Cradle cap and baby hair loss: how to treat cradle cap at home, normal shedding and when to see a doctor

Cradle cap is the greasy, yellow or white scaling on a baby's scalp, and you can usually treat it at home. Soften the scales with a little oil or moisturiser, wash with a mild baby shampoo, then brush gently. KKH says babies usually outgrow it by 6 to 12 months. Baby hair loss in the first months is usually normal as well, because the AAP says most baby hair falls out in the first six months and new hair replaces it.

How to treat cradle cap at home, step by step

1. Check the signs. KKH describes whitish, oily flakes on the scalp, with thick yellow scales and crust in more severe cases. They can also show up on the eyebrows, ears, back of the neck and nappy area.
2. Rub a little oil or moisturiser into the scales. KKH and HealthHub suggest olive oil, while the NHS would rather you used an emollient (moisturiser) or coconut oil.
3. Leave it on for 30 minutes to 1 hour, says KKH. HealthHub suggests a few hours, and for tough scales the AAP says you can leave it overnight.
4. Wash it out with a mild, tear-free baby shampoo. KKH suggests a daily hair wash, though the AAP says every other day helps most babies.
5. Brush the softened scales away. If they don't lift easily, KKH says to use a soft brush or towel.
6. Leave any scales that won't come off. KKH says picking them may increase the risk of infection.
7. Expect a few hairs to come out with the scales. The NHS says not to worry, because the hair will soon grow back.
8. Keep up regular washes with a mild baby shampoo once the scalp is clear. The AAP says this helps stop cradle cap coming back.
9. Book a GP or polyclinic visit if it hasn't improved after a few weeks. For more severe cases, KKH says a doctor may suggest an antifungal shampoo, a mild steroid lotion and a moisturiser.

What to skip, and the olive oil question

Leave these out of cradle cap care:

• Soap and adult shampoo, or anything with fragrance or perfume (NHS).
• Peanut oil, because of the allergy risk (NHS).
• Medicated shampoo, until you've checked with your doctor. The AAP says it may irritate your baby's skin.
• Picking or scratching at the scales. The NHS and the AAP both say this raises the chance of infection.

The sources split on olive oil. KKH and HealthHub both suggest it. The NHS says not to use it, because it may not be suitable for use on skin. Coconut oil is on both the NHS and AAP lists, and the AAP also names mineral oil and petroleum jelly. Whichever you use, wash it out with the shampoo afterwards.

A helper or grandparent can follow the same steps at bath time. Our newborn care basics guide covers the rest of the first month.

Why cradle cap happens and how long it lasts

Cradle cap is seborrhoeic dermatitis on the scalp. KKH says it comes from oil glands made overactive by the mother's hormones, which are still circulating after birth. A natural yeast called Malassezia grows in the extra oil, and that leads to redness and scaling. The AAP says it isn't an allergy or an infection, and it doesn't come from poor hygiene. The NHS says it can't be caught from other babies.

It starts early. The AAP says it usually appears between three weeks and two months after birth, and that 70% of three-month-olds have it. HealthHub says it usually disappears after 1 to 2 months. KKH says babies usually outgrow it by 6 to 12 months, and the AAP says most cases have cleared by age 1, though some toddlers keep a little flaky build-up.

If scales show up in the nappy area, the NHS says to change wet or dirty nappies as soon as you can and use a barrier cream. Our diaper rash guide covers nappy care in more detail. For other spots and patches, our baby rash guide compares them side by side.

KKH also says some babies with seborrhoeic dermatitis go on to develop eczema, especially when there's a family history of eczema, a sensitive nose or asthma. If you can't tell which one your baby has, our baby eczema guide has a section on telling them apart.

Scalp and hair changes at a glance

Baby hair loss: what's normal in the first months

The AAP says most, if not all, baby hair falls out during the first six months and is replaced by mature hair. The new hair may come in a different colour and texture.

The bald patch at the back of the head is common too. The AAP says a baby who rubs the back of the head on the sleep surface may get a temporary bald spot there. New hair covers it in a few months. Keep putting your baby on their back to sleep, as KKH advises. When your baby is awake, the same KKH leaflet suggests placing them on their side or tummy at least 3 to 5 times a day. Our newborn head shape guide covers flat spots.

