What is the big deal in body hair on your baby, you may ask? However, this has many parents worried that there is something wrong with their baby. We do not mean the fine baby hairs you can see on your baby’s body. We are talking about a different type of body hair that tends to cover almost the entire body of your newborn.
So, what is this exactly? What causes this and how should parents deal with this? We have it all covered below.
In This Article
- Newborn Baby Body Hair – What is It?
- Newborn Baby Covered in Body Hair – Is this Normal?
- Lanugo – What is its Role?
- Problems Related to Body Hair on Babies
- Top 5 Tips on How to Remove Baby Body Hair?
- Baby Hair Not Shedding On Its Own – What Can You Do?
Newborn Baby Body Hair – What is It?
The body hair on a newborn is more commonly known as Lanugo. The Lanugo or baby’s first hair is generally shed in the womb and floats in the amniotic fluid. When the baby ingests this, it gets processed and comes out as meconium.
Newborn Baby Covered in Body Hair – Is This Normal?
All babies have hair all over their bodies. This is a natural process. We don’t tend to see this because the babies shed this inside the womb itself. In a few but not rare cases, we can see babies born with hair on their bodies still intact.
Though the Lanugo newborn is not unheard of, it is more common among premature births.
Lanugo – What is its Role?
The baby’s first hair – Lanugo has an important role in the development of the baby. This Lanugo body hair or Lanugo newborn hair plays the following roles:
1. Protects Skin
In the womb where the babies are floating in the amniotic fluid, a greasy white thick layer called the vernix caseosa protects the baby’s skin from the fluid. The Lanugo sticks to this layer and helps it stay in place.
2. Regulates Temperature
Babies do not have enough fat when in the womb to regulate their body temperatures. This Lanugo helps maintain the temperature of the baby while still in the womb.
3. Regulates Hormones
It is also believed that Lanugo helps in balancing hormones and promotes the ones that stimulate growth.
Problems Related to Body Hair on Babies
Lanugo that does not go away can be an indication of an underlying health condition if your baby is starving continuously. A lack of nourishment can be the reason behind baby hairy ears or baby facial hair that is excess.
Malnourishment/ Cancer/ Metabolic Disorder can be some of the very rare reasons for baby body hair so it’s better to consult a doctor immediately and find out the reasons for the body hair on your infant.
Top 5 Tips on How to Remove Baby Body Hair?
Want to get rid of all that hair on your newborn? Here are 5 remedies you can try to remove the Lanugo hair/baby body hair on the baby’s forehead or the stubborn baby facial hair:
1. Massage
Use any mild baby oil recommended by your doctor and massage it into your baby’s skin. The gentle massage might help the hair fall out. Ensure you do not use any harsh substances that can irritate the baby’s skin. If your baby starts crying in pain or you see rashes, please stop! To know some of the top Baby Massage oils click Here.
2. HomeMade Scrub
Mix milk and gram flour to form a semi-thick paste. The gram flour must be well sifted to avoid a grainy texture that can irritate the tender baby skin. Gently massage this paste all over the hairy areas and let it sit for a few minutes. Wash it off gently with warm water. You can do this before a bath on a regular basis. Gram flour tends to dry up the skin. If you notice your baby’s skin is getting dry or rough, apply some baby lotion after washing off the scrub mentioned above.
3. Lentil Scrub
Grind a few lentils and almonds with some milk, to form a smooth paste. Use this as mentioned above.
4. Roll Dough
Make a dough from ghee and wheat flour. Add some milk for a good consistency. Roll this dough on the hairy areas of the baby’s body. If your baby protests, it means they are in pain and you need to stop.
5. Turmeric
Turmeric is believed to remove body hair and reduce further growth with regular use. It can be harsh on your baby’s skin depending on the quality of the product. So, watch out for skin breakouts or reactions when you use turmeric mixed with milk paste on your baby.
Baby Hair Not Shedding On Its Own – What Can You Do?
Is your baby not shedding its Lanugo Here is what you can do:
Wait
Yes, it can be frustrating to repeatedly answer questions about your baby’s body hair and to wonder when the baby’s facial hair falls off. However, this should not make you desperate enough to try something that can harm your baby. Just let the hair be and it will eventually go away on its own.
Ask Your Pediatrician
Check with your baby’s doctor. They will be able to assess the situation and guide you safely. Lanugo can be a cause for concern only in rare cases.
No matter how bad or thick the body hair looks on your baby, remember this is only superficial and temporary. Do not take any extreme measures suggested by others, which can cause permanent damage to your baby’s skin or trauma.
