[Mamakitty3]

i have had my foster son for almost a week now. we got him at 3 days old. this is our first foster placement and the first time i am caring for an aa child. i did my research and have found that of all the sugestions, cocoa butter works best for him. but now everything i read said that you need to treat their scalp like the rest of their skin. the problem i'm having is that his hair isn't like most aa babies i've seen or read about. it is sooooooooo silky soft and fine! so if i use the cream on his head like they suggest, his hair is just gross! i mean i wouldn't put cream like that in my own hair(our hair textures are almost identicle). so since his hair isn't course and/or frizzy-like, do i need to treat his scalp? should i just wait and see? should i use something different? and has anyone had an aa chld with hair like this? will it change yet? or is it just going to be like this? sorry if these are stupid questions. i really did and still am trying to educate myself to take the best care of him. any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks!
Mamakitty3

[mckenna]

most of the aa children i have cared for have very soft silky hair when they are new borns. i would suggest not treating it with too much oil/lotions at first. if it seems like his scalp and hair are drying out as he gets older, then i would find an oil/lotion that works for him. someone with more experience than i, may have a better answer for you, though. good luck with your new little one.

[leenab]

You can try using coconut oil on the scalp, a little goes a long way. Most AA babies start out with fine whispy hair. In India mothers put coconut oil on their babies hair and they have hair like caucasian hair their whole life (for the most part). My husband is Indian and still uses coconut oil. We're in the process of fost/adopting 2 little AA boys, and I use coconut oil on their hair too.

[sdwjones]

My bio daughter and foster/soon to be adopted son (both full AA), both have soft, wavy hair. If you're using baby lotion on your baby's skin, use it on his scalp too. If the hair feels too dry, see if you can find a product called Baby Love (I buy it at a black beauty supply shop). It smells like baby lotion, keeps the hair and scalp moisturized, but not greasy. Just use a tiny bit on the baby if you need to. I used just baby lotion on my daughter's hair and scalp until she was a toddler.

[mckenna]

you can also find baby love products at walmart. that is where i get products for my son and fdaughter.

[cheyenne1]

I was told by our childrens hospital to put lotion (baby) on all babies head after each bath it stops cradle cap. This is to be done for the first 6 months. Baby lotion is lighter than other lotions. If you rub the hair when it is dry the hair goes soft and feels clean.

[Mamakitty3]

that's funny, i was origonally using just reg baby lotion. it was fine for his hair but not enough for his skin. so maybe i'll just go back to the reg baby lotion for his hair. the cocoa butter cream seems to be doing wonders for him so i think i'll stick with that for now. but now i know what to use if it starts to be not enough. my BIL is from Peru and uses coconut oil. i'll have to keep that in mind. thanks!!!

Mamakitty3