Baby hair loss

My newborn’s hair is falling out. Is this normal?

Yes. Most babies lose some or all of their hair during the first few months (AAP 2015).

The reason for this is hormones. Before birth, your baby had high levels of hormones in his body from you. After he was born, these levels started to drop. This has caused his hair to enter a resting state, which means it isn’t growing any more.

This resting hair will then fall out when your baby’s hair enters a new growth cycle, as new hair comes up underneath and pushes it out (Furdon and Clark 2003, Hughes 2017). Your baby’s hair may look patchy for a while, but new, stronger hair is gradually growing through.

Your baby may also have bald patches on his scalp from sleeping in the same position, or from rubbing his head against his mattress or car seat. Once he starts sitting up, his hair will grow back (AAP 2015).

Sometimes when a baby's new hair comes through, it's not only a different colour, but a different texture as well.

What can I do about my baby’s hair loss?

There's nothing you can do about your baby’s hair loss, except let time pass until it grows back.

When is my baby’s hair loss the sign of a problem?

If your baby is still losing a lot of hair after he’s six months old, talk to your GP. It could be a sign of a nutritional problem, such as iron deficiency, or a medical problem (AAP 2015).

What if my baby is completely bald?

For the moment, relish the ease of hair washing. Many babies appear bald, sometimes until their first birthday. If you look closely at your baby's scalp, however, you'll probably see extra-fine, downy, light-coloured hair.

If your baby’s hair is taking a while to come through, be patient – before you know it, your baby's locks will be healthy and shiny.

Find out how to treat cradle cap.