Cradle Cap

Dear Lisa

I just had my third child. My other two children didn’t have cradle cap and this one does. What is it from and how can I get rid of it?

“Cradle Cap” in New York

Dear “Cradle Cap”

Cradle Cap is a build up of dead skin cells over the anterior fontanel of an infant. Many parents are reluctant to wash this “soft spot” when bathing their child and as a result a build up of crust develops. In order to get rid of cradle cap, gently rub baby oil into the child’s scalp, concentrating on the “soft spot”. Let the baby oil stay on for 20 minutes. Take a fine tooth baby comb and carefully comb out the crust.

Following this, wash the baby’s scalp with a dandruff shampoo, such as Sebulex. Rarely will cradle cap be resolved after one treatment. Generally this procedure needs to be repeated 4 to 5 times (waiting 2 to 3 days between treatments) before the scalp is clear from cradle cap. In order to prevent cradle cap from reforming, shampoo the baby’s scalp twice per week while gently massaging the soft spot with each shampoo.

Lisa Kelly, R.N., P.N.P., C.
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

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