4 Ways to Improve Cradle Cap in Babies

Cradle cap might just be one of the more common things that new parents have to deal with. If you don’t know what cradle cap is, it’s basically a really bad case of dandruff that can be quite challenging to get rid of. Around 4 months, my baby started experiencing it severely (along with eczema) and it was really hard on my momma heart! I just wanted to make it go away, but everything that I tried, seemed to fail.

After lots of research, several visits to doctors and dermatologists, I have a wonderful routine that works miracles for my baby. I can’t guarantee that my routine will work for all babies, but I will share several options for you to try! Here are 4 ways to help get rid of your baby’s cradle cap!

If you haven’t read my post, What You NEED in Your Baby’s First Aid Kit, definitely give it a read! Nobody wants to be without these items when they become necessary!

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DISCLAIMER: Please check with your pediatrician before trying these methods to get rid of cradle cap. I am not a doctor.

1. Use Shampoos That Help Cradle Cap

Using some helpful shampoos is a key to helping your baby overcome cradle cap. TUBBY TODD is my first choice, as it has been the one that has worked miracles for us. Tubby Todd products are expensive, but they are so worth it! Rather than spending a bunch of money on a bunch of products, I just spend a lot of money on one. HAPPY CAPPY is a great option too, especially if your baby struggles with eczema as well. Other shampoos that pediatricians recommend is AVEENO and HEAD AND SHOULDERS. I tried both of these as well, but they didn’t seem to make much of a difference for my son’s cradle cap.

Along with using the right shampoo, you also need to wash your baby’s hair with the right process. After you put the shampoo in their hair, let it soak (I usually wash my son’s body while the shampoo sits) and then brush it and rinse it off. Letting the shampoo sit for a few minutes, allows the shampoo to soften the cradle cap flakes so that you can easily brush them out. I use THIS NEEDLE hair brush (similar to the one they give you in the hospital.

2. Use Lotions, Oils and Ointments to Keep the Head From Getting Dry

Now that I have controlled my son’s cradle cap, I have to keep up a good routine to prevent it from returning. We have a prescription for Eucrisa, which has been super helpful to put on the spots that tend to flare up easier than others. You’ll have to talk to your pediatrician if you want to use this, but it has worked wonders for my baby’s eczema and cradle cap (they usually just prescribe it for eczema, but it has worked well for his cradle cap too)!

Really, just putting oils on your baby’s head (to keep it moist) is the key. You can use BABY OIL, AQUAPHOR, TUBBY TODD ALL OVER OINTMENT, or even your breastmilk. Just rub the cream, ointment or oil all over your baby’s head before they go to bed and let it sit on their scalp all night. You can also do it in the morning if your baby’s case is more severe. If you have it controlled and just want to maintain it, just put the ointment on the spots that are the driest or most likely to flare up (usually the crown of the head and maybe the sides of the head).

3. Help Your Baby Avoid Scratching Their Head

One of the hardest things about cradle cap, is keeping your baby’s hands away from their head. If they scratch too much and cut themselves, the cradle cap can become infected and turn into a bacterial infection (believe me, I know). You can give your baby medicine to keep them from itching, or you can have them wear HATS (just be prepared for the hats to be covered in oil and dandruff flakes) or MITTENS!

4. Check Their Diet (and yours!) to Improve Cradle Cap

Last but not least, check their diet (and yours if you are breastfeeding). Cradle cap can sometimes be a sign of food allergies. Cut out things like milk, soy, wheat, eggs, etc. to see if it helps improve your baby’s skin.

Hopefully this post will give you some new routes to take while trying to resolve your baby’s cradle cap! It can be hard on your momma heart to see your baby go through something that you can’t always control. You should also be massaging your baby’s head a lot. Brushing hair can be so helpful and probably feels so good to your sweet babe! Cradle cap is usually gone by 18 months, so don’t worry, it won’t go on forever! Do you have any other tricks for getting rid of cradle cap? Tell me in the comments!