Getting Rid of Cradle Cap Using Natural Remedies

Both of my little ones suffered from a condition called cradle cap. I first noticed it when my daughter was a newborn. She had crusty yellow patches that started small but eventually spread over most of her scalp. When I asked the doctor about at a well child visit, she said that it was cradle cap. Cradle cap is a little like dandruff, and the doctor even suggested using a dandruff shampoo to help get rid of the cradle cap. While we the dandruff shampoo did not work for us, we did find some other solutions - including some gentle, natural solutions - that did treat the symptoms of cradle cap.

One of the products that my hair stylist suggested was Cradle Cap Care by Gentle Naturals. She used the product on her own children with success, and we tried it on our daughter as well. The product is much like very thin oil that is rubbed onto the effected area. It can be left on for a few minutes, or longer if necessary to soften the crusty patches. After the Cradle Cap Care is allowed to soak in, use a fine tooth comb or a baby brush with very soft bristles to loosen the crust. After that, just wash as usual. In our case, we found that leaving it on during naptime or even overnight worked best. Even our daughter's very sensitive skin was not irritated by this product.

Another similar product is Burt's Bees Baby Bee Apricot Oil. Like the Cradle Cap Care by Gentle Natural, just massage a bit of the oil onto the affected areas. Let it soak in, then rub it gently with a soft brush. As an added bonus for baby's skin, massage a tiny bit of the grape seed, olive, and avocado oil infused Apricot Oil into baby's skin after the bath.

If you do not want to buy a product just to treat cradle cap, try going to your kitchen cabinet for a solution. Use extra virgin olive oil to soften the crust, let the oil soak in for 15 or 20 minutes, then use a soft brush or a toothbrush to loosen them. If you use olive oil, be sure to wash it out immediately to avoid giving your child a rash.

Finally, some moms swear that gently scrubbing their baby's head with a soft bristled brush after every hair washing will keep cradle cap at bay. The crusty scabs are gently softened during the bath, and by exfoliating them with the brush they will not return.

Sources:

Gentle Naturals, Cradle Cap Care, http://www.gentlenaturals.com/products/cradle_cap.php

Burt's Bees, Baby Bee Apricot Oil, http://www.burtsbees.com/natural-products/body-moisturizers/baby-bee-apricot-baby-oil.html