How to Keep My Infant's Hair From Falling Out in the Back

Even if your baby is born with a full head of hair, it is perfectly normal for him to lose some or even all of it during the first few months of life. This is partly because of a change in growth cycles that causes the amount of hair growth to decrease and partly because your baby lies flat on the back of his head until he can sit up. Unless there is a medical condition causing hair loss, which should be discussed with a pediatrician, you can do some things on your own to help keep hair loss at a minimum.

Things You'll Need

  • Baby shampoo
  • Mineral oil
  • Sleep positioner

Instructions

    • 1

      Use a shampoo formulated specifically for infants. Gentle baby shampoos will help reduce irritation to your baby's gentle scalp and help prevent cradle cap. Cradle cap is a buildup of shed skin cells and oils. It usually looks yellow and scaly. Although it is not dangerous for your baby, it can be unsightly. It can also promote hair loss.

    • 2

      Treat cradle cap when it begins. Look for dry scalp and flakes. When you find signs of cradle cap, apply a drop or two of mineral oil to the area and gentle massage it in with your fingers. Use gentle pressure. This will help to release the scales. Then wash your baby's hair with your baby shampoo again to rinse away the oil.

    • 3

      Get your baby off her back. Giving your baby a chance to get off her back will reduce contact and friction which can promote hair loss. Also, tummy time gives your baby a chance to work on her neck muscles. It is also thought to help reduce the likelihood of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). SIDS is when a baby dies unexpectedly for no apparent reason. Whenever you provide your baby with tummy time, make sure you supervise her.

    • 4

      Turn your baby's head when you put him down to sleep on his back. Turning his head can help prevent too much pressure on one location on the head. Alternate between the left, right and back.

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