My Baby Has Cradle Cap, What is It?

Hair care should be an important part of your baby's regular care regime regardless of the amount of hair. By the sixth month in the womb your baby has already developed hair follicles however the amount of hair present at birth varies greatly from baby to baby. It is perfectly normal to see babies with what appears to be a full head of thick hair while others appear to be completely bald.

Generally babies are born with a small amount of soft fuzzy hair known as downy hair. The hair will begin to shed in the first few months and be replace with a thicker courser hair that will be closer to the baby natural hair. Regardless of the amount of hair or lack of hair it is important to begin a cleaning routine, twice a week is appropriate for infants. Not only is it important to keep the scalp clean and healthy but it is also important to get your baby comfortable with the act of shampooing for when it becomes necessary.

Many parents become alarmed by the appearance of oily yellow scales on their baby's scalp which may be accompanied with a general redness. It also may look like dandruff or dry crusting patches. This is commonly known as cradle cap, when it appears on other areas of your baby's body such as the face, behind the ears or diaper area it is called Seborrheic dermatitis. Cradle cap is very common and is believed to be caused by maternal hormones circulating in the baby's blood stream which cause the baby's oil glands to over produce. This is not completely agreed upon as many professionals believe the cause is not known.

What is agreed upon however is that cradle cap is not harmful or contagious. In most cases cradle cap will simply disappear on its own usually before your baby is a year old, however there are some steps that can be taken to help the process along.

For cradle cap on the scalp it is necessary to shampoo on a daily basis with a mild shampoo or soap while scales are present. Always rinse thoroughly. If the scales do not wash off when a gentle rubbing action it may be necessary to apply mineral oil to your baby scalp prior to bathing to soften them up. After the scales have disappeared the recommended twice a week is sufficient.

It is also suggested that you gently massage your baby's scalp to improve the circulation as well as loosen the scales. This can be done with your finger tips (no scratching) or a soft brush. Gentle is the key. This can be done several times throughout the day until the cradle cap disappears.

Generally cradle cap goes away on its own within a few months and should not cause your baby any discomfort however if you are concerned see your physician, they will be able to give a lotion to help the process along. If cradle cap appears on other areas of your baby's body or if your baby seems to be trying to itch, then it is always recommended you consult with your physician.