Hair Loss In 9 month Old

by Nikki
(Texas)

Look at all that hair - help!

My baby is 9 months old and is losing her hair all around the sides and back. I haven't noticed much on top, could this be a problem? I read somewhere that it could be a vitamin deficiency. They will test her for anemia in a month.

I am very worried, though. Does anyone have any thoughts on why my 9 months old is losing hair?

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Hair Loss In Baby And Vitamin Deficiency

What an adorable girl!

Since your baby is 9 months old, she shouldn't really be losing her hair, rather growing it. You're correct that some nutrition problem may cause hair loss, such as deficiency in iron or zinc.

Are you still breastfeeding her exclusively (more or less)? Exclusively breastfed babies older than 6 months are at risk for developing iron deficiency. Here is an article that provides more help on iron deficiency in babies. (Opens in new window)

You can give your baby some iron-fortified cereal or oatmeal to help her stock up iron. This is a safe thing to do even before an anemia testing you have scheduled, but you might want to wait for the results just to make sure this is really the reason for your baby to be losing hair.

In addition, I do think you should talk to a doctor about your girl's hair situation to sort out if there really is a deficiency causing it or not - is her hair loss the reason for the anemia test in a month?

Some skin infections as well as severe cradle cap can also cause hair loss problems. Ringworm is one example that can easily be treated. Some babies also simply tear their hair too much! Is the scalp skin in the area she is losing her hair changed in any way (reddish, scaly, flacky, etc.)? If so, this may be the sign of infectious origin of the condition.

There are also some more unusual illnesses that cause hair loss in children, but they are very rare in babies younger than 1 year. Still, they can be worth knowing about if consulting a doctor. You can read a bit more about these different illnesses associated with baby hair loss here.

Vitamin D deficiency may be another reason for the hair loss, but it is unlikely to present with only that symptom and is rarely seen in babies in developed countries.

Please don't worry too much, though. Most severe conditions that cause hair loss only appear after a baby's first birth day.

But only a pediatrician that meets your daughter can really help you sort this out.

Hope this helps.
Paula
(Answer approved by our Medical Reference Team)