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Babies & kids · Updated 2026-10-30 · Editorial review in progress
Baby losing hair at 3 months: the normal newborn shed
Also searched as: baby losing hair at 3 monthsbald spot on back of baby's headnewborn hair loss
Almost all babies lose some or all of their hair in the first few months, and a study of 301 newborns found the bald patch at the back of the head reflects natural shedding in the first weeks of life — not sleeping on the back.
No consistent week-by-week window is published for this, so it is not on the calculator.
The timeline
| Stage | When (typically) | What's happening |
|---|---|---|
| First months | Some or all hair falls out | HealthyChildren: almost all babies will have some (possibly all) of their hair fall out during the first few months of life. [HealthyChildren.org] |
| Regrowth | Over a few months | HealthyChildren: hair at the back of the head grows back normally over a few months. [HealthyChildren.org] |
The back-of-the-head patch
- The 301-newborn study concluded neonatal occipital hair loss comes from physiological shedding in the first weeks of life; the mattress only aids it [European].
- Its incidence did not rise after back-sleeping advice was introduced [European].
- The authors warn parents not to change sleep position because of hair, since that could be dangerous [European].
Normal vs. warning signs
- Hair thinning or falling out in the first few months
- A bald band at the back of the head
- Smooth round bald patches
- Red, scaly or crusted scalp
- Hair loss that keeps going beyond infancy
What may help
- Keep putting your baby to sleep on their back.
- Mention it at routine checkups if you are worried.
Related triggers
Child hair loss after a fever or illness
Life eventsPostpartum
Life eventsStopping breastfeeding
Hair signsRegrowth vs breakage
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for my baby to lose hair at 3 months?
Yes — almost all babies lose some or all of their hair in the first few months, per the AAP.
Is the bald spot from lying on their back?
A 301-baby study found it is natural shedding; the mattress only aids it. Do not change sleep position.
When will my baby's hair grow back?
The AAP says it grows back normally over a few months.
Sources
- HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics). Hair Loss (Alopecia) in Children
- European Journal of Pediatrics, 2005. Transient neonatal hair loss: a common transient neonatal dermatosis (n=301)