8 Natural Cradle Cap Treatments That Really Work
Cradle cap is one of those things about parenthood no one ever tells you to expect. All of a sudden your beautiful little peach is shedding big yellow scales of nastiness from their precious head and you have no idea why. Don't freak out! This is a normal condition called cradle cap that happens to many, many babies. Welcome to motherhood!
Though at first it was worrying, we found that it isn't a hard problem to solve. We had this with my second child and spent a lot of time trying to figure out why and trying to treat it. It turns out, it was easier than we expected to prevent and keep it at bay.
Doctors still aren't exactly sure why cradle cap occurs, but oily skin is one major issue. It could also be the mother's hormones that the baby is exposed to pre-birth. It could be as simple as dead skin that sticks to oily skin or even a kind of yeast infection. Whatever the cause, it isn't pretty. Here are eight treatments for cradle cap, from the doctor-approved to the mom-tested.
Shampoo
It's plain. It's simple. And it's apparently effective. Shampoo may be the single most effective way to treat cradle cap in infants. Regular, vigorous shampooing with a gentle product can make the difference between flakey flakes and a smooth scalps. Whoo hoo!
Baking Soda
What can't baking soda do? The answer might be nothing. According to the American Pregnancy Association, mixing equal parts baking soda and water can make a safe and effective paste to treat cadle cap — and it's inexpensive too! Apply the paste directly to baby's scalp and let it sit for a minute before washing it off with baby shampoo. Voila! Easy peasy.