Yes, most newborn eyelashes are present at birth, formed by mid-pregnancy; they can be pale or fine, and preterm babies may have sparse growth.
Parents often meet their baby and wonder about those tiny lids: are there lashes yet, and do they matter? Here’s a straight answer up front, followed by a practical guide on timing, what “normal” looks like, and when to ask a clinician. You’ll also get quick care tips and myth-busting notes so you can stop guessing and move on with confidence.
Do Babies Arrive With Eyelashes? Timing And Look
In a full-term pregnancy, lash follicles form during the second trimester. By late second trimester, the rims of the lids have distinct hairs. At birth, many babies show short, light lashes that thicken over the first months. On darker hair tones they’re easy to spot; on blond or red hair they can be hard to see in certain light. Premature babies may have less visible growth at first, then catch up over time.
What “Invisible” Lashes Often Mean
Two common reasons parents miss lashes on day one: puffiness and pigment. After delivery, the eyelids can look puffy, which briefly narrows the opening and hides the lid margin. As that swelling settles in the first days, the edges are easier to see. Color matters too. Fair lashes can blend with skin tone until they lengthen.
Fetal-To-Newborn Lash Timeline
The rough stages below show what’s happening before birth and what you’ll notice in the first months. Timing varies a bit from baby to baby.
| Stage | Typical Timing | What You’ll See |
|---|---|---|
| Follicle Formation | Mid second trimester | Hair bulbs form along lid margins; lashes begin as fine stubble |
| Visible Lashes In Utero | Late second trimester | Short hairs present; eyebrows and lashes defined |
| Birth (Full-Term) | 37–42 weeks | Short lashes that may be pale; length and color vary |
| Birth (Preterm) | <37 weeks | Sparser or lighter lashes; catch-up growth over weeks to months |
| Early Months | 0–6 months | Gradual thickening and darkening; more obvious on photos and in daylight |
Why Lashes Matter For Newborn Eyes
Lashes are tiny guards. They help deflect dust and lint, cue blinks when something brushes the lid, and work with tears to keep the surface clean. That reflex works from the start, even when the hairs look faint. You don’t need to “stimulate” growth with oils or balms. The follicle cycle runs on its own, and the area is sensitive. Gentle cleaning with water is plenty.
Lanugo Isn’t The Same Thing
Many babies have soft body hair at birth, especially if they arrive early. That fuzz, called lanugo, isn’t the same as lashes. Lanugo covers broad areas like shoulders and back; lashes sit on the lid edge and are thicker relative to their length. Lanugo sheds on its own over weeks; don’t tug or try home removal.
What Makes Newborn Lashes Hard To Spot
Several normal factors can hide a baby’s lashes. Here’s what parents notice most.
Eyelid Puffiness Right After Birth
Delivery can leave the lids a bit swollen. That puffy phase can make the edges look smooth at first glance. As the swelling settles in the first days, lashes become easier to see. A clinical photo guide from an academic nursery explains this early puffiness in simple terms and shows how quickly it eases. See the Stanford Newborn Nursery note on eyelid edema for context.
Fair Pigment And Short Length
Light hairs reflect less at the lid margin, so they blend with skin tones in indoor light. Photos shot from the side or in bright, indirect daylight often pick them up. As the hairs lengthen, they stand out without any special care.
Prematurity
Arriving early means less time for hair to lengthen in the uterus. That can leave the lid margin looking bare at first. With normal growth and nutrition, length improves in the months that follow.
How Lash Growth Progresses After Birth
Newborn hairs grow in cycles. Short anagen (growth) phases and shedding phases repeat as the follicle renews itself. Parents often notice a steady thickening through the first six months, then slower, steady change through the first year. No special serum is needed, and cosmetic lash products aren’t made for infants.
Safe Care Basics
- Skip oils, creams, or lash serums near the lid margin.
- Clean dried tears with warm water and a soft cloth.
- Trim fingernails so accidental eye rubs don’t scratch the surface.
- Avoid cotton swabs on the lid edge; they shed fibers.
