Cradle cap at 6 months
Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis) in Infants (for Parents)
Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
en español Costra láctea (dermatitis seborreica) en los bebés
What Is Cradle Cap?
Cradle cap is the common term for seborrheic dermatitis (seb-eh-REE-ik dur-muh-TYE-tis) of the scalp in infants.
Seborrheic dermatitis, also called seborrhea (seb-eh-REE-uh), can show up:
- on the forehead and face
- behind the ears
- in the diaper area, armpits, and other skin folds and creases
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis)?
Babies can develop seborrheic dermatitis when they're between 2 weeks and 12 months old. It usually starts with cradle cap. A baby with cradle cap will have slightly red scaly or crusty yellow patches on the scalp. It may also start on the face or diaper area and spread to other parts of the body.
Seborrhea looks:
- red and moist in skin creases and folds (like the neck and behind the ears)
- yellowish with greasy patches or crusts
- scaly or flaky
Seborrheic dermatitis might look uncomfortable or irritating to the skin. But it usually isn't itchy and doesn't seem to bother infants.
What Causes Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis)?
The exact cause of cradle cap isn't known. It's likely due to a combination of things. Too much skin oil (sebum) in the oil glands and hair follicles and a type of yeast found on the skin called Malassezia may play roles in the development of seborrheic dermatitis.
How Is Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis) Diagnosed?
Health care professionals can diagnose cradle cap and seborrheic dermatitis by the way the skin looks and where the rash is. Babies with seborrheic dermatitis are usually well and the condition should get better on its own or with treatment.
How Is Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis) Treated?
Cradle cap and seborrheic dermatitis in infants usually clears up on its own in weeks or months. In the meantime, you may want to loosen and remove the scales on your baby's scalp:
- Wash your baby's hair once a day with mild, tear-free baby shampoo.
- Gently remove scales with a soft brush or toothbrush.
- If the scales don't loosen easily, apply a small amount of mineral oil or petroleum jelly to your baby's scalp. Let the oil to soak into the scales for a few minutes to several hours, if needed. Then use a soft brush or toothbrush to remove scales. Shampoo your baby's hair as usual.
If regular shampooing doesn't help, your doctor may recommend a mild steroid cream or antifungal shampoo.
For seborrhea on other parts of the body, your doctor may recommend a mild steroid or antifungal cream.
Do not use over-the-counter steroid or antifungal creams or anti-seborrhea shampoos without checking first with the doctor.
What Else Should I Know?
Sometimes seborrheic dermatitis in the diaper area or skin folds can get infected. Talk to your doctor if the rash gets worse or there are any signs of infection (the skin looks red, starts to drain fluid, or feels warm).
Cradle cap and seborrheic dermatitis in infants usually get better by 12 months of age. Seborrhea may come back around puberty as dandruff.
Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: February 2019
Cradle Cap
Is this your child's symptom?
- A scaly rash on the scalp that starts in newborns
Symptoms of Cradle Cap
- Yellow scales and crusts attached to the scalp
- Occurs in patches
- Scales can be greasy or dry
- Not itchy or painful
- Begins in the first 2 to 6 weeks of life
Cause of Cradle Cap
- Cradle cap is probably caused by hormones from the mother. These hormones cross the placenta before birth. The hormones cause the oil glands in the skin to become overactive. They then release more oil than normal.
- Dead skin cells normally fall off. The extra oil causes these cells to "stick" to the skin. These cells form yellow crusts and scales on the scalp.
When to Call for Cradle Cap
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- Baby less than 1 month old with tiny water blisters or pimples in a cluster
- Your child looks or acts very sick
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Baby less than 1 month old with any water blisters or pimples
- You think your child needs to be seen
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- Raw rash behind the ears
- Rash spreads beyond the scalp
- Cradle cap gets worse with treatment
- Cradle cap lasts longer than 12 months
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Mild cradle cap
Seattle Children's Urgent Care Locations
If your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.
