Hair is considered to be one of our most important physical traits when it comes to appearance. So, it is quite understandable why a lot of parents are so obsessed with how their little one’s hair will grow. If it seems like your toddler’s hair is not growing and you are still figuring out how to style that scanty hair, then you’re sure to find this article useful! We’ll go over why your toddler’s hair may not be growing, and how you can promote healthy hair growth in your toddler.
Is it normal if my toddler’s hair is not growing?
First of all your toddler’s hair is almost certainly growing – at least a bit. It is possible however that the growth of your little tot’s hair is not that obvious or noticeable. Why is that so? To understand it much better, let’s take a quick hindsight of what happens to your toddler’s hair when he or she was still a baby.
Babies begin growing hair during the first trimester of pregnancy. The pregnancy hormones from their mother are used to support hair growth, which is why some babies may be born with a full set of hair, while some have little hair at all. Nevertheless, once the mother enters the labor stage, huge hormonal shifts are ought to happen to support labor and delivery. In this case, the stress hormone, cortisol causes other important bodily functions to take priority over hair growth, including the functioning of their lungs and the development of their veins and arteries after the umbilical cord is cut.
In other words, this causes baby hair to temporarily stop growing, and eventually, fall out one by one. You may have seen some pieces of hair left in your baby’s pillow or towel, making your little one’s hair quite patchy and uneven. The fall of baby hair tends to become more noticeable starting around 8 to 12 weeks of age. But don’t worry! As soon as your baby’s body begins to gather more nutrients, they will begin to grow a new set of hair. This usually happens at around 3 to 7 months of age.
So their hair is supposed to regrow, that’s good news! But since hair growth is also influenced by some other factors, most children wouldn’t have a thick full head of hair until 2 years of age. This may be a possible reason that explains why your little toddler celebrated her first birthday with just an adorable head band and a few pieces of hair.
Why is my toddler’s hair not growing?
It is quite common for babies to have scanty hair, but once they begin their journey to toddlerhood, parents can’t help but ask, “Why is my toddler’s hair not growing?” Before you compare your little one’s hair to your young neighbor’s luscious locks, you may want to take a look at some important factors that influence your toddler’s hair growth.
Genetics
Have you checked yours and your hubby’s baby pictures? If you see your old cute self with a little hair, then genetics can be the reason why your toddler’s hair appears this way. Thje majority of how your child looks will depend on the traits that she inherited form her parents. Though other factors may still influence hair growth, genetics can play a major role not only on the growth but also on the color, texture, and composition of your child’s hair.
Additionally, some families tend to have slower hair growth that the rest. For example, toddlers that came from a European descent tend to grow hair a bit slower than other babies. You’ll often notice these children with scanty hair until the age of two.
Hormones
The rate of hair growth may also be influenced by some hormonal shifts in your child’s body. Hormones are chemical messengers that are released by various glands in the body to regulate the body’s important functions. Similarly, hormones may come at play and regulate your toddler hair’s growing, resting, and shedding phases.
Nutrition
Good nutrition is easily reflected on a child’s skin and hair. A shiny, thick, and healthy set of hair greatly depends on the nutrients that your child takes in. B vitamins, zinc and calcium are some of the most important nutrients that are needed for hair growth. While healthy food makes for the best source of nutrients, you may also consider picking up a child-friendly multivitamin for them.
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Use of hair care products
Some shampoos may be marketed as mild, yet they tend to be to too strong for your baby’s hair and scalp. The amount and frequency of using shampoo in your toddler’s hair may also contribute to hair loss and damage.
Hair styling
It’s fun and exciting to style your little daughter’s hair, even if there’s just a few of them. But be wary of the hairstyles you try out, because tying the hair too tightly may stress out the hair follicles and lead to hair loss. In fact, harsh hair styling can contribute to a condition called traction alopecia, which is a type of premature hair loss.
