How To Help Baby Hair Grow: What Parents Can Actually Do
If your baby has thinning hair or a bald spot, you’re probably wondering:
“Will it grow back?”
“Should I be doing something?”
“Can I help it grow faster?”
The reassuring news?
In many cases, baby hair grows back naturally with time.
Especially if hair looks thinner because of rubbing during sleep.
Many babies go through a stage where hair looks patchy, thin or rubbed away.
And for most families, it improves naturally as babies grow and move more.
Will My Baby’s Hair Grow Back?
In many cases, yes.
Baby hair changes a lot during the first year.
Some babies are born with lots of hair. Some lose most of it. Some develop bald patches. Some grow new hair quickly. Some take longer.
If hair looks thinner because of rubbing or normal newborn hair changes, it often improves naturally over time.
Parents usually notice hair improving as babies sit up more, roll more, crawl, spend less time lying down and move around more.
For many families, time does most of the work.
Why Does Baby Hair Sometimes Look Thin?
1. Rubbing During Sleep
This is one of the biggest reasons parents notice thinning hair.
Babies spend many hours sleeping.
During sleep, delicate hair repeatedly rubs against bedding.
Over time, that friction can wear hair away.
Parents often notice thinning at the back of the head, rubbed-looking patches or hair disappearing in one area.
This is often called friction hair loss.
You can read more in our guide to why babies get bald spots from sleeping.
2. Normal Newborn Hair Shedding
Many babies naturally lose hair during the first months.
This is very common.
Sometimes hair falls out evenly. Sometimes it looks patchy. Then new hair gradually comes through.
This stage can look dramatic, but is often completely normal.
3. Lots Of Time Lying Down
Young babies spend lots of time sleeping, resting, in bouncers, in car seats and in baby chairs.
That means lots of contact with fabric, which can sometimes increase rubbing.
What Can Parents Do To Help Baby Hair Grow?
There’s no magic fix.
But there are a few practical things many parents try.
1. Reduce Friction Where Possible
If rubbing is contributing to hair thinning, less friction simply makes sense.
Many parents start by looking at bedding, sleep surfaces, bouncers, baby chairs and car seats — anywhere hair repeatedly rubs.
This is one reason many families switch to smoother bedding.
Compared with traditional cotton, silk creates less resistance during movement.
That may help reduce rubbing against delicate baby hair.
The goal isn’t to make hair grow faster.
It’s to create a gentler environment for hair to grow back naturally.
2. Encourage Supervised Tummy Time
When baby is awake and supervised, tummy time helps reduce time spent resting on the same area of the head.
It also supports strength and development.
Even short periods can help.
3. Vary Positions During Awake Time
Try changing how your baby spends time during the day.
This could include different holding positions, changing sides during feeding, less time in the same position and changing where pressure happens.
The goal is simply less repeated rubbing in one spot.
4. Think Beyond The Cot
One thing parents often realise is that the rubbing happens everywhere.
Not just overnight.
Sometimes the biggest source of friction turns out to be the bouncer, the swing, the car seat or the lounger.
A simple trick some parents love?
Using a smooth silk pillowcase over the head-rest area during supervised awake time.
A larger pillowcase can work especially well for wider baby chairs or bouncers.
Many parents use our adult silk pillowcase for this reason.
Only use this during supervised awake time. Always follow safe sleep guidance for sleep.
5. Be Patient
This might be the hardest one.
But hair growth often takes time.
Sometimes parents suddenly realise one day:
“Oh wow… it’s actually growing back.”
Without even noticing it happen.
For many babies, time plus less friction often helps.
Does Silk Help Baby Hair Grow?
This is a really important distinction.
Silk does not make hair magically grow faster.
But many parents choose silk because it may help reduce the rubbing that contributes to thinning.
Silk has a smoother surface than traditional cotton.
That means less resistance during movement.
For babies whose hair seems rubbed away, many parents simply feel a smoother surface makes sense.
The goal isn’t miracle growth.
It’s less friction while hair grows naturally.
You may also find our baby bald spot FAQ helpful.
When Should You Worry About Baby Hair Loss?
Most baby hair thinning is very normal.
But speak to a healthcare professional if you notice:
- redness
- irritation
- scaling
- broken skin
- unusual patches
- sudden hair loss
- severe hair loss
- baby seeming uncomfortable
A rubbed patch from sleeping is usually very common.
But if something feels unusual, trust your instinct.
FAQs About Helping Baby Hair Grow
Will my baby’s hair grow back?
In many cases, yes. Hair often improves naturally as babies become more mobile and spend less time rubbing the same area.
How can I help my baby’s hair grow?
Parents often focus on reducing friction, supervised tummy time, varying positions and creating a gentler sleep environment.
Can bedding affect baby hair growth?
Bedding can sometimes affect how much rubbing happens, especially if hair repeatedly moves against fabric for many hours.
Can silk help baby hair grow?
Silk does not make hair grow faster, but many parents choose it because its smoother surface may help reduce friction.
Is baby hair rubbing normal?
Yes — very normal. Many babies experience hair thinning or rubbed-looking patches in the first months.
When should I worry about baby hair loss?
Speak to a healthcare professional if you notice irritation, scaling, broken skin or severe or sudden hair loss.
Related Reading
Looking For A Gentler Sleep Surface?
Many parents discover The Little Silk while looking for ways to reduce friction against delicate baby hair.
Our mulberry silk bedding is designed to feel smoother than traditional cotton, gentle during movement, breathable overnight and softer against delicate baby hair.
Because when hair is rubbing against fabric for hours every day, creating a gentler sleep environment simply makes sense.
Explore silk baby bedding →
Last reviewed: May 2026