- Bellevue
- Everett
- Federal Way
- Seattle
Care Advice for Cradle Cap
- What You Should Know About Cradle Cap:
- Cradle cap is a common skin condition of newborns.
- It's caused by overactive oil glands in the scalp.
- It's harmless and will go away on its own. But it takes time.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
- Shampoo Daily:
- Wash the hair with an anti-dandruff shampoo (such as Head and Shoulders). Do this twice a week. No prescription is needed. Note: The daily use of anti-dandruff shampoo isn't approved until after 2 years old. But, using it twice a week is fine.
- On the other days, wash the hair with baby shampoo.
- Scalp Massage:
- While the hair is lathered, massage the scalp with a soft brush. You can also use a rough washcloth or your fingers for 5 minutes. Don't worry about hurting the soft spot.
- Baby Oil:
- If the scalp has thick crusts (scales), put some baby oil on the scalp. Do this for 15 minutes before shampooing to soften the crusts.
- Wash all the oil off, however, or it may worsen the cradle cap. (Reason: The oil blocks the oil glands on the baby's scalp.)
- Do not use olive oil. (Reason: may increase the growth of yeast)
- Cradle cap lotions for loosening up the scales are also available without a prescription. Apply the lotion 15 minutes before shampooing.
- Steroid Cream:
- If the rash on the scalp is red and irritated, use 1% hydrocortisone cream. An example is Cortaid. No prescription is needed.
- Put this on once a day.
- After 1 hour, wash it off with soap and water.
- Do this for 7 days or less.
- Expected Course:
- Cradle cap will eventually go away on its own between 6 and 12 months of age. Usually, it doesn't cause any symptoms (such as pain or itching).
- Therefore, treatment is optional. It is mainly done for cosmetic reasons.
- Shampoos, lotions and brushing will reduce the thickness of the scales. They will usually make them go away sooner.
- Return to Child Care:
- Cradle cap cannot be spread to others.
- Your child does not need to miss any child care.
- Call Your Doctor If:
- Gets worse with treatment
- Lasts over 12 months of age
- You think your child needs to be seen
And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.
Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.
Last Reviewed: 12/04/2022
Last Revised: 01/13/2022
Copyright 2000-2022. Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.
Cradle or crib: a pediatrician explains what is best for a newborn
Baby
- Photo
- Katarzyna Bialasiewicz Photographee.eu/Getty Images/iStockphoto
at first glance, the cradle seems outdated only at first glance, the pediatrician
3 case , its design takes into account the characteristics of the body of the newborn, which allows him to quickly get used to the new conditions of existence.
First of all, during the nine months of life in the mother's belly, the baby is used to feeling protected from the outside world, and the spaciousness of the bed in which he finds himself after birth can frighten him. The size of the cradle, the comfort of its interior decoration will remind the little one of the recent pleasant life. Secondly, during pregnancy, the child, surrounded by amniotic fluid, grows, as if swaying on the waves. It is not surprising that in a motionless bed he feels some discomfort. The movements of the cradle soothe the baby and help to fall asleep peacefully.
-
The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a cradle is the height of the sides. If your baby is a fidget, let them be taller. By the way, such a cradle will serve you longer - up to 6-7 months against 3-4 for models with low walls.
-
Although one of the main criteria for choosing a cradle is the ability to rock the baby, it must still be sufficiently stable. This problem will be easier to solve if the selected model is equipped with stoppers.
-
Wheels are another important design element of the cradle. Thanks to them, you will be able to move the crib freely, for example, during cleaning. In some models, the wheels are easily removed, after which the bed turns into a rocking cradle.
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Those parents who cannot imagine their life without traveling, even if it is a small trip out of town or visiting grandmothers, should pay attention to models with removable baskets with comfortable handles.
Important details
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The material of which the cradle is made can be very different. The choice depends only on your preferences and capabilities. For example, modern plastic is safe for the baby, its smooth surface is easy to clean, and wicker furniture, although it is more difficult to clean, makes the nursery more comfortable.
