Like so many things baby-related, newborn hair (or lack thereof) is unpredictable. Whether your baby's bald or bushy depends upon a mix of genetics, ethnicity, and hormones. But no matter how hirsute your tot is, try not to get too attached to the look. His hair will likely change during the first year. Check out how:
Hair today, gone tomorrow. If your baby was born with hair, he'll probably start to shed it during the first six months, thanks to hormonal changes. That hair loss peaks when infants are around 3 to 4 months old, says Dan Brennan, M.D., a pediatrician in Santa Barbara, CA, and a dad of two. And it can be quite dramatic (a hairy kid can turn into a bald one) or more subtle, especially when your infant's new hair grows in simultaneously.
Seeing spots. Another reason for your baby's thinning locks? Since a younger baby will spend a lot of time on his back, the friction of his head against the crib mattress and the car seat tends to produce a bald spot, especially in the back of the head, says Dr. Brennan. If you notice that your baby favors one side when he's lying down, try changing his position so that his head doesn't go bald and flatten there, too. His bald spots will disappear when he's a bit older and starts to spend more time upright.
Who's that kid? Once all his new hair grows in (sometimes as early as 6 months, sometimes as late as toddlerhood), it may have a completely different texture or color, or both.
