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Original poster

Daft question - why might my baby son's head smell?

33 replies

VerySillyMommy · 13/08/2004 16:27

This has been puzzling me for a while. I wash ds2 hair (not that he's got much!) every other day and change his bottom cot sheet twice a week but my little lad who is 12 months old always has a smelly head. Not a very nice smell. It is fine after a hair wash - next morning a bit whiffy. Anyone know why this is? I wouldn't normally post about such daft things, but I am wondering where this smell is coming from. Oh and can't describe the smell as it is like no other . dh commented on it this morning - so it's not just me noticing it!

OP posts:
mummysurfer · 13/08/2004 16:29

what do you mean wiffy? slightly unpleasant/unpleasant/very unpleasant?

clairabelle · 13/08/2004 16:33

Is a just sweat? Any signs of infection either on the scalp or behind the ears? Could it be the shampoo you are using? Have you tried changing it or just using water?

mummysurfer · 13/08/2004 16:34

boys do have a smell of their own...testosterone??

clairabelle · 13/08/2004 16:36

Must admit my ds has never had that 'baby' smell just smells of him. IYKWIM

Original poster
VerySillyMommy · 13/08/2004 16:36

Actually really quite unpleasant. Sweaty, musty, animal like, stale... you name it, all these mixed in together!!!
Tried different shampoos, but the smell is always there.

OP posts:
clairabelle · 13/08/2004 16:38

Could you wash it in the morning or give it a rinse at least.

muddaofsuburbia · 13/08/2004 16:40

Could it be cradle cap?

Original poster
VerySillyMommy · 13/08/2004 16:41

... always most pronounced for the first few minutes after he wakes up. (...suggesting it's mostly sweat?)
No sign of any infection anywhere.
Now WHAT does testosterone smell like????

OP posts:
notthecod · 13/08/2004 16:41

wet dog

Original poster
VerySillyMommy · 13/08/2004 16:43

He DID have once patch of cradle cap months and months ago at the back of his head. It completely cleared up though

OP posts:
notthecod · 13/08/2004 16:43

it does smell of wet dog

hmb · 13/08/2004 16:44

Have you checked the matress cover? If it is a bit whiffy it will go through the sheet, especially if he has a sweaty head.

Original poster
VerySillyMommy · 13/08/2004 16:45

wet dog... eh? Now we're getting closer to a description of the little man's head (hence my comment about it being animal-like). More unpleasant than just wet dog though..
Maybe the little lad is loaded down with testosterone... !?

OP posts:
honeybunny · 13/08/2004 16:48

My db used to dribble/spit on his pillow and then rub his face into it. His whole room stank in the morning. Cant imagine he smelt v nice either but cant really remember. His pillow had to be washed regularly. Yuk.
A friend has a "v sweaty head" baby boy(now 2 and a bit) and always wakes with an odour loitering about the place!! Its been particularly bad in this hot weather.

Possibilities???

Blu · 13/08/2004 17:02

There was a thread recently about smelly cradle cap...
Does he dribble milk on to his sheet or pillow which then goes sour / cheesy when he lies in it and makes it warm?
tbh, I think I would check with doctor or health visitor if you really can't find a cause, in case his secretions / sweat are showing that he is not very well.

Blu · 13/08/2004 17:03

Or has milk been previously spilt on his mattress, and his sweat in this hot weather is making it damp again and ooze onto him?

Tinker · 13/08/2004 17:04

Could be some sort of yeast infection?

carla · 13/08/2004 17:13

dd2 did (and still does) suck her thumb. Could it be saliva on the pillow transferring to his head? dds still has that salivery smell.

Blu · 13/08/2004 17:14

Good idea Tinker: yeast infections smell a bit 'wet dog'.

Original poster
VerySillyMommy · 13/08/2004 17:15

I'm pretty certain it is nothing to do with milk - he actually doesn't drink very much of it at all. He doesn't like it! Often he will drink noe before going to bed.

OP posts:
Original poster
VerySillyMommy · 13/08/2004 17:23

ok - so a yeast infection. But what of? A yeast infection of the head??

OP posts:
Blu · 13/08/2004 17:26

Hmmmm - good point. Isn't athletes foot a yeast infection? I don't know, maybe a yeast infection of the hair follicles?

VSM: does he taste odd?

Original poster
VerySillyMommy · 13/08/2004 17:28

blu.. mmm not sure. I'll go and check it out and report back. He's gonna think me a little odd, but here goes

OP posts:
Original poster
VerySillyMommy · 13/08/2004 17:29

blu... no. Him and his brother are both looking at me silly now...

OP posts:
hmb · 13/08/2004 17:32

Athletes foot is caused by a fungal infection. Similar to, but not identical to a yeast infection.