You have a baby? You must know all this about her hair

The arrival of a baby in the family is a radical change in the lives of all people and although there is always talk about how to feed them, what clothes to wear, how they lose or gain temperature, the importance of weight, skin color, and Furthermore, there is a subject that is not talked about much and is still unknown to many mothers and fathers. We are referring to the hair of babies, and it is that it is convenient to know everything about this matter, since many moms are alerted when they see that their child suffers from hair loss, and there are even other parents who fight so that that hair does not fall with crowds of home remedies of doubtful effectiveness that could cause damage to the skin of our son or daughter.

To begin with, hair loss is normal, both in babies and throughout our lives . The serious thing comes when that hair does not recover, that is, it does not grow back and bald spots are created. Anti-hair loss shampoos are not going to prevent hair from falling out, it is something we have to keep in mind. There are many factors for hair loss, and a shampoo is not a magic spell, it is a gel with which to wash our heads.

Returning to the subject of hair loss in babies, it is something totally normal, since the hair with which they are born will fall to give way to new hair in their first months of life. We are going to dive right into this topic, explaining why this happens, if there is any way to stop it, if it is appropriate to cut hair, when to worry, and some very basic tips to promote the healthy growth of new hair.

Why do babies lose their hair?

There are babies who are born with hair, a lot or a little, and others who are born completely bald. Neither one situation is better, nor the other is worse, they are simply different. What differentiates them is that the hair that grows to the baby who was born bald will be his official hair, while the one who was already born with hair must lose that and generate a new one that will already be considered an official trait.

Hair loss in our newborn children is due to their growth stage. The hair loss with which they were born usually occurs before 6 months, and the loss begins a few days or weeks after being born. This gives us time to see what our son’s hair will be like for the rest of his life.

It should be said that hair is not always in its growth stage, but alternates with the resting stage, which is when the hair remains inside the follicle waiting for the new hair. Between 5 and 15% of our child’s hair remains in the resting phase and it is usually in cases where the hair is regenerated without causing obvious alopecia.

The hair growth period lasts up to 3 years and the resting stage 3 months, that is when baldness is noticed in some areas of the baby’s head, but it is not worrisome, unless we notice abnormal symptoms in his skin and scalp .

Caída de pelo en bebes de pocas semanas

Symptoms to be concerned about

We have already advanced that hair loss in babies is very normal, and it is a natural process of the development of the child. The problem comes when we see certain features on your skin and scalp that some alert you that something is not quite right.

We refer to wounds, scabs, reddened skin, inflammation of the scalp, pain, discharge, peeling, itching, etc. It may be that our little one is suffering a fungal reaction known as ringworm or dermatophytosis. If we see that our baby’s scalp has scaly areas similar to scabs, he could be suffering from seborrheic dermatitis.

It can also be the so-called cradle cap, hormonal or thyroid disorders, etc. There can be many factors that will make our baby’s hair fall out and it does not reproduce naturally and quickly.

The best thing in any case is to consult a specialist, not to search the internet for home treatments, or to go directly to a pharmacy, not to lift those scabs, not to fry our son’s head with force, not to despair. Simply go to a specialist and he will tell us what happens and how to proceed.

Tips to strengthen baby’s hair

If we want our baby to grow hair in a healthy and strong way, then it is important to take care of it from the first day, whether it is that “fluff” from birth or when it is already his real hair. There are a series of basic tips that every pediatrician, father or mother will repeat to us several times during the first weeks or months of our little one’s life.

  • Use a specific baby shampoo. Unless it is as natural as possible, neutral (without color or fragrances) and without chemical agents.
  • Wash your head with lukewarm water . Hot water stimulates hair loss and the appearance of seborrheic dermatitis and other conditions.
  • Give soft and delicate massages while we wash her head. This way we will make weak hair fall faster and we will eliminate the presence of cradle cap by promoting blood circulation and oxygenation of the scalp.
  • Vary your child’s posture when sleeping . Apart from that this also helps to avoid hearing and vision problems, by allowing all the senses to develop properly.
  • Comb the hair gently using a very soft brush specially designed for babies.
  • Cutting hair works and does not work at the same time. It does not prevent hair from falling out, but it does help hair to grow more evenly across the head. The use of a razor is not recommended before 3 months of life, so we can only use scissors and always with a rounded tip in case unforeseen movements arise.