on your babies head for like 2hrs and then use the soft brush on his head and do it like 2 more times and it should be good then. And I have heard of the head and Shoulders works great for it to.

L.C.

answers from Janesville-Beloit on

I was told to use something like Selsen Blue (I'm sure thats not spelled right) and a soft brush. Be sre not to get it in his eyes. I did this a couple times with Shelby and it was gone.

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M.M.

answers from Pocatello on

The best thing that I found to remove Cradle Cap is T-gel shampoo. I have used it on both of my kids. You just have to be really carfull not to get it in your babys eyes because it is not tear free. Just put it on and let it set for a few minutes then scrub it in with a brush.

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C.M.

answers from Janesville-Beloit on

We had the same problem. Our doctor told us the same thing. Use baby oil and let him sleep with a hat or cap on. Yes, you end up with greasy haired baby for a few days. We just left it alone. It gradually got better and now he's got so much hair, if he does have any left, you can't even see it. Supposedly 2-3 days of the baby oil and soft brush will work, you'll just have to put up with greasy hair!

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J.M.

answers from Omaha on

Arbonne has a botanically based baby line that includes a product that is great at getting rid of cradle cap. I am a consultant and have a sample kit if you would like to try it. It works wonders and it is safe for baby.

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V.B.

answers from Boise on

When my oldest had cradle cap, my mom told me that her scalp needed stimulation. So I got in the habit of rubbing her head while nursing her. That actually cleared it up and I've never had a problem with any other of my babies. If you use baby oil, just put a drop in your hand and rub your hands together well so you just have a thin coat of it on your hands and then massage his head good with it. Just rub his little head every time you ane holding or cuddling him.

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L.H.

answers from Des Moines on

I used that soft bristled brush they give you in the hospital to gently scrub the dead skin off the scalp. I usually could work on it while I nursed him. Also, if we weren't going anywhere, I'd use lotion on his scalp- but at that time he didn't have much hair.

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K.D.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Our doctor recommended Head and Shoulders (make sure not to get it in his eyes). Works like a charm.

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M.D.

answers from Salt Lake City on

My 5 month old daughter had cradle cap. Her doctor told me to put a little baby oil on her head when I give her a bath and massage it into her scalp with a soft toothbrush, rinse, then shampoo like normal. After about 4 baths, using the oil and toothbrush, her cradle cap was gone.

Hope that helps.

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A.R.

answers from Omaha on

Lightly scrub it with a soft bristle brush, kind of like a nail brush. You won't get it all out at once so don't try. It's not a big deal and very common.

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K.L.

answers from Salt Lake City on

You need to scrub the scalp really good at bath time. Then apply the oil right out of the bath. Make sure it gets down to the scalp. You also might try changing shampoo to one that is more gentle.

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J.C.

answers from Cheyenne on

There is a shampoo made (for adults) by Neutrogena...It is a dark bottle with a blue lid. My son had the same problem and a few uses with this cleared it right up. It doesn't smell the best, but it worked wonders! Just take care not to get any in his eyes! Hope this helps.

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