18M with ZERO Hair

I would stock up on super cute hats, headbands and such. They make stocking hats with yarn hair too. Doll her up have fun and see the dermatologist! Try not to worry till they tell you that there's a problem, because for now there probably isn't one

All kids wear hats in the summer, so just do that for now.

Why are YOU self-conscious? Your child has done nothing wrong, and neither have you.

Going to the dermatologist is a good thing. If the 2 hour drive is a problem (and I can imagine it is), ask your doctor or your insurance company for something closer. Do you life in a really rural area and there are just no specialists anywhere? If so, perhaps you'd best get used to this issue for future consultations.

Rude people? Practice an expression that's somewhere between stone-faced and bewildered. Have a couple of standard responses like, "Excuse me. What did you say?" and "Did you mean to comment on her physical appearance to me? Did you say it in front of her for a reason?" Do NOT give an answer to why she has no hair (even when you get one) and do not respond to other personal questions now or in the future. Do not make excuses, do not give medical information. A parting remark like "My daughter is fine just the way she is" is fine. Move on to your next activity ("Oh my, look at the time..."), change the subject ("Isn't it a nice day today?") or just say goodbye ("Gotta go. Bye."). These are good answers for many years to come when it comes to personal questions.

I know you love her, but I don't think her being smart has anything to do with this. I wouldn't say that to people. Every child deserves answers on medical conditions regardless of intellect.

Please make a list of questions to take with you to the appointment. Don't presume that you will remember everything they say. Take someone with you to take notes if you have to - it's always good to have an objective observer to listen and to check your list of questions to be sure you ask everything on it.

My boys have always had lots of hair, and I never really paid that much attention to little ones who weren't blessed with lots of hair early on. So I really have no idea whether 18 months is unusual.

You asked the pediatrician about it because you are concerned. That seems like a great place to begin. Good for you. Your pediatrician couldn't give you an answer and suggestion you see someone who could ... a dermatologist.

Don't be nervous just because the ped is sending you to a dermatologist. How else are you going to get answers?

Try not to get nervous anytime a doctor sends you to a specialist. That is simply the doctor being responsible. Peds can handle many, many things, but some things really are better handled by specialists. No reason to worry! Just be glad your ped has your back.

ETA - You also asked how to deal with rude people. This is a skill all parents need from time to time. You have to learn how to not care. People can be rude, and people can be judgemental. You have to learn to focus on your daughter and not care what other people think.

I have a 9 year old son with Autism. One of the best lessons he has taught me is to stop noticing the people who stare or criticize or are just not supportive. As I've learned to do that, I've also noticed just how many people are nice, polite, supportive and genuinely positive.

It is an important parenting skill, and it is an important life skill. You don't have time to worry about people being rude or asking you why your daughter doesn't have hair (as if you have any control over that ... unless you choose to shave her head :-) You just have to learn to not care.

i get being worried. it's part of motherhood.

good for you for bringing your worry to your pediatrician and making an appointment with a dermatologist. i'm betting dimes to doughnuts this is nothing, but if you're worried it's best to have that worry allayed.

i'm sure your pediatrician referred you to the dermatologist BECAUSE you expressed concern, right? so no, the referral in and of itself would not worry me because it's the logical thing for your pediatrician to do when a parent expresses a concern.

the only cause for concern that i see is your sensitivity to random remarks. i sincerely doubt that many or any were pointed barbs, so you're letting yourself be hurt and riled up by people commenting on the simple truth- that your little one is adorably bald.

you need to toughen up- you've got years of motherhood ahead of you and you want to model confidence and resilience for your little girl all across the spectrum, not self consciousness and embarrassment. what if she DOES have a condition that will render her bald for all time? don't you want her to face it with a big smile and a jaunty comeback?

rehearse a courteous, even funny, response to people who comment on it. 'no, no hair yet. we're pretty sure she's channeling all of her hair-growing energy into yelling NO to everything.'

or put a hat on her.

khairete
S.

When my daughter was a baby I thought she was going to go to school bald and toothless. It took so long for her to get hair and teeth. But today at 31 she has perfect teeth and enough hair for 3 heads.

She's fine, stop worrying.

I might respond to comments by saying yes she has no hair. She's adorable! I've found that acknowledging the comment and sometimes following up with a positive comment stops the conversation. I've heard comments such as he should behave and my comment has been yes, he should sometimes with a smile.

I'm sure it will be fine but sending good thoughts your way.

I didn't get hair til I was 2! I was in a children's hospital for a week 3 hours from home (in the 70's), and my parents had 2 other kids, so staying with me was not an option, nor were everyday visits feasible, so when my mom dropped me off she says I was a cue-ball and when she came back, she had to ask the nurses where I was, she said there is a little girl with a headful of curly blonde hair and she thought they had changed my room, nope, the nurse told her, that's B.. She thought I was going to be bald forever. .