Infant Hair Loss

Everybody wants their baby to have a healthy head of hair but this is not always the case. Many infants are born with only a small amount of hair which looks more like fuzz than real hair. As a rule this is nothing to be alarmed about. Infant hair loss is something that is usually normal. Baby hair loss will occur approximately two times in the first year of life. Babies who are born with a full head of hair will likely lose most of it before they reach the age of six months. Sometimes new hair will push out the baby hair or sometimes they may lose their hair before the new hair is visible.

One reason for infant hair loss is a condition known as cradle cap. This is a common condition where the infant loses the hair on the back of the head, usually where they lay while playing or sleeping. You can usually spot this condition because the hair on the back of the head “wears off” leaving a bald patch. Hair on the rest of the head may still be full and normal. You should only get alarmed if this condition looks extreme or has some type of rash associated with it. You would then need to consult a pediatrician to see if there is some other problem causing the condition.

Another possible reason for infant hair loss is a diet that is low in iron. Iron is needed to produce healthy blood cells and should be given to the infant in the form of milk. If the infant is not getting enough iron there may be other health problems to arise so it is important to see that the infant gets the proper amount of iron to remain healthy.

Hair loss in infants is usually not something one needs to worry about. It is a normal process that infants go through. They will naturally lose their baby hair and begin to grow a more normal head of hair that will take them into the toddler stage. You should only worry about infant hair loss if you see an extreme situation such as a rash or hair coming out in large clumps. This could indicate another health problem that needs to be addressed with a pediatrician.