Evening star., 1941-09-26
Cradle Cap
Usually Not
Serious
May Be Due to
Lack of Soap
And Water
BY Leffice Lee Street,

Dear Mrs. STREET.:
We read your column all the time
and it is certainly help to us. /
have a question about my 5-month-
old boy. Will you tell me when his
soft spot" will close and what it is?
1t seems very big to me. Is it dan
gerous to touch it? He has a yell
low-looking patch on his head and
I would like to know how I can clear
it up. MRS. T. v.
I appreciate your writing. Mrs.
T. w., and l am glad that you did
because I cannot only take away
your fears on this subject, but I
also want to tell you that the scalp
condition you have described on your
infants head does not sound like
anything more serious than trou-
BILE that is popularity known as
cradle cap" This is generally
easily cured.
However, do you take your infant
to a pediatrician or a baby clinic
once month? I do not say that
you should, I say you must. The
next time you visit the doctor he will
diagnose this place on your baby's
head and tell you how to treat it, if
it has not cleared up by then.
A scalp crust such as you have
mentioned is really nothing but
grease, dirt and perspiration that
have not been removed, and have
therefore formed in a mass over the
fontanelle, or soft spot" Quite
obviously you have been fearful of
touching this place and so naturally
you have not kept it clean.
When a baby develops this condi-
ton the mother should rub gently
little olive oil or vaSeline over the
spot at night, and then the next
morning when she bathes the baby
she should wash it well with warm
water and soap. While the babys
head Is still wet she should Scrape
the place very gently with steri-
llzed comb. If this treatment is re-
peated for several nights and DAYS
the cap will be looSened and if the
babys head is kept clean it will not
reappear. Do not force the crust off.
Now, 10 answer your question
about the fontanelles, Or soft spots.
OF which there are two at birth. The
largest one is on top of the baby's
head. 1t is of good size and is dia-
mond shaped. 1t is an area which
is open due to the fact that the skull
bones have not yet come together.
If you put your finger on it you
will find that it is soft and you will
feel pulse beating there, but there
is no reason to be afraid of touching
it. Of course, it should not be
pressed upon too hard. but you
would not press any part of your
baby's body roughly.
The large fontanelle closes be-
tween the 10th and 18th months in
the average baby, and a healthy
child should not have a soft spot on
his head after he is years old. If
the edges of the bones do not come
together by this time a doctors at
tention should be called to the fact.
because this condition may indicate
a deficiency disease such as ricketts,.
and the baby's general health and
diet should be investigated.
There is a second soft spot on the
baby's head which is much smaller,
and is placed in back of the large
fontanelle, on the very top of the
skull. This usually closes during the
second month.
A little baby should be handled
carefully at all times, and no part of
his tiny body should be subjected to
hard rubbing or tight grips that can
brulSe his delicate skin and muscles.
Therefore. the gentle mother who
uses a light touch on her infant
need not be afraid that she can in
jure his head by washing it.
We have prepared two useful
gifts for you: One is chart that
clearly shows the value of foods
suitable for the average young
child and the other describes a
series Of well-tested exercises for
the entire body with hints on
how to gain your child's CO.
operation in performing them.
III yoH wish either or both of
these, send for our Classified
Food Tables and the Importance
Of Correct Posture pamphlets, in
closing \ Scent stamp with your
reqest. Print your name and
address clearly, and address or
ders to the Woman's Department
of The Evening Star.