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Original poster

Does anyone have an answer for cradle cap?

40 replies

NatalieJane · 26/02/2007 15:45

We've tried shampoos, olive oil, not washing, only wetting, and DS2's head is still all scaley and horrible.

Can I try anything else? What actually causes it? Is there anything to stop it?

Thanks

OP posts:
lulumama · 26/02/2007 15:46

rub baby oil on it then shampoo? mine never had it ,but if they were a bit flakey, that seemed to work...

anyhoo.....just wanted to say 'hi!' and hope you and the gorgeous boys are well xxx

prettymum · 26/02/2007 15:48

i used coconut oil when washing hos hair and his cradle cap cleared away quick

IntergalacticWalrus · 26/02/2007 15:48

It's a type of eczema if irrc, so using shampoos and baby oli will probably exacerbate it.

With DS1 we used to put vaseline on his head before bed and then brush his hair (well, what hair he had anyway) with a sofy baby hair brush. It didn;t get rid of it, but it certainly improved it

AnnabelCaramel · 26/02/2007 15:50

My hv suggested baby oil gently rubbed in and then hair washed. Worked for me, cleared up after about 3 days.

Original poster
NatalieJane · 26/02/2007 15:50

Hiya Lulu, just had that suggested on another thread, I will give it a go. Is there nothing I can do to stop it coming back? It is really thick and yellowish looking.

And yes we are all fine thanks, they have all had colds and general yukiness this past week, but I managed to escape it I think!

How about you? I have barely been on MN for weeks so have lost touch with everyone, have you done any more doula-ing yet? (Silly question!! )

OP posts:
Original poster
NatalieJane · 26/02/2007 15:52

Ooops thanks to everyone else as well

I will give all the suggestions a go, anything to help him get rid of it, it doesn't seem to bother him, but it can't be comfortable for them.

OP posts:
Cashncarry · 26/02/2007 15:52

Shave their head. I know it sounds drastic but honestly, it does work! DD had the worst cradle cap (even on her eyebrows and cheeks) and I tried everything - special shampoos, every kind of oil, vaseline. We had to shave her head at 5 months (religious thing - we gave her a grade 1 because I didn't want to use a razor) and it really did disappear over night!

Original poster
NatalieJane · 26/02/2007 15:57

Shave his head? That really is extreme!

OP posts:
oranges · 26/02/2007 15:59

shaving worked for my ds too. cradle cap vanished and his hair grew back with the loveliest curls.

IntergalacticWalrus · 26/02/2007 16:03

I always have an overwhelming urge to pick DS2s cradle cap.

I'll be squeezing thier spots in a few years too, mark my works

bambino1 · 26/02/2007 16:09

My dd was very bad so I took her to see the nurse at my gps and she gave me some brilliant shampoo. Have you tried any medical advise?

lulumama · 26/02/2007 16:10
Original poster
NatalieJane · 26/02/2007 16:11

Yep I admit to picking at it, I do try not to, but things like that are made to be picked at

The HV gave me some cream to use but it just made his head all sweaty and smelly, didn't touch the cradle cap.

OP posts:
Original poster
NatalieJane · 26/02/2007 16:12

Lulu, fingers crossed it won't be too much longer, you must be very impatient to get on and get your hands dirty, as it were

OP posts:
Cashncarry · 26/02/2007 16:17

Go on NatalieJane - shave it! You know you want to!!

slalomsuki · 26/02/2007 16:19

We used Vaseline on ds2's and it worked but it took a while getting the vaseline off totally

Original poster
NatalieJane · 26/02/2007 16:56

I don't know about shaving his head, maybe as a very last resort....

(I don't know why but it seems almost cruel, it obviously isn't but it just seems it)

OP posts:
LieselVentouse · 26/02/2007 16:57

Olive oil

valentina · 26/02/2007 16:59

We were told by a health visitor to use adult shampoo, and it worked.

Cashncarry · 26/02/2007 17:00

I'm only joking! I did cry when we did DD because it felt like a violation of some sort ... but felt totally vindicated when the cradle cap disappeared.

I had to say to myself "FGS - it's not circumcision"

Lio · 26/02/2007 17:00

I slapped on loads of aqueous cream for a day or two, got it really soft, then brushed the 'wrong' way with a soft toothbrush. Took 2 or 3 sessions but worked really well.

Original poster
NatalieJane · 26/02/2007 17:02

I tried olive oil, thanks though.

Poor kid is going to end with no hair, head smeared in vaseline and smelling of V05 LOL

If any of these do actually work for him, is there anything I can do to stop it coming back?

OP posts:
wanderingstar · 26/02/2007 19:39

It's the production of too many skin cells I think. A dermatologist years ago recommended T Gel shampoo for my dd whose cradle cap was so bad it was becoming infected. As I recall, it was the T Gel for itchy scaly scalp; it has a small amount of some kind of acid which softens and loosens the scales. try it; it worked for me.

Surfermum · 26/02/2007 19:49

DD had it quite badly. In the end I used the shampoo for cradle cap (can't remember what it's called), put olive oil in overnight and combed it next day with a nit comb.

I was a bit when my friend first suggested the nit comb, as I wondered if it would hurt, but dd didn't make any fuss and it really did the job.

amidaiwish · 26/02/2007 20:06

try massaging their head every bath time with a soft natural sponge
my hairdresser recommended this and it really worked. (though DDs wasn't very bad tbh as i did this from very early days)