A baby's first snow shouldn't come courtesy of a dry, flaky scalp. Fortunately, cradle cap, the infant equivalent of dandruff, is easy to treat. The U.S. National Library of Medicine, the research and information wing of the National Institutes of Health, offers these suggestions.

Use your fingers or a brush with very soft bristles to gently rub your baby's scalp each day. This will boost circulation and help scaly patches of skin fall off easily.

Wash your baby's head each day with a gentle soap (try one made for "sensitive skin") until cradle cap subsides. Then shampoo about twice weekly.

Be sure to rinse away all traces of soap.

Before shampooing, rub a bit of mineral oil into baby's scalp and cover it with a moist, warm washcloth to encourage scaly patches to fall off. Leave it on for up to an hour, making sure the cloth stays warm.

If cradle cap doesn't improve or baby continues to react to scalp itchiness, see your pediatrician about a topical lotion or cream.

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