And it doesn’t entail using anything gooey or creamy or sticky
If you’ve ever had a hairless baby with cradle cap, it can be a buzzkill. Cute little yummy thing, smile that makes you melt, big flashlight eyes…but then that scaly scalp. How can something so perfect have that flaky stuff on his head?
In the past, whenever I’d spot cradle cap on a nephew, I’d be the aunt that gets them out pronto. A couple of weeks ago, when I spotted cradle cap under my daughter’s hair…I wasn’t dismayed at all. I’d get that out pronto.
My little trick doesn’t entail putting anything gooey on baby’s head. I’ve seen websites tout solutions like rubbing something on the scalp and washing it off the next day. Eh, no thanks.
I use the fine tooth hospital comb to comb out the cradle cap. Comb, comb, comb, comb, and lift it up. Focus on one area at a time. Give baby a bath and it’s gone. It’s fun too. And super gratifying to see that scalp perfect again.
A regular comb won’t work, neither will any infant comb you find at Babies R’ Us. I usually beg the nurses before I leave with a newborn to give me extra combs, because I couldn’t find them anywhere else (and of course, they’re also the best for simply combing infant hair too).
But now, like all other things in this world, the combs are now available on Amazon. You can get the combs by clicking here.
p.s. Ever tried making your own baby food? It’s easy. Click here to read more.
I actually use a regular infant comb for this when shampooing my baby’s hair.
I think you need to soften up the cradle cap first… I usually massage some coconut oil into baby’s head first and let it absorb for a few minutes. Then I comb it out. Yes, it is really, really gratifying!
My son is 13 now but when he was about 2 weeks old, he started to get cradle cap. I mistakenly put oil on it because the book I was reading said that his scalp must be dry. Well, the literature was wrong. I started combing it and it just got worse. So, I shampooed the oil out. Then I decided to treat it like I do treat my own dandruff. So, I took the fine tooth comb and started scratching it all up. Then, I used my tea tree oil shampoo. I did this for a week and then it was finally gone. People kept saying “What are you doing? You are too vigorous with the scratching.” But, it really didn’t bother my son. And now he has actual dandruff. He sits down on the carpet in front of me and I scratch it up with a sharp, fine tooth comb and then use the tea tree oil shampoo in the kitchen sink and his scalp will look really clear. It stays clear until he goes back to his dad’s and then he doesn’t follow my instructions, so it doesn’t stay clear. He says “Mom, if I followed your instructions when I’m at dad’s, then, tell me, what would you be able to yell and argue about with me when I come to see you? ” That makes me smile and laugh because he is right. However would I survive if I can’t argue with my kid?
The simplest way to prevent cradle cap is to take a dry towel right after the baby comes out of the bath, and with 2 finger, dry the hair by rubbing the towel fast and hard. (Not too hard, but harder than you think your baby can handle because their head is strong.) If the hair is completely dry, no cradle cap will come, so there will be no cradle cap to get rid of! Babies may not like it in the beginning, but after a few times, they won’t mind. It takes an extra minute or 2 after each bath, but saves the time you will spend later to get rid of it.