Baby Hair Loss

Updated on August 24, 2006
P. asks from Spartanburg, SC
30 answers

My 7 week old baby is losing her hair. It started about 2 weeks ago, where her hairline began receding from her forehead. Now she looks like her grandpa - bald on top with a ring of long hair around the sides and back.
There is new hair growing back on top, but it is very fuzzy, and she looks totally weird. The hair on the sides is also starting to disappear.
Did anyone else have this happen? Is this normal, or were there medical reasons for it?

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So What Happened?

The hair is back!!! (And it's darker, too)
Thanks to everyone for their reassurance.

Featured Answers

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K.M.

answers from Charlotte on

P.,

Dont freak out this is totally normal. Newborns are born with hair to protect them. Usually it falls out and sometimes it doesn't. My sons hair was black, He was totally bald before his blonde hair came in. My daughter's hair thinned out before coming in thicker.

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N.M.

answers from Richmond on

Both my children lost their hair as babies. My daughter was born with dark brown hair and it all fell out over time and came back blonde.

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S.

answers from Charlotte on

This is totally normal! My oldest daughter is 20 months and she lost a lot hair as well. It was at its worst around 4 months - she looked like she was on chemo! It came back in slowly (a different color though!) and by 6 months she had a beautiful full head of hair again.

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J.S.

answers from Lynchburg on

Hi P.,

The same thing happened to my son at that age. He looked bald and funny for a while, but then all his hair grew back in. I think this is perfectly normal.

:-) J.

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E.N.

answers from Indianapolis on

P.,
My son is now 4 months old. When he was about 6-7 weeks old his hair started to fall out as well. About a week later we noticed a flaky covering on his head and then a bit of an odor, a lot like cradle cap. We talked to the doctor about it and he said it was not cradle ap but a bit of a fungus. Not that what your daughter has is a fungus! He went almost totally bald! The doctor told us to use Selsun Blue Shampoo. I would say in less than 2 weeks it was all cleared up and his hair started to grow back. Now he has a head full of hair. Again not saying you are dealing with a fungus but simply tying the selsun blue might not hurt just in case!
E.

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D.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hair loss in newborns is perfectly normal. Also, from lying on the backs alot, the back will lose hair as well.

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R.N.

answers from Sheboygan on

Hi P.!

The same thing pretty much happened to my son. He didn't lose it all at one time, but he did lose it over time and more hair grew in. I don't think it is anything to worry about.

R.

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M.K.

answers from Lexington on

This definitely happened to us as well! Don't worry, it will find its own way and time of returning. Just take lots of pics of the little baldy -- maybe with her lookalike grandpa!

Feel free to ask for advice or even just vent -- we've ALL been there, been paranoid, been frightened. I'm sure you're doing such a great job.

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T.K.

answers from Indianapolis on

P.-
I agree that the hair loss is really normal (although I don't the medical reason for it either). My son was born with a full head of thin jet black hair. Some started falling out when he was about 3 months old and by the time he was about 5 months old he was growing in completely new hair. He is now ten months old and had extremely thick blond hair. When people see his newborn pictures they don't believe its the same baby. I wouldn't worry about it to much, but I guess it would be harder with a girl??? I'm sure she is still beautiful. Just hold off on the pictures, she may have a full head of hair by next month.
~T.

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T.P.

answers from Charlotte on

So Normal. My son lost his hair but seemed to have plenty to spare even after he was 1 year old. He had a small case of cradle cap and even up until he was one you could see some of the hair loss come out in a tiny bundle attached with the dead skin cells.

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A.K.

answers from Louisville on

Sorry if this is something that someone else already told you - I'm not sure if anybody else has replied to this or not... I'm new to Mommasource.

Anyhow, my son was born with a ton of dark hair, and within a month or so, most of it was gone and replaced with fine lighter hair, except for a patch at the back of his head. He's now 4 months and it's all been growing like crazy!! It's TOTALLY normal for babies to lose the hair they're born with, and even to take months for anything to come back in, or for it to come back in a completely different color. Nothing to worry about! (She'll probably keep a little bald spot at the back of her head, where she's always laying on that spot, but that grows back, too.)

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M.

answers from Elkhart on

HI P.,
Just thought I would throw you a little funny in for you in regards to your babies hair loss. Very normal. I am a seasoned mom of three now 48 with an 8 year old at home. My last was the one that freaked me the most with her hair loss. She didn't have much when she was born but by 4 1/2 months was totally bald. A little tuft of about 15 hairs came back in close to where the bangs grow and stayed that way until she was almost 2. I was told many times what a pretty boy I had even with her having on girls clothes. She and I laugh over her pictures now as she has the most beautiful blonde hair and plenty of it. But it sure was good for a lot of laughs. I have seemed to notice that children with lighter hair lose more and sometimes take longer to come back. Just take some photos and show them to her when she is older. Something to enjoy just between mom and her.

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K.S.

answers from Indianapolis on

Very normal - all of my kids did it. It will grow back and they may have a patch of hair missing - just lay them on the opposite side you normally do to alleviate it!! Good luck!!

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A.K.

answers from Spartanburg on

Totally normal! She will grow some hair and it happens pretty quickly. My son lost alot of hair and looked like he had a comb over, lol. Now he has great hair!

Congrats on your brand new baby!

I read that you're going back to work soon, are you looking for daycare? I happen to have a home daycare in the Boiling Springs area.

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L.M.

answers from Hickory on

This is very common. I have twin boys and they were both born with hair and then lost is and now have a head full.

