Parenting: How often should you wash your child's hair in a week? A pediatrician explains how to wash children's hair..
- byShikha Srivastava
- 08 Dec, 2025
Parenting Tips: During the winter season, many parents wonder if it's necessary to wash their child's hair every day while bathing them. Since the head is most susceptible to cold, most parents hesitate to wash their child's hair daily. If you also have this dilemma, this article might be helpful. Pediatrician and NICU doctor Surya Manikkam shared a video on his Instagram handle, answering this very question. Let's find out what the expert says:

How often should you wash your child's hair?
Dr. Manikkam explains that there is no need to wash a child's hair every day. Usually, washing their hair 2-3 times a week is sufficient. In fact, young children's scalps don't get oily as quickly as adults', so frequent washing can actually reduce the natural oils in their hair and scalp. This can increase problems like dryness and itching. Therefore, whether it's winter or summer, avoid washing your child's hair every day and wash it only 2 to 3 times a week.
Rinse thoroughly after shampooing.
The pediatrician further adds that even if you are using a mild baby shampoo, it is very important to rinse it out completely. If even a small amount of shampoo remains on the scalp, it can later cause flakes, itching, or irritation.
What to do if your child has cradle cap?
Many children develop dry patches or yellowish flakes on their scalp. This is called cradle cap. It is a common and normal problem. To fix this:
Apply a little mineral oil to the hair and scalp.

Gently loosen the flakes with a soft brush.
Then wash them off with a mild baby shampoo.
In some cases, the doctor may also prescribe ketoconazole shampoo, but this should not be used without a doctor's advice.
Doctors say that a baby's scalp is very delicate. Therefore, it is more important to wash the hair properly and choose the right products than to wash it too frequently.
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