What is the closing time of the baby's fontanelle and the harm of delayed closure

Generally, after a period of time after a baby is born, his fontanelle will gradually close. Whether the baby's fontanelle closes at the normal time is actually one of the signs of whether the baby is healthy. The fontanelle of many babies closes slower than normal people. So, when is the time for the baby's fontanelle to close? What are the dangers if the baby's fontanelle closes late?

Closing time:

When a baby is born, there are two gaps on his head. The triangular one on the occipital bone is the posterior fontanelle, and the diamond-shaped one in the middle of the head near the front is the anterior fontanelle. The fontanelle commonly referred to is usually the anterior fontanelle. If you look closely, you will see the anterior fontanelle area beating. Don’t underestimate this small fontanelle, it is a barometer of your baby’s health.

The human skull is made up of six flat bones of different shapes. The skull of a newborn is not fully developed. There are certain cracks between the bones, and the parts that have not yet fully ossified form gaps, which are the fontanelles. When a baby is born, the anterior fontanelle, with an area of ​​about 1.5 square centimeters, is formed by the frontal bone and parietal bone in the skull. It increases as the head circumference increases at two or three months. After six months, it gradually ossifies and begins to shrink. It closes at one to one and a half years old. The posterior fontanelle is very small or close to closed at birth.

harm:

Delayed closure may be related to encephalopathy.

The fontanelle of most babies closes before 18 months. If you find that your child’s fontanelle has not closed after he or she is over 1 and a half years old, you should consider whether it is a case of late closure of the fontanelle.

When a child's fontanelle closes late, pay attention to whether he or she suffers from vitamin D deficiency rickets, cretinism, hydrocephalus, and other diseases. Because abnormal calcium and phosphorus metabolism may cause changes in the head, bone development disorders also affect the closure of the fontanelle, and congenital hypothyroidism can also lead to developmental delay, manifested as short stature, large head, large and late closure of the anterior fontanelle, delayed tooth eruption, small and sparse teeth, low nose bridge, wide-set eyes, and a large and thick tongue. At the same time, delayed closure of the fontanelle may also be related to hydrocephalus in children, which is more common in clinical practice. The child may have a large head that cannot stand upright, a protruding forehead, an enlarged and bulging anterior fontanelle, a thinning skull, and delayed neuropsychiatric development. If the fontanelle continues to enlarge and the head circumference is too large, examination and symptomatic treatment are required as soon as possible. Chen Yanni said that clinically there are also infants and young children whose fontanelles do not close until they are 3 years old, but the proportion is less than 5%.

The above is the specific content introduced by the editor about the closure time of the infant fontanelle and the dangers of delayed closure. As parents, you should observe the closure of your baby's fontanelle more often. If you find that the closure time of your baby's fontanelle is not consistent with the normal time, you should go to the hospital to consult a doctor.