Babies’ hair at this first stage of their lives is unlike the way it will be ever again. Babies are also prone to unique problems on their scalp. Here are resources that will give you details on how to deal with "cradle cap," "stork bites" and more.

by Christina DiMartino

During the first year of your baby’s life, you probably won’t have to be concerned with haircuts or styling techniques. But you do need to properly care for her hair and scalp with regular washing and gentle combing. You should also be on the lookout for skin rashes and other conditions on her scalp. 

Some babies are born with no hair. Others have soft, downy hair that is light in color. Yet others have a head full of hair, although typically short in length. Caring forthis brand-new hair is a delicate aspect of parenting children.

Hair Boutique.com offers content about topics related to hair, beauty and fashion. On that site, Author Karen Marie Shelton, in her article “Baby Hair Care,” reports that your baby’s newborn fuzz will usually only last for the first three or four months after birth.

Daily Glow offers a fresh perspective on healthy beauty. It advises that whether your baby has downy fuzz or no hair at all, no special hair or scalp treatment is needed. Just wash her head with the same gentle soap you use for her bath.

Newborn hair will gradually fall out and new hair will grow in. The new hair is generally much fuller. Caring for it is relatively simple. Here’s what to do:

●  Comb. Use a wide-toothed comb and gently work out any tangles before shampooing.

●  Shampoo. Choose a gentle shampoo and wash your baby’s hair as needed. Use warm water, not hot, and be careful not to put pressure on the soft spot on top of her head as that is where the plates of the skull are still growing together. Put her in a supported, reclining position for shampooing so it’s less likely that shampoo will get in her eyes.

●  Conditioner. Babies don’t need hair conditioner. As your baby gets older and her hair grows longer, you might want to use a gentle conditioner occasionally.

●  Trim. Once her hair gets longer, trim it to keep it out of her eyes and to minimize tangles.

Cradle cap

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from the National Institutes of Health and other government agencies and health-related organizations. It reports that cradle cap is the term used when seborrheic dermatitis affects the scalp of infants. This common inflammatory skin condition causes flaky, white to yellowish scales to form on oily areas such as the scalp or inside the ear. For infants with cradle cap, MedlinePlus suggests this treatment: 

●  Massage your baby's scalp gently with your fingers or a soft brush to loosen the scales and improve scalp circulation. 

●  Give your child daily, gentle shampoos with a mild soap while scales are present. After scales have disappeared, you may reduce shampoos to twice weekly.

●  Be sure to thoroughly rinse off the soap.

●  Brush your child’s hair with a clean, soft brush after each shampoo and several times during the day.

●  If scales do not easily loosen and wash off, apply some mineral oil to your baby’s scalp and wrap warm, wet cloths around his head for up to an hour before shampooing. Remember that your baby loses a lot of heat through his scalp. Check frequently to be sure that the cloths do not become cold.

●  If the scales continue to be a problem or concern, or if your child seems uncomfortable or scratches his scalp, contact your physician, who may prescribe a cream or lotion to apply to your baby’s scalp several times a day.

Other hair and scalp conditions

Other common problems can crop up on your baby’s hair and scalp.

In “Baby Skin Conditions” written for Dermadoctor.com, Audrey Kunin, M.D., states that your baby’s delicate skin is prone to a wide array of conditions, just like adults. These are a couple of them:

●  Stork bites. These are the result of dilated small blood vessels known as capillaries that are located within the dermis. It is considered a remnant of fetal circulation. Facial stork bites do fade away over the course of the first year of life. Those on the back of the scalp and neck don’t always fade, but eventually they become hidden by hair.

●  Baby eczema. This appears as a rash on a baby’s forehead, cheeks or scalp. Believed to be hereditary, symptoms may be triggered by irritants in soaps, detergents or food.

For more information:

• Infant Hair-Care Tips, The Pennsylvania Child Welfare Training Program
• Hair Care Myths and Tips, Disabled World
• Baby Hair Care, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.

 

Christina DiMartino has been a freelance and assignment writer since 1985. She is a researcher, interviewer, writer, editor, and manuscript collaborator with a repertoire of clients from around the world.

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