2023 Author: Anita Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-22 03:30
The fontanel is the soft part at the top of the newborn's skull. Why do we have to pay so much attention to it?
What is the fontanel?
Located on the infant's skull, the fontanelle is the soft, membranous space between the cranial bones. With age, the bones will fuse together and the fontanel will disappear on its own. When talking about a fontanelle, most parents think of the one on the top of a newborn's head, but did you know that there are actually two types of fontanelles?
The two types of fontanels
The anterior fontanel (large fontanel) is the one located on the top of the skull. It has the shape of a diamond and measures between 2 and 3 centimeters wide. This fontanel will close between the 8e and the 24e month of baby's life.
The posterior fontanel (small fontanelle) is located at the back of the baby's head and is triangular in shape. It is about 0.5 centimeters wide and already begins to close from 2 months.
What is the fontanel for?
Because the baby's cranial bones are not yet welded and they are more flexible at the fontanelles, the baby's head can deform during childbirth to facilitate its passage through the canal uterine. After birth, her head will naturally spring back into shape after a few weeks. The fontanelles then allow the growth of the baby's brain, which is done very quickly during its first two years of life.
You may notice that his doctor will examine the fontanels using palpations at each appointment during early childhood. This is to assess:
- If his skull is growing well and at a normal rate;
- If well hydrated (a dehydrated baby will have sunken fontanelles);
- The level of intracranial pressure (if his fontanelles are too large, it indicates pressure on his brain, which can be dangerous in the long term.)
Fontanel problems
The appearance of the fontanel may change slightly without this indicating a problem. For example, when a child cries loudly or has a fever, their fontanels may look bigger without indicating pressure on the head that predicts hydrocephalus. However, if your baby's fontanelles are smaller or larger than normal for a long time, this could indicate the presence of:
- Dehydration leading to collapse of the large fontanel;
- Meningitis or hydrocephalus when the fontanels are too large indicating pressure inside the skull;
- Craniostenosis or the premature fusion of the cranial bones which give an appearancelarger at the fontanel.
In all these cases, it is important to see a doctor quickly so that he can determine the reason for the abnormal appearance of your baby's fontanelles and advise you on the appropriate treatment.
