Fontanelles: “holes” In The Baby’s Head
Fontanelles are one of the most feared parts of motherhood. It’s no wonder we are worried about myths about the anatomy of newborns. The truth is that fontanelles are perfectly normal and necessary for the child’s development.
Fontanelles are the soft part of the baby’s head where the bones of the skull meet. They are separated from each other at birth and remain open for several months to allow the brain to grow.
Your child has not just one opening, but six through which you can feel your baby’s heartbeat. But don’t be afraid, because after 18 months these strange “holes” in your child’s head will close.
Read on to find out what fontanels are and how to care for them.
What are fontanels?
When your child is born, their skull is not made up of a single bone, but rather multiple bones that join and fuse together over time. This allows the baby’s head to grow sufficiently in the first year of life.
The fontanel is the area of the baby’s head where the skull bones have not yet come together. This allows for rapid expansion and compression of the skull and expansion of the brain.
This “incompleteness” at the cranial level allows the bones to move and even lie on top of each other during birth so that the baby’s head can fit through the narrow birth canal.
What happens if I touch my child’s fontanel?
This is one of the most common questions. But you don’t need to be afraid. The membrane that covers the fontanelles is tough because of its extreme hardness. It’s hard to get through.
Do not forget that the fontanel is already open during childbirth. This is not an injury or a broken bone in the child’s head.
Remember to be careful with every movement with your child because the fontanels are sensitive.
In fact , at any pediatric treatment, the doctor will examine, measure, and feel these holes to control their size and make sure that the growth is normal.
This is the only way to prevent or diagnose possible abnormalities in the child’s brain development.
When do the fontanelles close?
The most notorious fontanel for parents is the one located in the upper front part of the skull. It is estimated that it closes between 7 and 19 months of age.
But as mentioned earlier, this is not the only fontanel in the child’s head. The hole in the back of the head usually closes between the first and third months of life.
There are also fontanelles on the sides at the level of the temples and behind the ears towards the base of the skull. While the first 6 months after birth close, this only happens 6 to 18 months after the birth with the holes behind the ears.
Are the fontanelles normal or should I ask the pediatrician for advice?
The fontanelles should feel firm and slightly curved. If the baby is crying, lying down, or vomiting, the fontanelles may be swollen at times.
But when the child has calmed down and holds their head up, they should feel normal.
These holes can be strained or protruding when fluids build up in the cranial cavity or when intracranial pressure increases, like a water head.
If the fontanel normalizes, the baby has calmed down, and his head lifted, you needn’t be alarmed.
However, if you notice that your child has a bulging fontanel, or if this condition is even accompanied by a febrile state or lethargy, you should see a pediatrician immediately for a medical emergency.
If you gently stroke your child’s head with your finger and you notice the fontanel is lowered, you should also contact your pediatrician as soon as possible, as it can be a sign that your baby is dehydrated.
Problems with fontanels
Sometimes the fontanelles close prematurely. When this lock is complete, it is suspected of having craniosynostosis, in which the baby’s head is abnormally shaped.
Likewise, a narrowing of the cranial cavity, which can lead to space problems, can also lead to an anomaly in the baby’s fontanelles.
In both cases, depending on the degree of blockage of the fontanelles and how many are affected, the doctor may choose to have an operation so that the brain can continue to grow.
Therefore, there is no need to worry, just pay attention to the condition of your little darling’s fontanelles.
