Cradle cap

[notcitrus]

A (12 weeks) has a flaky scalp which is cradle cap.
According to the various HVs and docs he's seen in the last few weeks, I should
a) do nothing
b) rub olive oil into it
c) shampoo it lots
d) use medicated anti-fungal shampoo
e) urgently get anti-fungal cream to rub into it.

(d or e apparently are needed to avoid infected wounds?? And e to avoid recurrence of oral thrush, which sounds like rubbish??)

I was happy leaving it and it seemed to be getting better but he's got a few small scratches on his scalp now - probably just from him learning to connect hands and head, but could be it's itching?

What to do?

Don't worry about it.

DD1's has just about gone now and she's 3.5.

I brushed DD2's out very gently at about 13 months over the course of about 3 weeks.

Both girls have lots of hair and i think it's probably more common if the child has a full head of hair than if they are a big bald lollipop. (Less visible so less bothersome maybe?)

DD2 still has it at 2.4

God, I still have the almost irresistable urge to sit and pick it (NAUGHTY Mummy)

I used olive oil and special shampoo and both left him bald. I am leaving it now (it has returned!).

Ha @ big bald lollipop!

OK, will continue to leave well alone, and ignore the lactation consultant who was convinced it was so terrible. Shame, she was the only person who managed to diagnose and treat his thrush properly.

DS - now 2 had it from early age and we just left it as he always had a thick mop of hair that covered it up.
A couple of months back he was in the bath and hair was wet and we started to comb it out over a few nights with a very fine comb. It's gone completely now.

As others have said I think it just goes by itself, the only one of your options I would avoid is the shampooing lots as this dries the scalp and might make it itchy...
My dd ia 2.1 and still has it a bit, but it is coming off gradually and her hair is finally coming through. She shouts NO PICKING MUMMY at me quite a lot! I know you shouldn't but I have a problem with things like that, I HAVE to pick!!

My health visitor suggested that if you leave it may cause build up, scabs on scabs. used vaseline on it - more or less cleared it up straight away. able to brush it out with baby comb and now only a few tiny bits remain at 7 months.

My hv told me to cover ds's head in extra virgin olive oil and gently rub with a baby comb, sounded a bit brutal, but I did a bit of it. Didn't really like it so stopped.
Then I bought some dentinox cradle cap shampoo and it was great. Easy to use and cc went within a few weeks