Top Tips – Cradle Cap

New Mum and Baby

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I better start with a confession – my daughter first got cradle cap at about 6 months and at 2 and a half still has it quite badly!

After trying a few well known shampoos that didn’t work for us we just left it, as it didn’t show under her hair and lots of people said it would just go.

It hasn’t – and it does seem that it hangs around through early childhood for a fair number of kids – and looks pretty nasty now she has her hair in bunches.

So this list of cradle cap treatment tips is recently compiled from friends, family, a lot of googling and some conversations with the chemist and we’re going to start working our way through it from this week to see what is best for us.

(Have to say not looking forward to it as hair washing and brushing are regarded as gross human rights abuses in our house!!).

Cradle Cap Treatment Tips

Comb in Olive Oil before shampoo
Comb in Coconut Oil before shampoo
Comb in Almond Oil before shampoo
Leave oil on overnight
Comb in baby oil and leave in before shampoo
Comb through with a nit comb to lift the pieces
Wash hair frequently
Wash hair infrequently – of course no one agrees!
Use a medicated shampoo e.g. Dentinox, Capasal
Use a gentle but rich non-medicated shampoo
Lots of brushing
Comb in specialist cradle cap baby oil e.g. Green Baby, Pure Baby
Comb in Arachis Oil – peanut derived so avoid if any suspicion of allergy
Use essential oils – e.g. lavender, chamomile, burdock, comfrey
Brush with a soft toothbrush
Apply medicated cradle cap lotion e.g. Metanium
Apply natural cradle cap lotion e.g. Burt Bees Calendula Cream
Give a multi-vitamin supplement to ensure enough Vitamin B
If breastfeeding take a multi-vitamin supplement for mums
Mix bicarb of/baking soda into paste and spread on 20 mins before washing
Spray on a sage and thyme solution
Rub in petroleum jelly and leave overnight
Rub in an anti-Eczema cream
Apply other anti-eczema products e.g. Oilatum
Use products designed for head lice e.g. Hedrin

***NB one note of warning – cradle cap typically characterised by yellow patches of crusty skin, if it inflamed, oozy or itchy or appears anywhere but scalp is probably something else and you should see your GP.s

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