Cradle Cap Remedies for Children

My 16-month old developed cradle cap after nearly a year of clear scalp. I was unwilling to try dandruff shampoos as they can burn the eyes. I used about a Tbs of olive oil. I massaged it into his scalp with my fingers, let it sit for approx 1 minute, and then brushed the flakes out gently with an old baby toothbrush. I then washed his hair with regular shampoo (mostly working the shampoo into the hair and leaving the scalp alone). The first treatment improved the condition by about 75%. I did it once more a few days later, and he's back to 100%! It also seemed to soothe his itching head, which he had been scratching for weeks. (I did not have any problem washing the oil out of his hair, but his hair is very short. Might be more of a problem with girls.)

Wow, that sounds like a great idea, my son had real thick hair, my sister said she used baby oil. But I think most oils do help. Thank you for your input.

I mixed some herbs with water and olive oil and or a few drops of almond oil - add some rosemary, thyme, to a small desert bowl of cooled boiled water, add some olive oil and almond oil, leave for a few minutes for the mixture to infuse. Pour into an old bottle if you want and then use again later by heating up the oil and water mix over a bowl of hot water. Anyway, I use this with cotton wool like a small shampoo or refreshing wash - it works the best for the itching and for cradle cap. Ive tried lots of other things but they pull the hair out or leave my baby's scalp white.

Cradle Cap - Coffee. My grandson had cradle cap. I applied some cooled, black brewed coffee to his scalp one time and the cradle cap was gone. I was never sure if it was the coffee or it was just gone by coincidence. Coffee is acid like vinegar but doesn't smell as bad. Also good for itchy scalp.

WoW!! Thank you for the suggestion of using Bi-carb soda (Baking Soda) and water to make a paste for my baby's cradle cap. I've been alternating with olive oil one day and apple cider vinegar the next. It was working..but very very slowly. I tried the Bi-carb soda paste last night. Made the paste, slathered and rubbed in to daughter's scalp about 20 minutes before bath. I rinsed it out, took a VERY SOFT baby brush and did circular motions around head and then proceeded to wash her head with baby shampoo, rinsed with warm water and WOW what a huge difference. 90% of the cradle cap is gone! I will do it again in a couple of days. I believe you said it typically takes a few doses to cure.

Excellent tip..thanks again!

I tried this solution and it worked perfectly. First time and it's 99% gone. THANK YOU!

This was perfect! We probably got almost all of the cradle cap off. We made the paste and put it on his head (which he hated) and bathed the rest of him. Rinsed it off after the bath and then brushed and brushed and brushed. His head smells so much better now.

This is the best! I had the hardest time trying to get rid of the cradle cap on my 1mo old son's head... But once I tried the baking soda paste I saw instant results... I used it 3x's n last night was the last application, n this morning NO MORE CRADLE CAP!! I'm so happy!

Absolutely agree! My first son had it so bad I wish I had known about this, now with my second son (3rd child) I used this on his head and ears whenever I see it starting and it's worked like a charm. Not sure if it's preventing it as well. Also seems to assist in taking care of the baby acne too as they seem to be related.

Our three month old girl didn't have a lot of cradle cap but I used the Baking Soda and now there is not a trace of CC left!!!

My grandson developed cradle cap about 15 days ago, and we applied one treatment of the baking soda; left it a while, and after it dried up we rinsed and combed. It was 100% gone.

All I can say is thank you. I used this method a few nights ago on my 2 month olds cradle cap and WOW, WOW, WOW it was AMAZING. His cradle cap was 100% GONE. His cradle cap was so thick and smelly it also took patches of his hair out it was HORRIBLE. I was desperate for a natural solution and God delivered me to this site. I can't say anything other than thank you.

i used this on my daughter ( 3 months).... She had mild cradle cap.... 1st treatment took care of it! WOW! So happy!

It worked a treat. I slapped on a good layer of the paste onto my 8 week old son's head. Left it for 15 mins and then gently brushed the paste off with a soft tooth brush. All gone, very happy baby and mum.

This took most of the cradle cap away... I'll likely have to do it one more time, cuz my daughter has a pretty bad case of it... Plus she has loads of thick hair making it harder to access the scalp. But this seems to have worked the best out of other remedies tried. Plus she has acne and baking soda/water wash is also used to help with that... I kill two birds with one stone. Thank you!

worked great!! Will repeat tomorrow

I am so happy to have found this site. After my son's pediatrician suggested Head and Shoulders (!!!!) as a good treatment for my just barely 2 month old son I knew it would be up to me to find a natural, gentle, chem-free solution. Imagine putting all those chemicals on his head? My word. We used the baking soda paste twice n his moderate cradle cap and its 95% gone. I put it on, gently rubbed it in, left it on during his bath, combed it very softly, and then rinsed out.

We followed with organic olive oil which we again left on for a few minutes, combed, and then shampooed out. this delivered outstanding results, my baby's head is back to being pretty and healthy again. Thank you!!

My grandson had quite severe cradle cap. We tried Dentinox shampoo but this really irritated it. Tried bicarbonate of soda paste and rinsed it off and most came off after a massage with baby oil gel.

Mommy V. I never buy all that stuff coming out in regular stores, I buy all my soaps at whole food stores or health food & herbs.... I was using plain ole soap like dove, ivory, palmolive and my face aged by ten years, now I use the very best of natural soaps and my face glows it has tightened up with no signs of wrinkles, I actually feel great.

Ailment-Cradle Cap -- Remedy: Olive Oil YAY

My sister is a hair dresser. She says some adults still have cradle cap! If you don't deal with it, it doesn't always go!

Both my babies had cradle cap. With my daughter I did nothing, believing it would just go in time. Not all of it did. Eventually her hair grew and it just became hidden. When she was 2 I decided to do something about it!

Pour olive oil liberally over your (baby's) head about about 20 minutes before a shower/bath. The oil softens and loosens the cradle cap. Gently scrape it off with a comb when washing the hair. If it is sticking, do not force it or it can get sore, just do it again another day. It can take a few goes.

When my son was born I did it when he was a few weeks old. You don't need to use shampoo if you don't want to.

This is also a nice, soothing thing to do if you have an itchy dry scalp. Just omit the combing part!

i agree!!! both my daughters (1 yr and 2yrs) have it still. I only had two things advised to me by the doctor. i was told either use oil oil or dandruff shampoo) it was extremely hard to do either. The dandruff shampoo is not tear free and if it even barely got into their eyes they would be in a lot of discomfort. the olive oil took 10 washes to get out of their hair!!!! i literally washed their hair for 45 minutes each time. we gave up on it after not seeing any results, but now i am happy i found the baking soda remedy and i will update after i try it a few days!