According to the Mayo Clinic, the cause of cradle cap (infantile seborrheic dermatitis) isn’t known, but it is believed to occur as a result of hormonal transfers from the mother prior to birth that cause an excess production in the oil glands. The unsightly scaly patches sometimes appear as a thick white or yellow crusting of flakes but unless redness and infection occurs, cradle cap is harmless. Basic hygiene of the baby will remove cradle cap and prevent future buildup.
Step 1
Rub the baby’s head with your fingertips, using a gentle circular motion. This will help to loosen the cradle cap scales. Take care to avoid the soft spot on the top of the baby's head.
Step 2
Dampen her head with warm water and apply a drop of baby shampoo.
Step 3
Repeat the gentle massaging motion on your baby’s scalp, working the shampoo into the areas of cradle cap.
Step 4
Remove the loosened scales from your baby’s head by brushing his scalp with a soft bristled baby hair brush or by gently rubbing the scales off with a wash cloth.
Step 5
Rinse the baby’s head with warm water and towel dry her head immediately.
Step 6
Repeat the process daily to maintain your baby’s clean scalp.
Tips and Warnings
- If the cradle cap doesn’t loosen easily, rub three to four drops of baby oil into the scales of the cradle cap. Allow to soak in for five minutes before beginning the shampooing process.
Things You'll Need
- Baby Shampoo
- Wash Cloth
- Soft Bristled Hair Brush