Evidence On When Lashes Form Before Birth
Medical references that map fetal growth show eyebrows and lashes becoming visible in the second trimester and looking well formed by the late second trimester. A trusted overview from the U.S. National Library of Medicine notes that “eyebrows and lashes appear” around week 22 and are “well-formed” by week 26 in a typical timeline; see the MedlinePlus page on fetal development for the week-by-week details.
What That Means For Birth
Since lashes form before the third trimester ends, most full-term babies arrive with lashes in place. That said, visibility varies. Some parents see a fringe on day one; others only notice it in a close-up photo a few weeks later. Both patterns fit a normal range.
Spotting Normal Vs. Needs-A-Check
True absence of lashes is unusual. When it happens, it can be part of a broader pattern that a clinician would see during a routine newborn exam. Most concerns fall into simple buckets listed below. Use these as a guide for what to watch and the first step to take at home.
| Situation | What It Usually Means | Simple Care Step |
|---|---|---|
| Lashes look “missing” on day one | Swelling hides the lid margin or hairs are pale and short | Recheck in daylight after a few days; look from the side |
| Baby was born early | Less time for hair to lengthen before delivery | Expect gradual growth over weeks to months |
| Hairs turn inward and rub the surface | Possible lid positioning issue or misdirected lashes | Ask your clinician; avoid rubbing and skip home tweezing |
| Redness, tearing, or frequent eye rubbing | Irritation from lint, dryness, or a stray hair | Rinse with sterile saline or clean water; seek care if persistent |
| No visible lashes after several months | Uncommon; needs a clinician to evaluate | Bring up at the next well-baby visit |
Baby-Safe Ways To Look After The Lid Area
Newborn eyes are sensitive, so a light touch wins. Here’s a simple routine that keeps the lid margin clean without products aimed at adults.
Gentle Cleaning Routine
- Wash your hands and rinse them well.
- Wet a soft, lint-free cloth with warm water.
- Wipe from the inner corner to the outer corner in a single pass.
- Use a fresh part of the cloth for the other eye.
- Pat dry; don’t rub.
What To Avoid
- No mascara, lash curlers, or cosmetic removers near your baby’s eyelids.
- No oils or herbal balms on the lid edge.
- No plucking of any stray hair; ask a clinician if a hair points inward.
Common Myths, Clear Answers
“If I trim my baby’s lashes, they’ll grow thicker.”
Trimming doesn’t change follicle number or hair diameter. It only shortens the visible length and can raise the risk of an eye poke during re-growth. Leave them alone.
“No lashes means a vision issue.”
Lashes protect the surface, but they don’t control visual development. Vision milestones move forward even when lashes look faint. If eye alignment, light sensitivity, or tracking worries you, book a visit; that’s separate from lash length.
“Lanugo on the face is the same as lashes.”
Lanugo is body hair that sheds on its own. Lashes are lid-edge hairs with a specific role and different feel. The two are unrelated in care and timing. Read the clinical overview of lanugo from Cleveland Clinic linked above for a clear description and timing.
When To Ask A Clinician
Reach out if you see any of the signs below. None of these are emergencies by themselves; they’re just cues to get a quick look from your care team.
- Persistent inward-pointing hairs that touch the surface.
- Ongoing tearing, redness, or yellow discharge.
- No visible lashes by several months, especially with other hair or nail findings.
- Swelling that doesn’t ease over the first week.
Quick Science Notes For The Curious
Eyelids and their hairs develop in a set order before birth, and those steps are remarkably consistent. A respected medical encyclopedia from the U.S. National Library of Medicine lists “eyebrows and lashes appear” during the second trimester and “eyebrows and eyelashes are well-formed” by about week 26. You can review that timeline here: week-by-week fetal development. That same page shows when lids open again late in pregnancy, which helps explain the blink reflex you see right away.
Right after delivery, lids can look puffy and tired from the work of birth. A teaching page from Stanford’s newborn program shows this short-lived puffiness and explains why the eye may seem hard to open on day one. See the clinical note on eyelid edema for a quick photo example and plain-language guidance.
Bottom Line For Parents
Most babies arrive with lashes already in place. Some are bold on day one; others are pale and short, then thicken with time. Premature birth can delay how obvious they are, but growth follows soon after. Gentle cleaning, nail trimming, and patience are all you need. If hairs seem to turn inward or the eyes stay irritated, ask your clinician at the next visit.