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L.S.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hi P.! This didn't happen to my kids, but I have a couple of friends who had it happen to their little girls. Apparently it's quite normal! One had it happen while she was still an infant, and the other had it happen when she was around 2 years old. They both grew new heads of beautiful hair and they're both just fine.

I hope it helps!

L.

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S.

answers from Spartanburg on

Don't be paranoid about the hair loss it is very normal for young infants to lose their hair after birth. I had a friend whose child was born with hair everywhere, on his back, ears, head, and he started to lose it around 4-5 weeks old, and now he has grown in just on his head and has beautiful hair. If it bothers you about looking weird, you could take her to a stylist and have then trim the sides really short so that she won't look like her grandpa. Congratulations on your first, and try not to worry so much, I am sure you and your husband are doing a great job. Good luck.

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L.

answers from Columbia on

Our seven-month-old triplets lost a good bit of hair. I am told that this is normal.
Your bio intrigued me because our closest family is 600 miles away in WV. :)

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A.D.

answers from Charlotte on

No need to worry! I have 5 children and this happened to all of them in some way or form. They go through spurts and hair falls out, my youngest is 16 months and she is going through it right now, hair is every where. It will grow back then shed again. Also when your baby learns to really start looking around a lot she will wear out a little circle of hair on the back of her head from the friction of moving back and forth. Good Luck!

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C.

answers from Charlotte on

P.,

This kind of hair loss is totally normal. My oldest son lost his hair the same way, first on the top, then on the sides at about the same age, and then the top hair started growing back in. I would just keep and eye out for cradle cap and if she develops any, treat it as soon as you notice it.

Take Care,
C.

B.D.

answers from Lexington on

P.,

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter! It is very "normal" for babies to lose the hair they had at birth. My son was born with a head full, and lost some of his before it grew back. By the time he turned a year old it was very thick and long. My daughter, however didn't lose any of her hair because it was already very fine and thin. She will be turning a year old at the end of the month and barely has as much hair as my son did at birth.

I see that you will be going back to work soon. I just started a business that allows me to be at home with my children, and help other parents do the same. Let me know if you would like to learn more.

Take care,

B.

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K.H.

answers from Lexington on

My son lost his hair at 3 months, with the bald on top and ring around his head on the sides and back. He had a bad case of cradle cap (flaking of the skin on the top of the head). After it all fell out, it came back in fuzzy and a different color. Our doctor said it was normal.

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S.S.

answers from Spartanburg on

P.,

I would not worry to much about it. This happens to some babies. If it is still an issue at her 8 month check up, speak to her doctor about it and maybe ask if she needs any labwork like maybe a thyroid test.

Jenny

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M.K.

answers from Spartanburg on

She is just losing her baby hair. As they become more mobile with rolling around & floor play they all lose lots, and sometimes all of their baby hair. Hope that helps.

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S.

answers from Charlotte on

Hi P.,

The hair loss is very normal, as the first hair on a baby (normally darker) has a medical term for it, but it will fall out and be replaced with new hair. My first daughter was born with darker hair, which all fell out and now she is a beautiful blonde. If you happen to have the What to Expect series of books, it is explained in there.

S.

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B.M.

answers from Spartanburg on

Hi P.,
I wouldn't worry about it. My daughter was born with a FULL head of hair dark hair (which she too lost in her first few months). It all grew back (took some time- I even had her ears pierced on her 1st birthday because so many people would ask me how old HE was)! Today she has beautiful long thick red hair! Be patient.

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L.

answers from Lexington on

Hi P., Don't friek out, my baby lost every hair on his head about that age, he looked like a pool ball. It grew back in and never happened again, now he has so much hair I have to cut it every four weeks. Unless you think there is a medical reason that it is falling out I would give it some time. I'm sure your baby is beautiful!!!

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S.F.

answers from Charlotte on

P. - I feel like what you're going through is completely normal! Our son looked like an old man too! Some babies can be born with a head full of hair, loose it all and it come back a different color! As for medical reasons, I'm no expert, but I would suggest for you to google Dr. Sears website and do a search OR ck. www.webmd.com for a search on infants and loss of hair. One thing I do suggest is to get the book "What to expect the first year" with our first, this has been a WONDERFUL helper and helped with the paranoia! Our son is now 7 months and I remember all the things going on and wondering if it was normal, so if you have any questions you think are silly, don't be afraid to ask them, everyone needs reassurance. Each month brings new questions for me, so it's absolutely wonderful of you to pay close attention and ask moms who've already been there!

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B.S.

answers from Fort Wayne on

P. -

Relax! It happens. If you are really concerned, however, call your doctor. Too me...that is what they are there for and if it is your first child, they should understand.

My daughter had a head full of hair when she was born. Then she lost it about the same time the cradle cap started appearing. It all came off together, but new hair evenually came in. This happens anytime during their first few months and sometimes never at all.

If you are experiencing cradle cap (skin drying up and crusty on top of head) there is stuff out there to help it not be so bad. It is usually found with the shampoo in the baby section of your store.

Hope this helps. Just thought of a book "What to expect the first year" kinda like "what to expect when expecting" but with the first year of life.

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J.

answers from Bloomington on

I agree that this is totally normal. My daughter had a full head of hair and birth and by two months she looked like Frank from the TV show Everybody Loves Raymond. Sorry to reference TV but my sister in law is a hairdresser and she is the one that made the reference to Frank and to be honest she did look like an old man. But rest assured the hair has grown back and is down past her shoulders now. Good luck. I was paranoid too and it never hurts to ask for advice or opinions.

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