Are there any problems with children with small fontanelles?

When a child is born, it will arouse the curiosity of parents, especially the baby's body tissues are very cute to parents. Many parents have found that there is a part of the baby's forehead that is not protected by bones when observing the baby's body. This is the fontanelle, which is the part of the baby's skull that has not yet grown and closed. It is very important for the baby's healthy growth. Let's take a look at whether there is a problem with a child with a small fontanelle.

The fontanelle is divided into the anterior fontanelle and the posterior fontanelle. The fontanelle is formed by the bone gap caused by the loose connection of the skull. The posterior fontanelle is at the back of the head. It is usually very small or closed at birth, and closes at the latest at 2 to 4 months. So what we often pay attention to is the anterior fontanelle. Of course, the size of the anterior fontanelle varies from person to person. Generally, the oblique diameter of the fontanelle of a newborn is about 2.5 cm. The early or late closure of the fontanelle is the main measure of skull development.

The fontanelle on the top of an infant's head usually closes at 12-18 months. If it has not closed after 18 months, it is too late. Such children may have hydrocephalus, rickets and cretinism. However, if it closes before six months, the child may have microcephaly or brain underdevelopment, so we cannot simply assume that a small fontanelle means the child will speak early. On the contrary, if the fontanelle closes too early and the head circumference does not increase normally, there will be more problems with the development of the head. However, if the child's fontanelle is small since birth, there is no need to panic too much. It is normal if the head circumference grows normally.

How to care before the fontanelle closes

First of all, do not use pillows that are too hard, such as sand pillows, as this can easily cause deformation of the baby's head. Secondly, don’t let your baby sleep in a fixed position all the time. If you want your baby’s head shape to be perfect, you should turn him over frequently and change his sleeping position. Third, pay attention to the furniture in your home to avoid sharp corners that may injure your baby's head. Fourth, if the baby accidentally scratches the scalp, it should be disinfected immediately with an alcohol cotton ball to prevent infection. Fifth, you should wear a thicker hat when going out in winter to protect the fontanelle while reducing heat loss.