If it's your own hair falling out in the months after birth, that's a separate thing. See our guide to postpartum hair loss.

Patchy hair loss: ringworm and other causes

Scalp ringworm (tinea capitis) is a fungal infection. The Mayo Clinic says it shows up as round, scaly or inflamed patches where the hair has broken off, sometimes with small black dots. It's most common in toddlers and school-age children. A pet cat or dog can carry it without showing any signs. It needs a doctor and prescription medicine, because creams from the shelf won't clear it.

KKH's page on hair loss in children covers other causes. Alopecia areata brings one or more round or oval bald patches that appear suddenly. The hair often grows back on its own, and KKH lists watching and waiting as an option, especially for younger children. Telogen effluvium is the most common cause of all-over hair loss in children. It can follow an acute illness such as a high fever or dengue, and the hair grows back within a few months once the cause is gone. Traumatic alopecia comes from hair being pulled, often by tight ties or braids held for a long time, and the fix is to stop the pulling.

Shaving the head at the full month

Some families in Singapore shave a baby's head around the full-month celebration, and some believe the hair grows back thicker. We couldn't find an official source that says whether shaving changes how hair grows. The KKH, HealthHub, NHS and AAP pages we read don't cover it.

What the AAP does say is that most baby hair falls out in the first six months anyway, and the mature hair that replaces it can look different. Whether to shave is your family's call. If your baby has cradle cap at the time, soften and wash the scales first. KKH advises against picking them, because that may increase the risk of infection. For a first proper trim later on, see our guide to kids haircut salons.

When to see a doctor

See a GP or polyclinic doctor if you notice any of these:

• Cradle cap that hasn't improved after a few weeks of home care (KKH, NHS).
• Cradle cap that seems to be increasing instead of going away (HealthHub), or covers your baby's body (NHS).
• Crusts that bleed, leak fluid or look swollen. The NHS says these could be signs of an infection or another condition, like eczema.
• Scales that turn weepy or show pus bumps, a rash with a smell, or a baby who seems to be in pain (AAP).
• Patchy hair loss, or a scaly or itchy scalp (Mayo Clinic).
• Soft, raised swellings on the scalp that drain pus. The Mayo Clinic calls this kerion, a severe, painful inflammation of the scalp.
• One or more round or oval bald patches that appear suddenly (KKH).

KKH says a long-running rash in a child who is otherwise healthy and well can be treated by your family doctor, or referred to a specialist on a non-emergency basis. For cradle cap that won't settle, KKH points to its Paediatric Dermatology Clinic. Our paediatrician map helps you find a children's doctor near you.

Go to the nearest children's emergency department, such as KKH Children's Emergency or NUH Children's Emergency, if your baby is under 3 months and has a fever or seems unwell. KKH lists poor feeding, persistent vomiting, drowsiness and persistent crying as reasons to go too. NUH says its Children's Emergency runs round the clock. In an emergency, call 995. Our baby fever guide covers temperatures.

Frequently asked questions

How long does cradle cap last on a baby?

HealthHub says it usually disappears after 1 to 2 months. KKH says babies usually outgrow it by 6 to 12 months, and the AAP says most cases have cleared by age 1.

Cradle cap baby hair loss: will the hair grow back?

Yes. The NHS and the AAP both say hair that comes away with the scales grows back. The AAP adds that cradle cap doesn't need treatment, so there's no rush.

Is baby hair loss at the back of the head normal?

Yes, in the first months. The AAP says rubbing on the sleep surface can cause a temporary bald spot that new hair covers in a few months. Keep your baby sleeping on their back (KKH).

Can I use olive oil for cradle cap?

KKH and HealthHub suggest it, but the NHS says not to. If you'd rather avoid the question, coconut oil is on both the NHS and AAP lists. Skip peanut oil (NHS).

Is cradle cap contagious?

No. The NHS says it can't be caught from other babies, and the AAP says it doesn't come from poor hygiene. Patchy hair loss with scaling is worth a doctor's look, though, because the Mayo Clinic says scalp ringworm spreads easily with close contact.

Will shaving my baby's head make the hair grow thicker?

None of the official sources we checked answers this, so we can't say either way. What the AAP does say is that most baby hair is replaced by mature hair in the first six months, and the new hair may look different from what your baby was born with.