If you’ve been around babies you’ve probably seen cradle cap because approximately 70% of babies get it. Many parents ask what the best oil for cradle cap is because they want a gentle, natural remedy to clear up baby’s scalp.
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Best Oils for Cradle Cap
How do you know if your baby has cradle cap? Signs of it include skin flakes on baby’s head that look almost like bad dandruff. Sometimes, they are very oily with yellowy scales or slightly red and irritated skin.
This oily build-up can look unsightly sometimes. The good news is that cradle cap is not contagious and usually clears up on its own by the time the baby is a year old.
However, as a parent, I understand how nice it is to help clear up your baby’s scalp. Here’s some information about how to get rid of cradle cap with natural products – even organic if you have organic ingredients.
This natural remedy for cradle cap can also be used for babies that have extremely dry skin on their head. You can even put a bit of oil on a cotton ball to use on the eyebrow area.
Don’t stress about how to get rid of cradle cap because there is nothing wrong with your baby’s skin and they will grow out of it.
You might like to try this diaper rash cream and baby lotion, too!
Natural Cradle Cap Remedy
- Carrier oil of choice*
- Optional – a gentle essential oil such as lavender, Roman chamomile, tea tree, lemon, or geranium. (see Notes below)
- Soften the skin with a carrier oil like coconut oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, etc. by massaging the oil into baby’s scalp.
- Then brush with a soft bristle brush – back and forth – or carefully comb without scraping too hard.
- Rinse out with warm water and wash with a natural baby shampoo.
If you’d like to add essential oils be sure you dilute them properly. We recommend only 1 drop per 4 teaspoons of carrier oil for small babies. If they are toddlers, you can use 1 drop of essential oil per 2 teaspoons of carrier oil.
Lavender essential oil and Roman chamomile essential oils are the best essential oils for babies. If they are over 6 months old, you could try tea tree essential oil, lemon essential oil, or geranium oil.
