Hair growth in children varies. Some children are born with quite a bit of hair, while others don’t grow much until they’re 2 or 3 yrs of age. Some babies have hair all over their heads and others have more in some places than others. Also, many babies lose their hair in the 1st year of life; in some, it grows back rather quickly, whereas it takes a while to grow back in others. Some babies lose their hair on the back of their heads simply due to sleeping position (on their backs).
However, when an unusual hair growth pattern is associated with other abnormal features, such as the anterior fontanel (on the top front of the head) not closing properly or having delayed closing (the anterior fontanel closes by 18 to 26 months of age), you ought to have the pediatrician check your baby thoroughly to make sure she doesn't have a medical condition. Although later closure can be normal, and can run in families, it can sometimes be a sign of other medical conditions such as hypothyroidism (lazy thyroid gland), skeletal problems, increased pressure in the brain or a genetic syndrome.
Make sure to ask your doctor to check your baby’s fontanel and hair pattern, along with your baby’s head circumference growth over time, facial and body features, development for age etc... He/she may opt to run a few tests (blood tests or Xray) to make sure all is normal if he/she judges the case to require further investigation.
However, when an unusual hair growth pattern is associated with other abnormal features, such as the anterior fontanel (on the top front of the head) not closing properly or having delayed closing (the anterior fontanel closes by 18 to 26 months of age), you ought to have the pediatrician check your baby thoroughly to make sure she doesn't have a medical condition. Although later closure can be normal, and can run in families, it can sometimes be a sign of other medical conditions such as hypothyroidism (lazy thyroid gland), skeletal problems, increased pressure in the brain or a genetic syndrome.
Make sure to ask your doctor to check your baby’s fontanel and hair pattern, along with your baby’s head circumference growth over time, facial and body features, development for age etc... He/she may opt to run a few tests (blood tests or Xray) to make sure all is normal if he/she judges the case to require further investigation.
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