why does a new born baby's hair fall out after a couple weeks old?

Answer 1

its just hormones

Answer 2

It just depends on the baby I think. When I was born I had dark brown fuzz all over my head...which promptly fell out and was replaced with white blond fuzz which wouldn't grow to save my soul. My daughter however was born with white blond hair (real hair not fuzz) and has kept it although it does grow slowly. I think it's just a genetic thing. Most babies in my family are born bald/little hair but then I have a cousin who's daughter had enough hair for a mohawk at 2 weeks. It seems that they got the recessive gene.

Answer 3

I am not sure why but my son was born with black or black brown hair like most of my family (I am the only light haired person) with olive skin and I thought (Yes) and before he was a month old his hair was falling out little by little and the blond hair started to replace it and his skin lightened up like my fathers and mine. everyone else has the dark hair and skin. As a kid I thought I was adopted. LOL true story

Answer 4

I think it's not true, strong hair, like we have. Maybe it was more of a protective hair covering. Plus they start to lay down and their heads now rub on bedding, instead of floating weightless in amniotic fluid, so it kind of rubs off the hair.

Answer 5

well im not to sure but my gynecologist told me that if i dont take my prenatal vitamins my hair will began to fall and my baby's hair too.

Answer 6

Depends on the child. Both of mine were very hairy and never lost their hair.

My newborn is losing his hair. Is this normal?
Newborn hair loss is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. Babies often lose their hair during the first six months of life. This kind of hair loss is called telogen effluvium.
Hair has a growth stage and a resting stage. The growth stage lasts about three years, and the resting stage lasts about three months (although anywhere from one to six months is normal). During the resting stage, the hair remains in the follicle until the new hair starts coming in. About 5 to 15 percent of hair on the scalp is usually in the resting phase at any one time, but stress, fever, or a hormonal change can cause a large number of hairs to stop growing all at once. The shedding begins when the growth stage starts up again, about three months later. A baby's hormone levels drop right after birth, which can cause this to happen. (New moms often lose large amounts of hair for the same reason.)
By the way, parents are sometimes surprised to discover that when a baby grows a new head of hair it's a completely different color and texture than what he was born with. BabyCenter reader Julie Carlson's son Will was born with a full head of thick black hair. "He looked just like Elvis — he even had sideburns," says Carlson. "Both my husband and I are blond, and we briefly wondered where the dark hair came from. Almost immediately after birth, though, it started falling out. The hair that replaced it is a beautiful wheat color."
If you notice that your baby has bald patches, observe the way he sits and sleeps. If he always sleeps in the same position or tends to sit with his head in one position against a baby seat, he may lose hair in that area. He may also develop a bald spot if he rubs his head against his mattress.
There are other conditions that cause hair loss, but they're very uncommon in children under 1.
• Patchy bald spots with flaky, red scaling (and sometimes black dots where the hair has broken off) may mean that your baby has a contagious fungal infection called tinea capitis, or ringworm.
• Physical damage — from tight ponytails, for example — can result in hair loss called traction alopecia.
• If your older baby twirls or pulls his hair compulsively, irregular patches of hair may fall out. The name for this is trichotillomania.
• If your baby has smooth, round, totally bald areas, he may have alopecia areata, a condition in which the autoimmune system attacks the hair follicles, drastically slowing hair growth. This type of hair loss usually appears in isolated patches, but it can affect all of the hair on the body.
• Seborrheic dermatitis can cause hair loss, especially after removal of the thick scales.
• Some medical conditions — such as hypothyroidism (a thyroid disorder) or hypopituitarism (an underactive pituitary gland) — can cause hair loss all over your child's head, rather than in patches, although this is uncommon.
What can I do about my baby's hair loss?
There's nothing you can do about newborn hair loss related to hormone levels or illness, except look forward seeing your baby's new 'do.
If the baldness is the result of your baby spending too much time lying down in the same position, try alternating the way he sleeps during naps and at night. For example, one night put him to sleep on his back with his head at the foot of the crib. The next night put him down with his head at the other end of the crib. Because your baby will naturally turn his head to the side to look out of the crib, he'll be resting on a different part of his head every night.
If you have a sleep wedge to keep your baby from flipping over onto his stomach, you can try putting him to sleep on his left side, the next night on his back, and then the next on his right side. Also make sure your baby spends some time on his tummy every day. In addition to giving the back of his head a break, "tummy time" is essential for his overall physical development.
Mention your baby's hair loss to his doctor, especially after his half-birthday. Chances are the hair loss is normal, but his doctor can make sure that there's no underlying medical condition and help with treatment if there happens to be a problem. If your child has ringworm, for example, she'll prescribe an antifungal medication. If she suspects alopecia areata, she may refer you to a dermatologist for further evaluation. (Some children simply outgrow alopecia areata without treatment. Others — usually older children — receive medication to stimulate hair growth.)
If your baby's hair loss is due to breakage, you'll just have to treat his hair and scalp tenderly for a while until it grows back again. (Keep in mind that a baby's hair is more fine and delicate than an adult's. Opt for natural styles and brush gently.)
If your baby's hair is falling out because he's habitually pulling on it, resist the urge to focus on this behavior. Instead, work with your doctor to get to the bottom of his anxiety, nervousness, or frustration. Once that's alleviated, he's likely to drop the habit and his hair will return.
There are no guarantees, but in most cases a baby's hair loss is temporary. There's a good chance your child will sport a full head of hair again within a year.
What if my baby's completely bald?
Many new babies are bald (although upon close examination of your baby's scalp, you will probably see pale, downy, extra-fine hair). This type of baldness can sometimes last until a baby's first birthday. Until then, enjoy the no-maintenance style! http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/85