-
Decorative canopies, ruffles and lace, which manufacturers decorate cradles, according to some parents, collect a lot of dust. But do not forget that all these textile elements are easily removed, and washing them is no more difficult than diapers.
-
A drawer or shelf for storing baby things, which are located under the bottom of some cradles, of course, will help save space in the nursery. But if the crib is not equipped with wheels, they can create some difficulties during cleaning.
More useful materials about the proper care of young children - in our channel on Yandex.Zen.
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4moms MamaRoo cradle sleep
The brand name 4moms comes from "for moms", which means "for moms" in English. The history of the company began when four mothers - specialists in different areas of children's products - gathered in a focus group to study, develop and test new children's products. A clear task was immediately set before the company's employees - to manufacture goods that cardinally stand out precisely for their pretentious technological solutions. And the company quickly managed to achieve the goal.
Cozy sleeping place…5 smooth movements…soothing sounds of nature and smartphone control. The baby will sleep comfortably both day and night.
Baby's first gadget
Cozy, modern mamaRoo sleep cradle gently lulls the baby without your help. Put your baby in the cradle, select the rocking speed and mode, turn on the gentle sounds of nature and watch your baby calm down and fall asleep. Smooth rocking of the cradle repeats the natural movements of parental hands and will be comfortable and safe for babies from birth to 6 months.
Modern technologies guard your peace of mind
Not only babies, but also their parents will appreciate the functionality of the cradle! You can change the speed, rocking modes and select the sounds of nature remotely, without even approaching the cradle!
Spend your energy on gentle hugs and games with your baby, and mamaRoo sleep will take care of comfortable rest and sleep!
Model Features:
- 4moms mamaRoo sleep is designed for babies from birth up to 11.3 kg or until they are 6 months old, or the baby's first attempts to roll over and lean on his arms (whichever comes first)
- bed size: length - 74 cm, width - 44 cm
- height of the sides 24 cm
- mattress with a water-repellent coating and a removable sheet
- mesh walls for comfortable air exchange and maintaining eye contact between the baby and parents
- 5 modes motion sickness: car ride, kangaroo, swing, cradle, rocking on the waves
- 4 built-in nature sounds
- touch control panel
- smartphone remote control
- rocking off timer
- height adjustable cradle legs
- manufacturer: USA
- country of origin: China
- minimum age: from birth
- weight: 13. 6 kg 87-99 see
Complies with the requirements of TR TS 025/2012 "On the safety of furniture products". Certificate number RU C-US.KA01.B.01456/20, series RU No. 0268241
Complete set:
cradle (base and cradle for a newborn)
base leg extension kit with plugs
bassinet mattress with bedsheet
power adapter
Please note: storage basket is not included with mamaRoo sleep. This accessory is sold separately.
Product Care
To ensure your child's safety, periodically check the product to make sure all connections are secure, free from wear or misuse, and not damaged or broken. To replace parts and receive instructions, please contact the representatives of the 4moms® brand in the territory of the Russian Federation and the CIS countries. Never replace one part with another.
Cleaning your mamaRoo sleep™
Carrycot:
Clean stains on the carrycot fabric and mesh material with mild soap, warm water and a soft, clean cloth. Test on a small area of fabric first to prevent discoloration or damage. Never use bleach.
Mattress:
Mattress has a waterproof coating. You can gently clean the stain using mild soap, warm water, and a soft, clean cloth. Air dry thoroughly before reuse.
Sheets:
machine wash with similar colors in cold water with a mild detergent. Never use bleach. Tumble dry at low temperature and take out immediately.
Frame/Base:
mamaRoo sleep™ plastic and metal parts can be cleaned with mild soap, warm water and a soft, clean cloth. Do not immerse the device or its plastic or metal components in water.
LCD:
Use a slightly damp cloth to clean the LCD and dry with a soft cloth. Do not use cleaning solvents such as glass cleaner or soap to clean the LCD, and do not apply strong pressure to the screen.
About the brand
Brand history
In 2005, Rob Daley and Henry Thorne decided to create a company that would revolutionize the market for children's goods.