Is it normal for a baby's hair to fall out? Neonatal effluvium explained

It is normal for babies to lose hair in the first months of life. This is called neonatal effluvium, and it happens because all the follicles enter the shedding phase at the same time, at around eight to twelve weeks. The hair falls out — sometimes almost all of it — and grows back between six and twelve months, often in a different colour and texture. There is nothing you can do to prevent it, and nothing applied to the scalp speeds it up. What is concerning is something else: well-defined circular patches, heavy scaling, redness, or shedding that persists beyond the first year.

Why does a baby's hair fall out?

Hair grows in cycles: a growth phase, a transition phase and a shedding phase. In an adult, follicles are out of sync — some grow while others shed, so daily shedding goes unnoticed.

In a newborn it is different. The follicles have been synchronised since intrauterine life, and enter the shedding phase together. The result is visible shedding concentrated in time.

The abrupt drop in maternal hormones after birth also contributes, as those hormones had been keeping follicles in the growth phase.

It is the same mechanism as telogen effluvium in adults. The difference is that in a baby it is physiological and expected.

When does it fall out and when does it grow back?

First month. There may be some shedding, but usually nothing noticeable yet.

Two to three months. The peak. Many parents only notice at this stage, finding hair on the pillow, the sheet and clothing. Almost all of it can fall out.

Three to six months. Shedding slows and new hair starts to come through, generally finer.

Six to twelve months. The permanent hair grows in, and it is normal for it to differ from the birth hair — lighter, darker, straighter or curlier.

Twelve to twenty-four months. Density continues to increase. A two-year-old with still-sparse hair but no other findings is usually within normal range.

The pace varies considerably between babies, and there is no reason to compare.

What can I do to stop my baby's hair falling out?

Nothing, and it is important to say so plainly.

No shampoo, oil, lotion, vitamin or supplement prevents neonatal effluvium or speeds it up. It is a physiological process that runs its course.

Do not use on a baby: minoxidil, hair tonics, undiluted essential oils, products containing alcohol, or adult formulations. Some are absorbed through a baby's thin skin and can be harmful.

Cutting the hair or shaving the head does not make hair grow back thicker or fuller. It is a widespread belief with no basis — the follicle sits under the skin, and what you cut is the shaft, already dead.

What if my baby's hair did not fall out?

That is also normal.

Some babies are born with little hair and gain density gradually, with no noticeable shedding. Others keep their birth hair and replace it so progressively that nobody notices.

Absence of shedding indicates no problem at all. There is no single right way for this to happen.

My baby has a bald patch at the back. Is that normal?

Almost always yes, and the location tells you nearly everything.

A bald area at the back of the head is the most frequent finding. It is called friction alopecia and results from the occiput rubbing against the mattress, playmat or seat — the baby spends a lot of time on their back, as they should, for safe sleep. It resolves on its own once they start spending more time sitting up.

Do not change the sleeping position because of this. Back sleeping is the safety recommendation and is not altered for cosmetic reasons. Increasing supervised tummy time during the day helps and is beneficial for other reasons.

Receding areas at the temples are usually just the hairline pattern, more visible while density is low.

What is not typical: well-defined circular patches anywhere on the head, particularly with changes in the underlying skin.

What causes cradle cap?

Cradle cap is infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis, and despite the name it has nothing to do with milk or food allergy.

It results from sebaceous glands still stimulated by maternal hormones together with Malassezia yeasts, which are part of normal skin flora. It appears as yellowish, greasy scales on the scalp, sometimes on the eyebrows and behind the ears.

It generally starts in the first weeks and resolves on its own by six to twelve months.

What to do: soften the scales with a baby oil before the bath, leave for a few minutes and remove gently with a soft brush. Wash with baby shampoo. Do not pick the crusts off dry.

When to seek help: intense redness, spread to the body, weeping, odour, or if the baby seems uncomfortable. In those cases specific treatment may be needed, and it matters to distinguish it from atopic dermatitis or infection.

When is a baby's hair loss concerning?

These are the signs that warrant assessment:

• Circular, well-defined patches — these can indicate alopecia areata, which also occurs in children

• Areas with scaling, redness, crusting or black dots on the scalp — these can indicate tinea capitis, a fungal infection requiring oral treatment that does not resolve with shampoo

• Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or behind the ears alongside hair loss

• Shedding that begins or persists after the first year

• Very fragile hair that breaks easily, or hair of abnormal appearance

• Patches associated with pulling or twisting the hair

• Growth delay, or nail or dental changes alongside

Tinea capitis deserves particular note: it is contagious, common at school age, and is often mistaken for dandruff or alopecia areata. Diagnosis is by mycological examination.

When does postpartum hair loss stop?

This question always comes up alongside the previous one, and for good reason: many mothers are shedding at the same time as their baby.

During pregnancy, high oestrogen levels keep more follicles in the growth phase — hence the thicker hair and reduced shedding. After birth, the hormonal drop pushes all those follicles into the shedding phase at once.

Shedding usually begins two to four months after birth, peaks at around four months and resolves between six and twelve months. Density recovers, though it may not return exactly to what it was.

It is a telogen effluvium: physiological and reversible. It requires no treatment in most cases.

It warrants assessment if shedding continues beyond twelve months, if it is very heavy, or if there is visible thinning of the scalp or recession of the hairline. In those situations it is worth ruling out anaemia, iron deficiency, thyroid disorder — common postpartum — and androgenetic alopecia that pregnancy may have unmasked.

How to care for a baby's hair

• Wash two to three times a week with a shampoo made for babies

• Lukewarm water, never hot

• A soft-bristled brush, without pulling

• Pat dry with a towel, without rubbing

• Avoid tight elastics, clips and styles that pull

• No hot hairdryers and no adult products

• Protect the head from the sun with a hat — a baby's scalp is particularly vulnerable

On strengthening a child's hair: a varied diet appropriate to their age is what counts. Hair supplements are not indicated in healthy children, and some can be harmful.

When to see a dermatologist?

• When there are circular or well-defined patches

• When the scalp has heavy scaling, redness or persistent crusting

• When shedding continues after the first year of life

• When cradle cap does not improve with usual care

• When the mother continues heavy shedding more than twelve months after birth

• Whenever there is doubt — in paediatric dermatology, early assessment avoids unnecessary treatment

Dr Ellene Papazis is a dermatologist accredited in Portugal and Brazil, practising trichology and paediatric dermatology. Consultations in Porto, Portugal.

Sources

• American Academy of Dermatology — hair loss in children

• European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

• Portuguese Society of Dermatology and Venereology (SPDV)

• Portuguese Paediatric Society — infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis

Written and reviewed by Dr Ellene Papazis, dermatologist accredited in Portugal and Brazil. Consultations in Porto, Portugal.

Updated 25 July 2026.