How to Get Rid of Cradle Cap

Does your baby have scaly, dried patches on the scalp? Learn how to get rid of cradle cap using at-home, easy treatments in just a few days.

How to Get Rid of Cradle CapCradle cap—one of the many terms I learned once I became a mom. I wasn’t even aware my baby had it until his pediatrician noticed during a routine appointment. She caressed the top of his head and pointed out the hardened, oily scalp that had been developing.

In those newborn days, it seemed like I had an endless list of things to take care of. Blood tests, jaundice, gaining enough weight, massive spit up—having cradle cap didn’t help.

Thankfully, cradle cap was also easy to remove.

After I did this technique with my eldest (and later, with his baby twin brothers), the cradle cap went away after two rounds and never came back. The best part? All the tools we used were found at home.

How to get rid of cradle cap

But first, what is cradle cap? Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition. Symptoms of cradle cap include crusty, scaly patches of hardened oil on a baby’s scalp.

They’re not painful or even harmful to infants, but they can take months to go away on their own. You might also get tempted to scratch them off with your fingernails, which poses a risk of infection.

To easily get rid of your baby’s cradle cap, you’ll need:

  • Olive oil or baby oil
  • Towel
  • Mild baby shampoo
  • Baby comb

Check with your pediatrician for her advice and whether to give this a go. If so, here’s how to get rid of cradle cap:

1. Apply oil on your baby’s scalp

About 30 minutes before you plan to bathe your baby, lay a towel on a surface like your bed or the floor. Then, pour the oil (I used olive oil) into a small bowl and, using your fingers, massage it into her head. The towel can keep the oil from seeping onto the surface.

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2. Entertain your baby for 30 minutes

Next, the oil needs time to soften the hardened patches of skin on the scalp—30 minutes is perfect. Play with your baby with a toy or talk and sing to him. Better yet, do tummy time so his head is raised and has less chances of rubbing off on the towel.

3. Give your baby a bath

Once the 30 minutes is up, bathe your baby as you normally do. Make sure to shampoo her hair thoroughly to remove the oil from her scalp.

4. Comb your baby’s hair

After the bath, towel dry your baby’s head. Then, gently comb her hair to remove the patches of flakes. The comb will pick up bits of the built-up flakes, which you can wipe off with a tissue paper. Comb her hair a few more times until you’ve removed most of the flakes.

Note that you may not get rid of all the flakes on the first try, so don’t keep combing trying to do so. Instead, repeat the process the next day when you bathe her again.

How to Get Rid of Cradle Cap

Conclusion

This technique can get rid of the dry flakes easily. Apply oil to your baby’s scalp and allow it to soften for 30 minutes. Then, bathe her as you normally do, and use a comb to remove the bits that come off.

You might need to repeat the process the next day, but after a few tries, you should notice a significant decrease in the flakes.

Those early months with a baby can be some of the most hectic. I was glad that cradle cap was easy to remove, especially with simple home remedies.

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