Toddler with Cradle Cap

[calebsmum]

Was just looking at DS (2) scalp earlier and I noticed he's got really thick browny yellow scales all over it. He had cradle cap as a baby but I didn't think toddlers still got it? Any advice as i've tried the olive oil overnight and brushing thing and it's still there.

If it is really thick you might need some hydrocortisone cream or sinilar other wise it might get infected. And yes toddlers do get cradle cap.

Our au pair put olive oil on for an hour before washing, then washed his hair and brushed it with a stiff brush. I think the cradle cap was really soft as it all seems to have come away. Mind you, there is already a scale that is growing back so not sure it's the answer...

They can get cradle cap at any age - it's just a form of dermatitis after all. Dd used to get it until she was 3, and ds got it occasionally until he was 5.

Olive oil is good. Rub it in, leave it for a bit then loosen it gently before you wash it out - a nit comb is effective to loosen the scales.

What shampoo do you use? Might be worth changing to a different brand - some brands always made dd's worse, and Johnson's baby shampoo was particularly bad.

Nitty gritty nit comb gets it all out - its amazing

Nit comb works a treat - comb hair in opposite direction to growth.

my two month old ds has cradle cap but i was told trying to remove just makes it worse. So i was told by midwife to leave it alone and it would clear up eventually. is it different for little babies

My DS had it very mildly when he was a baby. Another Mum suggested Johnson's baby oil gel with chamomile. I was a bit dubious but it worked. Worked for my sister's DD too. I just massaged a small amount into affected area after bath. Its very greasy and looks like hair gel . Might work.

issasmum - i did it when dd2 was 2 or 3 or 4 months old, can't remember. I think your HV maybe said leave it alone becuase picking at it can cause infections. I used to pick dd1's and it did look worse. Nit comb is the way to go imo. The sides of dd2s head are still a little dry and scaly looking but not as bad as the top was. It helps if your dc has hair as the hair trying to grow through helps shift it when you comb iyswim.

I think it can get worse if you pick it off and the hair can come out too, but if you soften it first and then "brush" it out, you're not ripping off what is a bit like a scab so it's not as damaging - at least, that's what I think...