Is it normal for cradle cap to have a bit of an odor?

Question

My 2 month old has cradle cap, (not real bad). I put baby oil on it at night after his baths and comb it out 10-15 minutes later like I’ve heard to do, but the top of his head seems to have a bit of a sour smell to it. He has his dr. appt next week so I intend to ask, but just wondering if anything knows about this, and if so do you have any home remedies to make it better.

Quinten Schmeler · Accepted Answer

I’ve seen this question on here a lot… in fact, I asked a similar one when my daughter was first born 8 1/2 months ago, LOL. It’s completely normal. My daughter’s head didn’t have cradle cap ut it spelled like someone had been cooking on it – like that weird smell you get when you first turn on a burner on an old stove… very weird. I’ve heard people describe the smell many different ways but it’s completely normal. It has to do with the sweat glands in the head and in your little guy’s case, the dead skin cells sloughing off mixed with the natural oils. I tried everything to make it go away becasue I wanted her little head to smell sweet like a baby’s head should when I held her close and smelled her – like all mums do. Just let it be and bathe her as normal. By the way, you should only be bathing her a couple times a week at this point, especaiily if it’s Winter where you are). Bathing too often can lead to more cradle cap. Also, baby oil blocks the baby’s pores and can cause baby acne so if he has that you may want to look into another opton. I know Walmart, Target, grocery stores, etc. sell a little spray specifically for cradle cap and I heard from a friend that it works really well. Like I said my daughter never has it so I can’t give a personal opinion.***EDIT*** These are from other posters on Y!A http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AhZx4…http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Agv3L…http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtYwk…http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtGJA…

Quinten Schmeler · Answer

Cradle Cap Smell

Quinten Schmeler · Answer

This Site Might Help You.RE:Is it normal for cradle cap to have a bit of an odor?My 2 month old has cradle cap, (not real bad). I put baby oil on it at night after his baths and comb it out 10-15 minutes later like I’ve heard to do, but the top of his head seems to have a bit of a sour smell to it. He has his dr. appt next week so I intend to ask, but just wondering if…

Quinten Schmeler · Answer

When my daughter had cradle cap, I would wet her head down, THEN put the baby oil on, wait a minute, then use a baby comb to lightly comb her hair and loosen the dry skin. Then I would wash it with baby soap/shampoo (twice, to get all the oil out) I did it each evening for 2 nights and that took care of it. The sour smell could just be from spit up. Not like, he has it in his hair – but if there is a tiny spot in his crib right around where his head lays, you could be smelling that…?

Quinten Schmeler · Answer

Hmm the only thing I can think of that would cause a sour smell would be some formula/breastmilk that perhaps didn’t get washed out entirely?I would not do the baby oil thing, as I’ve tried it and it is a pain in the rear. Same for olive oil.I’ve heard that for mild cases plain old baby shampoo works wonders. Apply it to their head when dry, and then use a baby brush or your finger nail to loosen up the scales. Wash out the shampoo like normal when you are done.My daugther had it bad enough to where my doctor told us to use neutrogena t-gel. It stunk, and was expesive ish but WORKED!You just have to take extra care to not get it in their eyes.Good Luck.

Quinten Schmeler · Answer

Body sweat and oil from glands do have a smell to it so it is common for the cradle cap to have a slight odor. Smell your head and hair at the scalp you will notice it as well, it is the bodies natural scent. Why do you think we use shampoos and conditioners with perfumes in them?

Quinten Schmeler · Answer

I would say it’s NOT normal. My son has bad cradle cap, we just use baby oil,works fine, but nothing oozes. Bring her back to the drs.

Quinten Schmeler · Answer

its the oil mixing with his natural baby smell, I did the same thing with my son but then i stopped and so did the smell. for the cradle cap try using a baby brush when shampooing and my pedi suggested selsun blue adult shampoo, just be extra careful not to get in his eyes:) good luck

Quinten Schmeler · Answer

It sounds like your baby has oily scalps already.Try doing the baby oil and brushing before bath, instead of afterward, and make sure to COMPLETELY remove the baby oil once you’re done brushing, with mild baby shampoo or liquid baby soap or just water.

Quinten Schmeler · Answer

Yes, it’s normal. My daughter has it a little and I don’t smell anything, but when my niece was a baby she had it really bad and you could smell it all over the house! It wasn’t a bad smell, but it was a smell. Not good, not bad, just there.

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Is it normal for cradle cap to have a bit of an odor?

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