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Original poster

Can the HV really not hace a clue???

157 replies

MumtoEliane · 20/05/2010 10:31

I got to the point where I got actually angry.

I though my DD has cradle cap. I looked in a book that I think has got very accurate stuff and pretty good advise and in there it said that cradle cap is not painful at all but a cosmetic problem, but there is some special shampoo to treat it.

So I took DD to HV to a general check up and showed her the cradle cup. She said put some olive oil and then wash it off. I asked her to tell me the name of the shampoo to treat it and she said "is shampoo for cradle cap". Ok. Went to the chemyst and got the shampoo. The pharmacyst told me never to give her oil! The HV also told me that I should treat it as soon as possible otherwise it increases, it gets harder, and it will hurt (???)

I know I should be inclined to listen to the HV but she has told me very strange things in the past. For example: the previous HV told me DD has dry skin in her face and that I should give her moisturising. Now, I didn't see any dryness but I did as I was told. Didn't see any difference in her skin, it was nice and soft. So yesterday I asked the HV if I can stop giving her moisturiser. She said yes, her skin is lovely. And I said, well, thats what I thought but was told it was dry... she said no when its dry it gets a bit like sand paper (!!!!!!) honestly! Sand paper???? I hope not!

So I am now properly peed off with this woman. Is like talking to a victorian nurse, I wonder if they get ongoing training? Why the advice differs SOOOOO much form a HV to a pharmacyst to another HV?

Really angry.

OP posts:
runnybottom · 20/05/2010 10:39

Why on earth are you angry? Your book doesn't have all the answers,and there are many ways to treat cradle cap, olive oil being a very good one that works at least as well as the shampoo.

Shes trying to help you. If you don't want the help, don't go, but dont be so nasty about it.

lemsiprocks · 20/05/2010 10:43

There is nothing wrong with your HV advice.Olive or almond oil work well

heading4home · 20/05/2010 10:43

Maybe the pharmacist told you to use the shampoo because they make money from it??

I used olive oil on my dd's cradle cap, and it was excellent.

pud1 · 20/05/2010 10:46

my dd had terrible cradle cap. i tried the shapoobut it didnt help. in the end mumsnet came to my rescue. i was told that oil is ok to use but i can drip down into eyes so try vasaline. i gave it a go and it went in one application. the only drawback was my dd has alot of hair and its hard to get out. was worth it though. my advise is to everyone apart from the wonderful world of mn

foxytocin · 20/05/2010 10:46

the olive oil works very well for most people. apply it in dollops, 2 or 3 times a day ifyou can. do not pick at the cradle cap, let the dead skin shed at its own rate, use a soft brush to brush it away.

in this instance she wasn't talking bollocks.

ABatInBunkFive · 20/05/2010 10:46

Well no you shouldn't feed your baby oil, but that isn't what the HV suggested.

Yes like sandpaper, in the fact that it feels roungh to the touch.

MrsMargate · 20/05/2010 10:51

Of course the pharmacist is going to tell you to use shampoo over olive oil - I imagine olive oil has a lower profit margin.

And fwiw, I've never used shampoo, always olive or almond oil.

tbh it sounds like you were hearing selectively - or maybe English isn't your first language? Very dry skin in children is often referred to as 'like sandpaper' and if you've been moisturising your baby's face, it won't feel dry, will it?

You can get very different advice from health professionals, and some HVs are woefully out of date and some are quite quite mad. But you can get different advice from 2 excellent HVs, and it doesn't mean either is wrong. With children, there is rarely one definitive fit-all solution to a problem.

And agree with rb that there are different ways to treat cradle crap and help is being offered here.

Calm down dear, it's only a scalp condition!

lal123 · 20/05/2010 10:52

I don't get your point re the dry skin? One HV told you to moisturise, you did, skin no longer dry so HV tells you no need to moisturise? Where's the issue? Olive oil worked wonders on my DDs cradle cap

wonka · 20/05/2010 10:57

I wouldn't use cradlecap shampoo on a very little baby.. I used it on my first when he was 6 weeks and it took all the hair off the top of his head!
Olive oil and a nit comb leave the olive oil on and massage it onto the cradlecap when it starts to soften use the nit comb to comb it out.
Don't know why you'd be angy about her advice!

muddleduck · 20/05/2010 11:01

Best tip I had on cradlecap (from MN) was to brush their hair lots. Somethin about stimulating blood supply to the scalp. No idea if this is accurate, but it DEFINITELY worked for my DSs. Whenever I got lazy the cc came back.

and btw you'll have to get used to conflicting advice

fearnelinen · 20/05/2010 11:05

Never use oil...we don't make any money on it.

