What age does a fontanelle close?

The posterior fontanelle usually closes by age 1 or 2 months. It may already be closed at birth. The anterior fontanelle usually closes sometime between 9 months and 18 months. The sutures and fontanelles are needed for the infant’s brain growth and development.

Table of Contents

What is normal fontanelle?

Fontanelles are the soft spots on an infant’s head where the bony plates that make up the skull have not yet come together. It is normal for infants to have these soft spots, which can be seen and felt on the top and back of the head. Fontanelles that are abnormally large may indicate a medical condition.

What are the 4 fontanelles?

Structure and Function

Anterior Fontanelle. The anterior fontanelle is the largest of the six fontanelles, and it resembles a diamond-shape ranging in size from 0.6 cm to 3.6 cm with a mean of 2.1 cm.
Posterior Fontanelle.
Mastoid Fontanelle.
Sphenoid Fontanelle.
Third Fontanel.

When should I worry about my baby’s fontanelle?

If you notice a bulging fontanelle along with a fever or excessive drowsiness, seek medical attention right away. A fontanelle that doesn’t seem to be closing. Talk with your doctor if your baby’s soft spots haven’t started getting smaller by her first birthday.

What happens if fontanelle doesn’t close?

Soft spot that doesn’t close

If the soft spot stays big or doesn’t close after about a year, it is sometimes a sign of a genetic condition such as congenital hypothyroidism. What you should do: Talk to your doctor about treatment options.

What happens if fontanelle closes late?

Delayed closure of the anterior fontanelle is often associated with significant disease entities. Range of normal closure of the anterior fontanelle is 4 to 26 months. Increased intracranial pressure, hypothyroidism, and skeletal anomalies are common etiologic factors.

When should I be concerned about a soft spot?

What Should You Do If Your Baby Hits His Soft Spot? Contact your baby’s healthcare provider if your baby hits his soft spot. If you notice swelling/bulging of the soft spot and/or bruising around her eyes or behind her ears, it may be due to a concussion. Call 911 immediately.

Why is the fontanelle important?

The fontanelles allow for growth of the brain and skull during an infant’s first year. There are normally several fontanelles on a newborn’s skull. They are located mainly at the top, back, and sides of the head. Like the sutures, fontanelles harden over time and become closed, solid bony areas.

Which fontanelle is last to close?

anterior fontanelle
Typically, fontanelles close by the time your baby is 18 months old. The posterior fontanelle usually closes first — within 2 months of birth. The anterior fontanelle closes between 7 and 18 months. If you feel your baby’s fontanelles are closing too soon or haven’t closed in 18 months, consult your pediatrician.

Why does my 2 year old still have a soft spot?

How do you treat fontanelles?

If the sunken fontanel is due to dehydration, immediate medical attention may be necessary, sometimes in the hospital. In a hospital, a doctor will give the infant fluids orally to prompt rehydration. If the infant has been vomiting, doctors may administer fluids into the bloodstream through an intravenous (IV) line.

What causes delayed fontanelle closure?

The most common causes of a large anterior fontanel or delayed fontanel closure are achondroplasia, hypothyroidism, Down syndrome, increased intracranial pressure, and rickets.

Why is my two year old soft spot still open?

How do I know if fontanelle is sunken?

The fontanelles should feel firm and very slightly concave to the touch. A noticeably sunken fontanelle is a sign that the infant does not have enough fluid in its body. The sutures or anatomical lines where the bony plates of the skull join together can be easily felt in the newborn infant.

What are the two functions of fontanels?

Answer and Explanation: The fontanels serve two functions during childbirth and baby development. During childbirth, the flexible sutures allow the infant’s skull to flex as it passes through the birth canal. The cranial bones can overlap one another while still provided protection to the brain.

Which soft spot closes first?

posterior fontanelle
The posterior fontanelle usually closes first — within 2 months of birth. The anterior fontanelle closes between 7 and 18 months. If you feel your baby’s fontanelles are closing too soon or haven’t closed in 18 months, consult your pediatrician.

What causes a soft spot not to close?

Your baby’s fontanelles may not close on time for several reasons. Common reasons for delayed fontanelle closure include congenital hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormones from birth), Down syndrome, increased pressure inside the brain, rickets and familial macrocephaly (a genetic tendency to have a large head).

What happens if fontanelle is pressed?

Can I hurt my baby’s brain if I touch the soft spot? Many parents worry that their baby will be injured if the soft spot is touched or brushed over. The fontanel is covered by a thick, tough membrane which protects the brain. There is absolutely no danger of damaging your baby with normal handling.

What causes the fontanelle to sink?

Dehydration is the primary cause of a sunken fontanel. Dehydration occurs when an infant does not have sufficient fluid in their body to maintain normal functioning.

Why is it called fontanel?

Fontanel (fontanelle): The word fontanel comes from the French fontaine for fountain. The medical term fontanel is a “soft spot” of the skull. The “soft spot” is soft precisely because the cartilage there has not yet hardened into bone between the skull bones.

When should soft spot close?

These soft spots are spaces between the bones of the skull where bone formation isn’t complete. This allows the skull to be molded during birth. The smaller spot at the back usually closes by age 2 to 3 months. The larger spot toward the front often closes around age 18 months.

What is the importance of fontanel?

What age does a fontanelle close?