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Home › Articles › General Health › Bald Is Beautiful

Bald Is Beautiful

Is Genetics Behind a Baby's Lack of Hair?

By Shannon McKelden

Pages:  1  2  3  

Teel's daughter's formerly red hair, for example, grew back very light blond.

Other Causes of Baby Baldness

Some baby baldness can occur in patches, with the infant losing the hair just on the back of his head, or perhaps just on one side or the other. This may occur even after permanent hair growth has begun.

"He may ... have a bald patch from rubbing his head against his mattress, playpen or infant seat," Dr. Zukow says. "This bald spot should fill in once he starts sitting up."

While not completely preventable, due to the amount of time your baby spends prone, there are a few things you can do about it. One way to avoid this kind of patchy hair loss is to vary your baby's position. Babies, for instance, typically turn their head in the direction facing out of their crib. So try alternating placing the head at the head or foot of the bed every other night. This will help avoid rubbing the baby's scalp bald on one side. Also make sure your baby gets plenty of "tummy time," which will help avoid a bare spot on the back of the head.

"As [your child] gets enough hair for you to groom, do it gently, because vigorous hair brushing can also cause hair loss," Dr. Zukow says. "Let the doctor know if there has been prolonged hair loss and no replacement growth."

So all you parents of bald babies, rest assured, the likelihood of your child still being bald when she starts preschool is pretty slim. In the meantime, count the no-maintenance hairstyle as a blessing. Getting a baby or toddler to hold still to have his hair brushed is a much bigger headache!

Summer Scalp Protection

While we're all very careful with babies' skin during summer months, we can't forget their tender little scalps. Bald babies will be particularly susceptible to sunburns with no natural protection at all.

The best advice? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends avoiding sun exposure when possible for infants 6 months and younger. Brimmed hats (that shade the neck) offer the best protection for bald little heads. Umbrellas and sunshades on strollers are also recommended.

When sun avoidance isn't possible, the AAP recommends a minimal amount of SPF sunscreen (at least 15), which will at least provide a little protection.


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