Yes, dry skin feels like sandpaper even on your pfb.

You moisturised and you baby's slightly dry skin got better, I'd say thank you personally.

FWIW, your HV is trying to offer pratical solutions and stop you wasting your money. I've always gone for the natural solutions and they are often the cheapest...olive oil for cradle cap, tea tree for nits, prunes for constipation e.t.c. Be nice to your HV, she's only trying to help and if you want a second opinion from the pharmacist, wise up and be aware of how they make their money.

seeker · 20/05/2010 11:06

My ds had dry skin that did feel like sandpaper for a while!

And oil is excellent for cradle cap. What exactly are you angry about?

Original poster
MumtoEliane · 20/05/2010 11:08

I am shocked to read that a pharmacyst will give advice in order to make profit. That is no professional at all, I hope donctors don't do the same thing??

M first language is not english but my DPs is and he was shocked too when I said that we should moisturise when DD skin goes a bit like sand paper."tbh it sounds like you were hearing selectively - or maybe English isn't your first language?" Your comment is very hurtful, my english is better taht some peoples I usedto work with, even trying to control my dislexia. Thanks!

lal123, the issue is that before moisturising the skin felt soft to me and DP, after doing it it feels the same and now I am being told to stop. We never saw what difference the moisturising did. The issue is two HV visitors here giving advise.

But hey this page is famous for the grilling people gets from the users. Guess it was my time, but such rude replies -I have no problem in admitting when I am wrong and so I came for advice, but the "tone" used is plain rude- I will think twice before writing here a question again

OP posts:
bruxeur · 20/05/2010 11:11

Quite, quite mad.

Original poster
MumtoEliane · 20/05/2010 11:12

And I am always nice to my HV although I don't always agree with her because I am well educated. She is a lovely lady but I still think they don't get ongoing training. And I think they all should agree in what advice to give? They are Health Professionals at the end of the day.

OP posts:
belgo · 20/05/2010 11:12

Sandpaper is a very accurate description of skin that is very dry.

I don't think any of the replies you have here are rude.

and I don't think the HV has given you bad advice.

Original poster
MumtoEliane · 20/05/2010 11:13

Bruxeur, is that comment for me?

OP posts:
fearnelinen · 20/05/2010 11:13

Srry, don't feel sad. It's just that your op was really insulting to a woman that was offering sound advice in an attempt to help.

Yes, pharmacists and sometimes gp's have an agenda to offer specific medicines. But in general, a pharmacist will never offer the cheapest solution even if it is the most effective. Go and ask for ibuprofen, you'll get offered a £4 pack of nurofen when the £1.20 pack of own brand has the exact same ingredients.

If you doubt her advice, you should go to other mums to check / ask opinions. They are always a good source of help but be prepared for a lifetime of conflicting advice. From now on, it's up to you how you treat your little one, that can take some getting used to.

lal123 · 20/05/2010 11:14

If your DD didn't have dry skin why did you moisturise??

Original poster
MumtoEliane · 20/05/2010 11:15

I could swear my DDs skin was not like sand paper, we have people around the house all the time and no one had said anything about it.

I didn't see any difference before and after moisturising. But still, I will remember that thats a normal description for a baby's skin condition.

OP posts:
bruxeur · 20/05/2010 11:16

Just a thought that came in to my head, MtE.

colditz · 20/05/2010 11:16

Ds2's skin is like sand paper when it's dry - it feels just like moist sand paper.

Olive oil is a very gentle and effective way to treat cradle cap. It's difficult to get it all out if your baby has a lot of hair, but it does work on the cradle cap. babies don't need to have their hair shampooed unless they are smearing food in it and they have masses of hair.

I don't understand what you are angry about. the HV has given you some useful and appropriate advice.

Original poster
MumtoEliane · 20/05/2010 11:17

lal123 because HV number one told me so...

OP posts:
colditz · 20/05/2010 11:19

I see you have english as a second language.

Could it be that the pharmacist was a bit racist, heard your accent and assumed you were intending to FEED the oil to the baby?

wonka · 20/05/2010 11:19

MtE I don't think she was rude.. just asking you a question and as it happens she was correct even though your english is fantastic it is not your first language and things get altered in translation..
Sound like your having a bit of an angry day?
Hope you sort the CCap out! Good luck!