Do Newborn Babies Suffer From Hair Loss?

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When your new born baby who at the time of birth sported a head full of hair suddenly starts to experience hair loss, hair thinning or even complete fall out of hair, then you as a mother are bound to freak out.

Fortunately though, newborn baby hair loss is a completely normal condition. New born babies sport a variety of hair patterns but the timing may differ. For some babies, the first growth falls out before the new growth takes over. Some may even be bald as a cue ball in their first year. In some other babies, new growth starts coming through simultaneously as the old one starts falling out, this hardly even comes in notice.

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So it is completely normal for newborn babies to face hair loss in their first few months as they always develop new, stronger hair growth eventually.

Reasons For Hair Loss In New Born Babies.

Drop In Hormones

Before delivery, a baby has high hormone levels in its body that is obtained from the mother. However, once the baby is born, the hormone levels in the baby begin to drop thus, causing the baby’s hair to enter into a resting phase, which means, the baby’s hair stops growing.

The resting hair also eventually falls out as your baby’s hair enters a new growth cycle. As the new hair growth comes underneath, it pushes out the resting hair, thus causing them to fall out and as the new hair grows gradually, the baby’s head appears patchy.

Some babies however, may go completely bald for the entire first year. These babies may sport very little light hair coming through that you will be able to see only on a closer look. But if in your baby new growth is taking longer than you think to come through, then also it is normal. Just be patient and before you know, healthier locks will appear on your baby’s scalp.

Sleeping/Rubbing In The Same Position

In addition to suffering hair loss due to drop in hormones, a new born baby may sport bald patches because of sleeping in the same position. If your baby develops a bald spot at the back of his head, on one of the sides, or on either sides of the head, it is because of the baby sleeping on one of those sides all the time.

If hair falls out completely due to this reason, it is due to the hair being at the resting stage, meaning, it was supposed to be shed anyway and the new hair will grow eventually when you baby starts sitting up.

When To Contact Doctor?

Be sure to check for baby’s scalp. As long as the scalp is healthy, there is nothing to fear. However, if the baby’s scalp is experiencing severe cradle cap (excessive scaling of skin), oozing, redness, discuss the problem with the baby’s paediatrician. Also, if the hair growth remains sparse till the age 2, get your baby checked up with doctor immediately.