Cradle cap is a type of infantile seborrheic dermatitis caused by overactive sebaceous glands or in some cases by a yeast called Pityrosporum ovale. It is not caused by poor hygiene. Babies may have flaking of the skin and redness on the scalp and head and also under the arms and groin area. It is not itchy, contagious, or painful and tends to bother the parents more than the child. It usually begins between two weeks and three months of age and can last until the toddler stage. These natural remedies can help.
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Signs that might indicate that the baby is allergic to something the mother is eating include red cheeks, constipation, frequent ear infections, dark circles under the eyes, spitting up frequently, gas, and sweating while nursing. Foods to avoid because they can cause colic include wheat, corn, beans, sugar, chocolate, nuts, and curries. Foods that are likely to give the mother gas such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale (all in the Brassicaceae or Mustard family), as well as beans, garlic, and onions, all high in gaseous sulfur, are also likely to aggravate colic in infants. Cucumbers, green peppers, tomatoes, fried foods, eggs, alcohol, peanuts, and caffeine are all also notorious contributors.
HERBAL AID FOR CRADLE CAP
At night, rub the baby’s scalp with 1 teaspoon (15 ml) of olive oil or coconut oil scented with 3 drops of lavender or rosemary essential oil. You’ll also want to avoid using harsh soaps and shampoos on the baby. Instead, wash the baby’s scalp with a tepid tea of burdock root, chamomile, chickweed, meadowsweet, or violet leaf. Leave the tea on the scalp and when it is dry, apply some cocoa butter on the scalp to soften the crusts. Use a fine-tooth comb to loosen the afflicted spots.
SUPPLEMENTS FOR CRADLE CAP
When you are nursing, add two omega-3 capsules and burdock root tea to your daily diet to respectively help in fat metabolism as well as in controlling any fungus, as both poor fat metabolism and yeast overgrowth can be causes for cradle cap.
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If your child has diaper rash, avoid rubber or plastic pants as well as disposable diapers. They keep the skin from breathing and create a damp moist environment where rashes proliferate.
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Make a cloth bag and fill it with oatmeal. Use the oatmeal that exudes from it to wash your baby’s scalp.
This Baby Cradle Cap Remedies article is taken from :
The Country Almanac of Home Remedies - Brigitte Mars
