We've all heard stories of school-aged kids coming home with the dreaded note that they have head lice, but babies and toddlers can get lice too.

The most common way babies and toddlers get lice is through close contact with an affected playmate or sibling, says Dr. Ira A. Pion, a dermatologist in Woodmere, N.Y. The second way most young children get lice is through using personal items, such as combs and pillows, belonging to those having lice.

"There are an estimated six to 12 million cases of head lice in the U.S. each year, and most occur in children under the age of 12," Dr. Pion says. But it's much less common for babies and toddlers to get lice than school-aged children, he says.

Though it may not be a regular occurrence, parents should be aware of the potential for lice in their babies and toddlers, especially if a sibling or friend has lice.

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