Does your baby seem to be scratching his or her head non-stop and you don’t know why? If your baby scratches continuously, you may need to find out what’s going on. In this post, we will tackle why your baby scratching back of head may be an issue, and what to do about it from the moment you notice it.
Why Does My Baby Keep Scratching His Head?
Why Do Babies Scratch Themselves?
The answer to this question, “Why do babies scratch their head?” varies.
Your baby scratching back of head and neck areas can be a sign of discomfort. Baby scratching back of head due to teething could also be the source. Or your baby can even be scratching back of neck areas due to teething could also be the issue.
Other issues could include eczema, allergies and dry skin. No matter what the cause, itchy and uncomfortable skin can be a nuisance to your baby. For this reason, it is imperative that you know what to do so you can keep your baby comfortable.
How Do I Stop My Baby’s Head From Itching?
Now that we know the answer to the question of “Why do babies scratch?” and “Do babies get itchy?” we can take the question of how to treat this common and complex condition.
Because babies aren’t able to speak, it will be up to you to determine the cause of the constant itching. Could it be an allergy to the wash soap you are using or could it be something your baby is eating? Maybe it is a sudden shift in weather in the UK, or the fact that your baby feels too hot, or even too cool, and their skin is reacting.
Worse yet, your baby could be suffering due to eczema.
First and foremost, you’ll want to determine the main cause for the scratching before trying to remediate it.
One of the most helpful ways to help baby head scratching is to keep a journal of all of the times when you notice your baby itching. When recording these moments, be sure to include pertinent information, such as what your baby last ate, what he or she is wearing and activities they may have been involved in.
Overtime, you may be able to pick up on patterns that you never noticed before, and as such, you may be able to determine what is causing the itchiness in the first place.
Unfortunately, finding out why baby scratches isn’t always so easy. Rather than guess, it may behoove you to take your little one to a paediatrician in the U.K. to see what the issue may be that is causing the baby itching scalp.
If the padetirican determines that eczema, for example, is to blame for the infant scratching head, then it may be best to look into scratch mittens for eczema , and then, consider adding gentle, all-natural moisturising emollients to his or her daily regimen, to get baby’s skin back on track.
Some common reasons for itchiness include dry scalp, cradle cap, eczema and more.
Nighttime Scratching
If you find your baby scratching back of head at night, it may be time to invest in pulling out those soft baby mittens you’ve been meaning to use.
If baby scratches head at night continually, be sure to determine the cause. Sometimes, frequent scratching of the back of the head can be indicative of a condition known as cradle cap, through which the baby’s head has a layer of scaling skin over it, usually yellow and flaky in appearance.
If the cradle cap does make an appearance, don’t fret. Try using a soft and all natural baby brush set to gently slough off dead skin after shampooing. Be sure to avoid harsh chemicals in shampoos as well, and you may even wish to oil the scalp beforehand to lift the scaling from the head more easily. This should help remediate baby itching head at night.
Toddler Keeps Scratching Back of Head
If it is your toddler rather than your baby scratching, the same rules apply. Because toddler skin is a lot more delicate than adult skin, they too can experience a host of uncomfortable symptoms with their itchy skin.
If toddler scratching seems to be a continual issue, keep a journal and get the child to a doctor who can help rule out any possible causes such as eczema, dry skin or something more serious.
Baby Rubbing Head
Along with baby scratching head comes the idea of baby rubbing head.
This can happen when a baby or toddler is tired and needs to go to sleep. If you notice that your child does this frequently right before nap or bed times, and especially if he or she is rubbing around the eyes, then this is a likely sign that your baby is tired.
Baby Scratches Head When Upset
Another common scratching issue? Baby scratching head when they’re upset.
Yes, it is true that your little one can get to the point where he or she will actually scratch themselves to show that they are upset. Of course a baby won’t knowingly do this, and depending on the age of your scratching toddler, he or she might.
Nevertheless, to prevent baby scratching and toddler scratching, we recommend simply getting your child to bed on time and not allowing them to skip naps. Be sure to look out for normal sleeping cues such as rubbing of the eyes, yawning, somber mood and crying to keep your baby or toddler from going to the lengths of scratching his or her self.
Will Scratching Affect Baby’s Hair?
For the most part, scratching won’t affect baby hair growth.
However, if the scratching turns to pulling, or if your baby’s hair is so brittle that it breaks easily during scratching, you may begin to notice bald patches.
To alleviate this, check out our posts on Products to Help Your Baby’s Hair Grow und How Can I Make My Baby’s Hair Grow Fast to banish these problems and get your baby’s hair and scalp back on the right track.
Always Keep a Close Eye on Baby Scratching Back of Head and Neck
As always, when it comes to baby scratching, you’ll want to keep a very close eye on your little one. If you see your child scratching to the point of bleeding or crying often seemingly around the time of the scratching, you’ll want to get your child checked out as soon as possible. You may also reference this article for when to see a doctor in the event of an itchy dry scalp.
In the meantime, be sure to keep your child comfortable by dressing them appropriately for the weather, keeping their skin moisturised, and keeping up with a healthy diet free from foods that might be triggering allergies. For any accidental cuts and scrapes, keep baby plasters ready!
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