Cradle cap and olive oil - to shampoo or not to shampoo...

[NoviceKnitter]

DD is three months and has had quite bad cradle cap for a while now. We've been basting her with olive oil everyday, and that worked a treat when she had scaly eyebrows, but seems less effective on her scalp. We're relaxed about it and imagine it's a passing thing that will clear itself eventually, and we'd prefer not to start shampooing yet, particularly as she has very little hair. However I've read on other MN threads that CC can lead to infection, and also that use of olive oil should be accompanied with shampooing and or brushing. Do you think this is right, or shall we just leave nature to take its course and keep basting to take the edge of the dryness?

I used olive oil, left for 10 mins and then combed the softened cradle cap out with a baby toothbrush (ie exactly what belgianbun did ). It worked over 2 nights iirc.

I think I used a little baby wash to clean the scalp but you wouldn't necessarily need to. I didn't realise you needed to comb the scales out and just used oil for a few days which did nothing but make him a little greasy.

Thanks - I see a theme emerging. Will buy a baby toothbrush tomorrow and brush off the scales (and three weeks of olive oil ) and see how we go with that, then maybe some shampoo if seems to need it after that.

Neals Yard baby shampoo very good for cradle cap.

Burts Bees one also lovely and also no tears.

I used to leave it overnight then comb it out. You really need to lift the scales off with a comb or a toothbrush.

I found olive oil and a nit comb cleared the lot in one go. 'Tis really theraputic . Not sure about infection but it can get a bit whiffy as it is in essence dead skin.

Bloody stuff always comes back thou'

NoviceKnitter, I rubbed vaseline into my son's cradlecap and left it overnight. I cleared it off in to morning with a baby comb. My son had it quite bad so did this a couple of times.

Fold a sheet into a broad band (under where your baby's head, neck and upper back will be) and tuck it tightly under each side of mattress. You can easily whip this off to wash in the morning.

Only thing I found that worked was Dentinox cradle cap shampoo - literally overnight