Medical conditions
Some medical conditions may affect the hair growth of your toddler. Very high fever, severe infection, and thyroid dysfunction may lead to temporary hair loss in toddlers.
Why is my toddler hair not growing in the front?
Toddlers greatly vary on their hair growth and characteristics, so it is quite normal to see a child’s hairline quite different from other kids. As mentioned, internal factors like genetics and external influences like stress and harmful chemicals may also affect the way your toddler grows her front hair.
However, if your toddler develops bald patches on her hairline and other areas of the scalp, it may be a symptom of a condition called tinea capitis. Tinea capitis is a fungal infection that may affect the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes. This condition needs appropriate treatment from a pediatrician or dermatologist.
How to promote hair growth in toddlers
If your toddler’s hair is slowly growing, the best thing to do is to wait for the time that her hair will naturally gain its thickness and length. However, if you’re the type of parent who can’t simply do nothing about it, then here are some things that may help improve the appearance and health of your toddler’s hair.
Healthy diet
Nutrition has a great impact on your toddler’s hair growth and appearance. So if you want to promote hair growth for your little one, it will be best to take a closer look at his diet.
Offering meals and snacks that are rich in B Vitamins, especially biotin, can have a positive impact on your child’s hair and scalp health. Vitamin B is needed in the formation of keratin, the structural protein of the hair. You can get the B vitamins in eggs, cheese, avocado, raspberry and whole wheat bread for example.
Vitamin E-rich foods may also help in promoting hair growth. Corn, spinach and peanuts are rich sources of this vitamin.
Alongside these two, you’ll want to regularly infuse milk and dairy products in your toddler’s diet. These food items are good sources of calcium which is an essential mineral for hair and bone growth.
Hydration
Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water in a day helps keep your little one healthy. Moreover, it can help your child’s hair become shinier and more vibrant.
Scalp massage
Gentle scalp massage can promote blood circulation in the area, which is good for the hair. You can do gentle circular strokes every time you shampoo your little tot’s hair. Just be careful not to provide too much pressure and avoid your toddler’s fontanelle if it hasn’t completely closed.
Haircut
Have you heard of this friendly advice? Cutting your child’s hair for it to grow isn’t backed by scientific research, yet many people still believe in this practice in the effort to grow their toddler’s hair.
This might be because cutting the hair makes the strands appear thick and even. Trimming down the split ends will also bring more volume to the hair, and make hair growth more noticeable. So if you’re after improving the looks of your toddler’s hair, a hair cut is not a bad idea after all!
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is known for its soothing effects on the skin and may be a good natural remedy to prevent inflammation and fungal infections in the scalp, which can also contribute to hair loss. Some parents also use aloe vera gel to bring more shine to their toddler’s hair. Just be extra careful that the aloe vera won’t reach your toddler’s mouth because it is not safe to be ingested.
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Soft towel and beddings
Too much friction can lead to hair loss which you would want to avoid if you aim to grow your toddler’s hair longer and healthier. That is why you will want to provide soft towels and beddings to prevent the hair and scalp from continuously rubbing to rough surfaces. That said, a cotton towel and a satin pillowcase may be the perfect bathing and sleeping buddies of your little one.
When To Seek Help
Having little or short hair strands are typical among toddlers. However, complete baldness at the age of two may be something to report to your pediatrician.
This way, the doctor can inspect and run tests to determine the cause of baldness and offer appropriate interventions to address the problem.
Additionally, if you’re seeing bald patches, a symptom of tinea capitis, you’ll also need to consult a doctor for further advice.
Conclusion
Toddlers greatly vary in their hair growth and characteristics, so it is typical to see a toddler with a much shorter and fewer hair than his or her peers. You can try out some techniques to improve the looks, strength and volume of your toddler’s hair, but since hair growth is mostly determined by genetics, all you really have to do is wait. After all, your little one’s locks will soon grow longer and once it happens, you’ll have plenty of time to wash, brush, and style them.
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