How to Prevent Baby Cradle Cap

Baby cradle cap is a skin disorder that can also be known as dermatitis or eczema and often occurs on a baby’s scalp. This is where cradle cap takes it's name. To limit the discomfort that your baby suffers, it is important to know how to prevent the rash from occurring at all.

Diet

The cause of baby cradle cap can be an allergic reaction to a type of food or simply to the consumption of unsuitable foods. If your baby hasn’t displayed an allergic reaction to any specific type of food, consider cutting the foods that most commonly cause the problem, which include cow’s milk, eggs and wheat. Besides this, it would be beneficial to limit the amount of sugar, refined white flour and pre-prepared food. Generally improve the baby’s diet with lots of fruit and vegetables, blending into a smoothie or soup if necessary. However, if the rash occurs when the baby is still breastfeeding, the mother’s diet will need to be looked at and improved. The mother will need to ensure that she maintains a diet rich in vitamin B and essential fatty acids.

Allergy

An allergic reaction to other types of substances can also result in baby cradle cap. Avoid situations where the baby will be in the vicinity of known irritants such as cigarette smoke or perfume. Make a note of the baby’s reaction in different situations, for example, if an area subject to a significant amount of tree or flower pollen results in the baby sneezing and suffering watery eyes then it is more likely that they are allergic to other things too.    

External Causes

Soft furnishings can be guilty of harboring all manner of nasty irritants that can cause a reaction to anyone who gets too close. Dust and skin cells can create a breeding ground for dust mites which will cause a rash to those sensitive to the dust mite’s waste products. Regular cleaning and getting rid of unnecessary items such as an abundance of soft toys will reduce the risk of this. Carefully choose the cleaning products that you use for the task and select those that do not contain any chemicals. You should also avoid the use of spray air fresheners as these can leave chemicals present in the atmosphere.

Pay attention to the substances that you use on the baby’s skin such as soaps, shampoo, lotions and talcum powder as these can cause baby cradle cap. Ensure that they are made from natural products that are gentle on the child’s skin. Products that have the least amount of processing are the best ones to use.

Natural Remedies

Adding essential fatty acids and multi-vitamins to the baby’s food is a good way to add necessary nutrients to the baby’s diet. Ensure that you follow the instructions so that you use an amount which is correct for the child as opposed to an adult.

Due to the fact that baby cradle cap is a dry skin condition, you should ensure that the baby’s skin is kept moisturized. Use the gel from an aloe vera plant to soothe and moisturize the skin.