What is Cradle Cap?
As a parent, we always see our baby as perfect no matter what. Their skin is so soft, their blue eyes are beautiful and their first smile is one of our most memorable moments. Although babies always seem so perfect, they do have flaws just like us.
One flaw that babies will sometimes experience is cradle cap. The cause of cradle isn’t for certain, but it seems to be linked to the overproduction in their oil glands. Babies can experience cradle cap on their scalp, face, neck, ears, armpits and other places on the body.
What is cradle cap exactly?
It is when your baby’s skin looks flaky or often scaly. It may frighten you to see that at first, but you have to remember it’s nothing dangerous. Yes, it should be treated, but it’s most likely just the cause of hormonal changes.
What can you do to treat it?
There are a few different things you can do to treat this skin problem. The first step is to avoid washing your baby’s hair too often. A good amount of time in between washing is around 3-4 days. Less washing leads to less irritation and healthier and more hydrated skin.
It is also a great idea to keep this area lotioned well with an organic product or even with baby oil. The oil soaks into the skin well leaving it hydrated and less flaky. Doing this a couple times a day is a good treatment.
If you don’t see improvement in your baby’s skin, I recommend you bring them to their pediatrician. They may be able to make a few recommendations and be able to treat it faster than time or other products can.
As stated above, if your baby has cradle cap, don’t panic! Although it doesn’t happen to all babies, it does happen to a couple. Just follow these tips, and ask your pediatrician if you’re concerned!
This is a guest post written by Lauren Dzuris. Lauren runs FindMyCarSeat, a website on Car Seats that can help new parents find a great car seat, while giving them tips, and advice on everything from pregnancy to parenting.
