How to Deal With Cradle Cap

Rub in some oil. Right before putting baby into his bath, rub some baby oil or olive oil onto the scaly patches his head and the surrounding areas. Just be sure not to use too much oil, or it will be difficult to get out. Allow the oil to sit for a few minutes to give it time to loosen the dry patches of skin.

Brush it away. While she's in the bath, wet Baby's hair with warm water; then use a brush or a dry washcloth to rub the area and get rid of the scales.

Shampoo and rinse. Use a gentle, hypoallergenic shampoo to rinse away the oil from Baby's head. Allow the shampoo to sit on the hair for a bit so it can soak up the oils, then rinse with warm water.

Pat dry. When he's out of the bath, gently dry Baby's hair with a towel. Use the brush again to remove some of the loose scales that didn't come out in the bath.

Repeat as necessary. It might take a few of these treatments to get rid of cradle cap, so be patient. Don't wash Baby's hair too often -- this can actually worsen the problem. Instead, do it every few days.

Consult a doctor. If the cradle cap worsens, spreads, or won't go away, call your pediatrician. He might want to prescribe a special shampoo or ointment to get rid of it.

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