Pregnancy & Postpartum – dose of greens

Cradle cap, otherwise known as infant seborrheic dermatitis, is a fairly common skin condition in infants. It’s benign and doesn’t cause any pain, itching or discomfort. Its symptoms are usually limited to appearance, and they include:

Flaky white or yellow scales
Redness
Thick crusts that can appear waxy or greasy

Typically, this condition is limited to the scalp, however, it can venture down to the eyebrows or ears, and can sometimes be present in the groin as well.

cradle cap in babies — _{^{Image courtesy of: whattoexpect.com}}

The cause of cradle cap is unknown- some associate it with excess sebum (oil) production in the oil and hair follicles of baby in reaction to exposure to mom’s hormones. Another possible cause is Malassezia, a yeast that appears to trigger an immunological response, stimulating inflammation in the skin, leading to flaking/scaling. You can read more about Malassezia and it’s association to seborrheic dermatitis here.

The good news is that cradle cap is not contagious and it’s self-limiting, clearing up by itself in a few weeks to months. Still, there are some things you can do to resolve cradle cap quicker. Washing baby’s hair regularly with baby shampoo, using a soft brush to work the soap into a lather, may help. There’s also this beneficial at-home remedy that several parents swear by- all you need is virgin coconut oil and a comb! Follow these easy steps:

Before baby’s bath, dress them in an old t-shirt that you don’t mind staining/getting messy (or keep them shirtless if the temperature is right)
Take about a tablespoon full of the coconut oil and rub it between your hands so it warms up and begins to melt.
Apply the coconut oil to baby’s head, gently massaging it into his or her scalp (careful with their soft spots).
Let the oil sit and soak in for about 10-15 minutes.
Take a comb, and run it gently through baby’s hair- the flakes should be loosened and lifted by now, falling off as you run the comb through.
Take baby to the bath and bathe them as usual.

The coconut oil helps loosen the dry and flaky skin, all while moisturizing the scalp. Opt for (extra) virgin coconut oil as its less processed and more likely to have less chemicals/perfumes that could irritate baby’s skin.

If you notice that the cradle cap is becoming more severe even after attempting to treat it at home, or you notice signs of infection (e.g., foul odor, puss, pimples or blisters), contact your baby’s pediatrician. They will be able to fully exam your baby and prescribe medicated shampoo or lotion, or even a topical steroid or antifungal.

Whoever said there’s no point in crying over spilled milk, clearly never breastfed. All those cliches used to describe breastfeeding are true- it’s beautiful, it’s scary, it’s rewarding, it’s dreadful, it’s natural, it’s foreign, but most importantly, it’s vital. Babies depend exclusively on milk for at least their first 5-6 months. Not only does it nourish them, breastmilk transfers essential antibodies to babies, helping them build and strengthen their little immune systems. Being someone’s diner 24/7 is a big weight to carry, especially since your body is simultaneously going through so many changes- organs are repositioning themselves, breasts are tender and learning to adjust to this new milk supply, bouts of clogged ducts and mastitis arise- and lest we forget, there’s a new little human to take care of on no sleep. So, just to really drive this point home- it’s not uncommon to cry over milk- because your baby depends on it, and every drop counts.

Which is why this is one of the most important “mom (especially first-time mom) hacks”:

The haakaa.
Let me start by saying this is not a sponsored post- no one is asking me or paying me to write about this. This one comes from personal experience. I didn’t come across the haakaa until my baby was around 6 months old, and I wish someone would have told me about it sooner (like when I was doing my baby registry?).

When your baby latches on one side and you have your “let-down” reflex (when you feel your milk flow), both sides release milk. So, as your baby is drinking from one side, your other side is leaking. I was wasting valuable milk, having to change shirts with each feed, and having to add extra pump sessions to make sure I had enough milk for him when I was away on clinical rotations. The haakaa is a manual silicone breast pump. Essentially, it’s a suction cup that gently attaches to the breast your baby isn’t attached to and catches the milk that would otherwise go to waste. Then, you store this milk in the fridge and use it later.

When it comes to breastfeeding, every drop counts, and the haakaa helps make sure you don’t waste any of those drops.

Category: Pregnancy & Postpartum

Cradle cap- what it is, and what you can do about it

If you plan on breastfeeding, here’s a helpful hack