How to Care for your Baby's Hair

Parents of young children are kept busy looking after their children’s myriad needs. In all this, the hair often gets neglected. Proper hair care, even at this age, is important for your child. It will also help to make hair care a habit with your child as he grows up.

Here are some tips to help you care for your children’s hair:

• Always keep your child’s scalp clean; this is important even if your baby has no hair yet.
  
  
• Wash your child’s hair every few days; due to their scanty growth, it is not necessary to wash your baby’s hair everyday.
  
  
• Gently ease out any tangles in your baby’s hair before washing it.
  
  
• Be gentle and exercise caution. Do not exert pressure on the baby’s soft spot on the scalp.
  
  
• Use a gentle baby shampoo that will not hurt the baby’s eyes.
  
  
• Many children may find the process of having their hair washed distressing. Speak to your child gently and in comforting tones. Encourage your child to enjoy having the hair washed.
  
  
• ‘Cradle cap,’ a condition marked by red or flaky skin on the scalp, is prevalent amongst young children. It can be controlled by regularly washing the scalp with a gentle shampoo; your doctor may prescribe a cortisone cream.

Remember: It is a myth that shaving off an infant’s hair helps it grow thicker and better.