Is My Baby's Bald Patch Normal? What Causes It and When It Grows Back
Quick answer: Yes, almost always. A bald patch at the back of the head is one of the most common things parents notice in the first six months. It has two causes running at once — a natural hormonal shed that peaks around three months, and friction from lying on the back of the head. The hormonal half resolves on its own and cannot be prevented. The friction half can be reduced. In the large majority of cases the hair grows back once your baby starts sitting up.
Why the patch appears, why it is always in the same place, and roughly when you can expect it back.
If you are standing over the cot looking at a smooth little patch on the back of your baby’s head and wondering whether it is normal — it is. Almost universally so. But knowing that in the abstract is not the same as understanding what is happening, so here is the whole picture.
What causes a baby bald patch?
Two things at once, which is why it can look dramatic.
The hormonal shed
In the womb your baby’s hormone levels run on yours. At birth that supply stops, and the follicles respond by dropping into a resting phase more or less together. The clinical name is telogen effluvium. Around eight to twelve weeks, that hair lets go — all at once rather than gradually, which is why it seems so sudden.
This part is biology. No shampoo, oil, supplement or fabric prevents it, and it needs no treatment.
The friction
Newborn hair is vellus hair — fine, downy, and without the internal structure that makes adult hair resilient. Babies spend a great many hours on their backs, correctly and safely, and turn their heads from side to side while settling. At that one point of contact, hair is dragged across whatever is underneath it.
So the shed thins everything, and friction wears it away fastest in one spot. That is why the patch is a ring at the back rather than scattered.
Time on the back of the head
Less supervised tummy time while awake means more cumulative hours of pressure and rubbing on the same area.
When does a baby bald patch grow back?
For most babies, hair begins returning somewhere between six and twelve months — typically once they start sitting up and stop spending twelve hours a day with the back of their head against a mattress. The regrowth is often a different colour or texture to the newborn hair, which surprises people.
It is gradual rather than dramatic. Most parents notice one day that they have stopped noticing it.
Can you do anything to help?
You can’t touch the hormonal half. You can reduce the friction, and it is worth doing, because it protects the new hair coming through.
Supervised tummy time is the highest-value thing on the list — every waking minute off the back of the head is pressure that never happens, and it builds the neck strength that eventually solves the problem entirely.
A cooler room. A damp scalp grips fabric far more than a dry one, so overheating makes breakage worse. Read more in our guide to heat, humidity and baby hair loss.
A smoother sleep surface. Standard cot fabrics — cotton twill, polyester blends — are comparatively textured against fine hair. A silk cot sleeve gives less for hair to catch on and absorbs a fraction as much moisture. It won’t stop the shed; it removes one thing making the patch worse.
Don’t brush matted hair dry. A drop of baby-safe oil to separate the strands first will save you a handful of them.
Never use hats or headbands for sleep. They are a genuine safety risk and solve nothing.
Is a silk cot sleeve safe in a cot?
Only if it fits properly. Loose bedding of any kind does not belong in a cot — that includes loose silk. A fitted cot sleeve is different: it sits drum-tight and flat so the surface underneath stays firm. Check before every use that it cannot lift or bunch, read our installation guide, and follow the current Red Nose safe sleeping guidelines.
Our cot sleeves are 22-momme mulberry silk, made from OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified fabric — meaning the material has been tested against the standard’s list of harmful substances.
When should you see a doctor?
A plain bald patch on an otherwise well baby needs no medical attention. Book an appointment if you notice a red, flaking or scaly scalp underneath, clearly defined circular patches, broken hairs of obviously differing lengths, hair loss continuing past six months or starting after your baby is sitting up, or hair loss alongside poor feeding or weight gain.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bald patch on the back of a baby’s head normal?
Yes. It is one of the most common things parents notice in the first six months, caused by a natural hormonal shed combined with friction from back-sleeping. It resolves on its own in the large majority of cases.
At what age do babies lose their hair?
The newborn shed usually begins around eight to twelve weeks and peaks near three months.
When will my baby’s bald patch grow back?
Usually between six and twelve months, typically once your baby starts sitting up. Regrowth is often a different colour or texture from the newborn hair.
Does a bald patch mean something is wrong with my baby?
Almost never. See your GP if the scalp underneath is red, flaking or scaly, if patches are clearly circular, or if hair loss continues past six months.
Can I stop my baby losing their hair?
Not the hormonal shed — nothing prevents that. You can reduce friction with tummy time, a cooler room and a smoother sleep surface, which protects the new hair growing in.
Start here: Baby hair loss and sensitive skin at night: a complete guide for Australian parents — the full picture in one place.
Related reading: How to prevent a baby bald spot · Silk vs cotton cot mattress covers · Baby cheek rashes and redness
That patch is a stage, not a problem. It arrives fast, sits there looking conspicuous for a few months, and quietly fills in around the time your baby finds something better to do than lie flat — and one day you realise you stopped checking for it weeks ago.