How to Keep Babies From Rubbing the Hair Off the Back of Their Heads

Young infants have a limited range of movement. With a large amount of time spent sleeping or sitting in swings and car seats, the back of your baby's head spends a lot of time in contact with other surfaces. If your baby is rubbing the hair away from the back of his head, there are some steps you can take to reduce the impact.

Sleep

You should always place your baby on his back to sleep to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Change the direction that you lay your baby in the crib weekly to help alternate the sides of your baby's head that get the most pressure. Most babies turn to look at the room and things around them, so switching directions in the crib changes the side that your baby turns to, reducing the possibility of rubbing the hair from the same spot. Use a wedge-style sleep positioner to help keep your baby positioned properly.

Sitting

Place a sheer, silky fabric on the back of your little one's car seat, activity seat and high chair. Silk or similar fabrics provide a soft, smooth surface that will not irritate the hair follicles, reducing the risk of knotting and breaking. Avoid placing your baby in these types of seats for extended periods of time.

Tummy Time

When your little one is awake and alert, tummy time helps reduce the stress on his head. This also helps reduce flat spots, which occur for similar reasons as hair loss. Tummy time not only helps your baby improve muscle tone and learn necessary gross motor skills, it also reduces the stress on the back of his head, limiting hair loss 1.

Considerations

Talk to your pediatrician if you are concerned about your baby's hair loss 1. If you take the steps to reduce it and still notice problems, a pediatrician may be able to advise whether you should use a safety ring beneath your baby's head, which separates his head from the bed or chair. In most cases, your little one's hair will grow back when he learns to sit up and roll.