Prenatal Vitamins & Infants' Hair Growth
A: Prenatal vitamins are nutritional supplements formulated primarily for women who are pregnant or planning pregnancy. They contain vitamins and minerals intended to help meet the increased nutritional requirements of pregnancy, and their formulations and doses vary.
Although some substances can be absorbed through infant skin, there is no evidence that adding crushed prenatal vitamins to shampoo provides a useful dose of vitamins or minerals to an infant's scalp or hair. Because prenatal vitamins can contain relatively high amounts of nutrients such as iron, they should be kept out of an infant's reach and used only as intended. Excessive iron ingestion can be dangerous. If an infant or young child accidentally swallows prenatal vitamins, contact a poison center or seek urgent medical advice rather than waiting for symptoms.
As for making an infant's hair grow faster, there is no proven way to accelerate normal infant hair growth. Hair growth and shedding are influenced by normal development, genetics, nutrition and other factors. In a healthy infant, it is generally best to allow the hair cycle to develop naturally.
You can support a healthy scalp and minimize avoidable hair loss with a few simple practices:
• Maintain gentle scalp care: Wash the scalp with a mild baby shampoo. If your baby has cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis), gentle washing and a soft brush or comb can help loosen scales. Don't scratch or pick at them. Cradle cap is common and generally harmless.
• Minimize friction: Babies can develop a bald patch on the back of the head from rubbing against firm surfaces, particularly around 3–6 months of age. This hair normally grows back once the baby becomes more mobile.
• Use supervised tummy time: Tummy time while the baby is awake and supervised reduces prolonged pressure on the back of the head and supports normal motor development. Babies should still always be placed on their backs for sleep.
• Avoid tight hairstyles: Tight bands, braids or other styles that pull on the hair can contribute to hair loss.
• Provide appropriate nutrition: Breast milk or properly prepared infant formula provides the nutritional foundation infants need. Age-appropriate complementary foods should be introduced according to pediatric guidance. Nutritional supplements should be given to infants only when recommended for that child by a pediatrician or according to established infant-feeding guidance, and not simply to attempt to make hair grow faster.
It is also very normal for babies to lose some of the hair they were born with during their first months. This newborn hair commonly falls out during the first six months, often peaking around three months, and is subsequently replaced by new hair.
If an infant develops persistent or unusual hair loss, discuss it with the child’s pediatrician. A pediatrician can determine whether the hair loss is part of normal infant development or whether there is an underlying condition.
This answer is intended for informational purposes only. For medical advice or a diagnosis, contact a doctor.
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See also:
Does the sun make your hair grow faster?
Does washing your hair every day affect the growth rate?