Should I Oil Baby’s Hair?

Q: Can Oiling Baby’s Hair Accelerate Hair Fall?

If your baby is having a lot of cradle cap, it can fall off. This may bring hair along. Thus making it look like accelerated hair fall.

4 min read

Written by Editorial Team

Editorial Team

With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting..

Should I Oil Babys Hair_

The amount of hair a baby will have at birth cannot be predicted. It is natural for some babies to be born with lots of hair, while others are born hairless. Most parents, specifically mothers, want their newborn babies to have soft, supple skin, and a luscious mane. The desire is stronger if you have a baby girl. The first question many new parents ask themselves is should I oil Baby’s hair? If so, what is the best oil? If not, how can I take care of my baby’s hair? And so on.

Many mothers feel and complain that their baby does not have enough hair, or the hair is really thin. This feeling often puts mothers at the end of their wits, and they start looking for remedies to promote hair growth. In some cultures, a ‘mundan’ (मुंडन) is performed, which is again believed to increase hair thickness and growth. However, mothers tend to continuously worry about their baby’s hair.

Will ‘mundan’ (मुंडन) (Shaving) Increase Hair Growth For My Baby?

What needs to be understood here is that babies’ scalps are very sensitive, and scalp care is a huge must to prevent fungal or bacterial infections such as cradle caps. Shaving the head majorly helps in keeping the scalp clean. But this process doesn’t exactly promote hair growth. Hair grows from a hair follicle that is present beneath the skin.

When you shave the head, the follicle does not change, but the hair feels thicker since it grows together and at the same length. The type of hair your baby has, or will have, largely depends on genetics. Moreover, many parents complain that the baby’s hair does not come on the lower part of the head and the sides after having a ‘mundan’ (मुंडन). Again, there is nothing to worry about as the hair will eventually grow, it just takes time.

How Can I Take Care of My Baby’s Hair?

The first and foremost thing is – never attempt to use adult products on your baby. Use specific baby products in your baby’s hair care regime, as adult products contain chemicals that can be harmful to the baby. The baby comb should also be soft and gentle. You will need to be very patient and gentle when dealing with your baby’s head and hair. Your baby’s locks, straight, curly, thick or thin, will look best when handled with care and compassion.

[Read : Mundan Or head Tonsuring Ceremony]

Washing the Baby’s Hair

washing baby hair

Washing the baby’s hair is the most difficult part of your baby’s care regime. First, it is imperative to hold the head tightly, second, the shampoo needs to be baby-friendly, and third, the scalp should be cleaned properly. You should also keep talking to the baby in soft tones to ensure that she enjoys her bath thoroughly. Gentle baby shampoo is only recommended as other shampoos can dry the scalp leaving flaky skin.

[Read : Washing The Baby’s Hair]

Should I Oil My Baby’s Hair?

Oiling the baby’s hair is not recommended because it dries the scalp and can clog the pores. Many parents think that applying oil to the baby’s head will foster hair growth, but this is largely a myth. You can simply massage the baby lotion onto their scalp and hair, following up with baby petroleum jelly.

Baby oil with vitamin E, aloe Vera, and other essential oils can also be used to sustain moisture in your baby’s hair. Exercise caution though because some scented oils can irritate the baby. Gently massaging the baby’s scalp can be good stimulation for the baby, however, too much oil can clog the pores and the scalp could get infected.

In fact, all babies shed their hair once they are about 4 months of age, and then the new hair that grows may or may not even be the same. Once your baby is a little older, you can also use pure, natural oil – such as almond or olive oil, which will help provide additional nutrition to the baby’s scalp.

Will Cow’s Milk Help in Growing My Baby’s Hair?

Will Cow’s Milk Help in Growing My Baby’s Hair_

In a belief prevalent across nations, many mothers think that feeding their newborn with cow’s milk will expedite hair growth. There’s surely no wonder food that can make a person’s hair grow fast, hence the stress should be on feeding a well-balanced, age-specific diet to your baby. Never switch to cow’s milk before the baby turns one, and never attempt to feed any foods that are not considered safe for babies.

The bottom line here is that you should not worry too much about your baby’s hair. Growth will happen eventually with time. And whether the baby has thick, thin, black, brown, curly, or straight hair is more dependent on genetics than oiling. Once your baby is old enough, you can use oiling and other hair care methods to ensure their locks stay nice and thick.

[Read: Baby Hair Growth Tips]

FAQ’s

1. Will Oiling Baby’s Hair Increase Hair Growth?

Ni, it does not. This is a myth. There is no scientific connection between oiling and hair growth.

2. Can Oiling Baby’s Hair Remove Cradle Cap?

Yes, it can. However, you need to be very gentle. Just a drop or two and a nice soft massage will do.

3. Can Oiling Baby’s Hair Accelerate Hair Fall?

If your baby is having a lot of cradle caps, it can fall off. This may bring hair along. Thus making it look like accelerated hair fall.

4. Can Oiling Baby’s Hair Cause Any Harm?

Yes, it can. Too much oil can clog the pores. Coconut oil can even attract ants.

Editorial Team,

With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting.Read more.

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