Fontana in newborns: why is it needed and what can it warn parents about?

All newborns have a thin membrane-like area of skin on their head. This is a fontanelle that helped the baby make its way through the birth canal without damaging the bones of the skull. In the first months of life, it serves as a kind of indicator of the health and general condition of the child.

Young, inexperienced parents are often frightened if they notice that the fontanelle is pulsating, that is, it begins to oscillate methodically, and at certain moments this becomes especially noticeable. Is it worth worrying in such cases and what are the reasons for such a strange phenomenon?

Causes

It will be useful for all parents to find out why the fontanel in a baby is pulsating in order to understand the simple truth - this is one of the physiological features of the structure of the skull of a newborn, nothing more. This phenomenon is explained from the point of view of the anatomy of a small organism as follows:

The child’s fontanelle pulsates in time with the work of the heart, because the fluctuations are dictated by the flow of blood, which flows to the brain with each regular contraction of the main organ of the human body;
In the cranium, the brain is surrounded by a liquid called cerebrospinal fluid: when the intracranial vessels pulsate, it transmits vibrations to the cerebrospinal fluid, which are precisely visible through the thin skin on the baby’s head.

These are the only causes of this phenomenon known to science. So if a baby’s fontanelle is pulsating, parents can be completely calm: this is completely natural and normal. Although there are many stories that everything depends on the speed of vibrations on the surface of the fontanelle, this can still pose a threat to the health and even the life of the baby. How justified are these rumors and in what cases should parents really worry?

The fontanelle pulsates in newborns: causes of fontanel pulsation

Those who don’t know may get scared when they see a pulsating fontanel in a baby. It is interesting that sometimes these fluctuations are very noticeable and intense

. Is it necessary to start taking some action in the event of such manifestations or not? Let’s look further.

So, let's find out the reasons for the vibrations of the soft crown. If loving parents understand this issue, they will not worry so much without reason. And the mother’s nerves will remain calm, which is very important for the development of the newborn and the health of the mother herself.

. Little ones always feel the mood of their parents, when they are restless, then the child can be nervous and cry.

If the baby’s fontanel is pulsating, then this is considered normal. It is normal for babies when the soft crown of the head oscillates in time with the beat of the heart.
. Blood flows through the vessels to the brain, which causes the rhythmic pulsations of the children's “fountain”.

Liquor is a special fluid that surrounds the human brain. Since children have fontanelles on the skull, fluctuations in the cerebrospinal fluid are visible visually through the membrane (membrane) and scalp

. Especially when the baby’s pulse quickens.

Fontana in babies

These are all the root causes of the manifestation of external vibrations of a child’s “fountain” on the head. Mom and dad shouldn’t worry when they see such movements of the fontanelle.

.
As the baby grows, this depression in the skull will gradually close. Doctors must monitor the process during periodic examinations of children under one year of age
. If any abnormalities occur, specialists can prescribe treatment.

IMPORTANT : Attentive medical specialists should tell mothers in the maternity hospital what a fontanel is, why it pulsates and when to worry about fluctuations in the soft crown. There are also dangerous reasons
. More details below.

Danger

Which condition of the fontanel in a newborn corresponds to the norm, and which is a deviation? Parents should know these indicators in accordance with the structure of the small skull and the characteristics of the still forming organism:

if the fontanel is pulsating very strongly, it means that the baby has a rapid heartbeat, but this is not yet a reason to panic, because in young children it should be more frequent than in adults;
The cause of this condition may be intracranial pressure, or when the baby cries too long and strained: if bursts of such activity occur in such cases, it is enough to calm the baby down - and the oscillation frequency will return to normal;
if the fontanel has sunk and pulsates in time with the heartbeat - evenly, calmly, always in the same rhythm (most often) - this corresponds to the norm for up to six months, after which this place on the baby’s head begins to gradually overgrow, and the vibrations subside;
if a newborn’s fontanel pulsates intermittently, weakly, at different rates and speeds, this is already a reason to worry and continue to monitor the fluctuations: if the situation does not change, you must inform the doctor about this;
if you can’t see it pulsating at all, there is nothing to think about: you need to immediately seek medical help and undergo an examination: this may be an alarming signal of problems with the baby’s cardiovascular system; the sooner they are identified, the faster they can be resolved.

Based on these physiological characteristics of the newborn, parents will be able to independently conclude whether the fontanel should pulsate - of course, it should. It is this condition that is the norm for about six months - until it begins to overgrow. From this moment on, there is no need to be afraid that the vibrations fade and become no longer noticeable to the naked eye. Although especially attentive parents will be able to notice changes in the pulsation during the first 6 months of the baby.

Age characteristics

Despite the fact that a pulsating fontanel is the norm in the first six months of a newborn’s life, in different months the fluctuations will be slightly different from each other - this also should not confuse parents. The reasons lie in the normal physiology of such a small organism:

at 2 months : frequent pulsation, clearly visible to the naked eye, especially noticeable in moments of excitement when the baby is crying;
at 3 months : the pulsation speed becomes more uniform and calm, the vibrations are still visible clearly;
at 4 months : now, in order to see how the baby’s fontanel is pulsating, you will need to look more carefully at the head, but as soon as crying starts, you won’t have to make any special efforts for this;
at 5 months : if the speed and rate of pulsation remain at the level of 2–3 months of age, you should consult a doctor to see if everything is in order, because the fluctuations should already begin to subside;
at 6 months : rapid overgrowth of the fontanel in infants should not occur, so if by this age it is no longer visible by any signs, this is also not the norm: the pulsation should still be discernible even at six months.

Suspicious parents should not doubt that if the fontanelle of a newborn pulsates, this is the norm for his age until at least six months. It will be much worse if this phenomenon does not exist at all as such at this stage. This usually indicates pathologies within the body. A distress signal is also the fact that the pulsation does not stop either after 6 months or after a year, when overgrowth of this area of the small head should occur.

In case of any deviations or doubts, it is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner and undergo all examinations prescribed by him to identify possible pathologies in the child.

New articles

we are in social networks

At birth, all babies have special areas on their heads called fontanelles. Quite often, parents, holding a newborn baby in their hands, notice that his fontanelle is pulsating. What does it mean? Should a baby's fontanelle pulsate?

When should a large fontanel close?

In 1982, WHO studied statistics on the fontanelles of children around the world and found that the crown normally closes in the period from 8 to 18 months. But sometimes this happens much earlier, for example at 3 months, or later - at two years. Pediatricians note that there is often nothing wrong with this either; the most important thing is that nothing bothers the child, and that he is regularly examined by a doctor. Each baby develops individually and how quickly the large fontanel closes can be influenced by:

Hereditary predisposition. WHO scientists note that it is genetics that largely determine how the fontanel will heal in a newborn.
The gestational age at which the child was born. In premature babies, the crown may take longer to close.
Concentration of calcium and vitamin D in the body. If they are deficient, the “cranial window” may take longer to heal.
Nutrition. If the baby eats well and gains weight, this contributes to the rapid overgrowth of the fontanel.
Gender of the newborn. It is believed that in boys the membranous tissue of the skull is replaced by bone tissue faster than in girls.

But the size of the “cranial window” has nothing to do with the speed of its closure. One baby may be born with a small fontanel, which will take a very long time to heal. The other one is large, but it will immediately begin to rapidly decrease in size.

The very definitions “small” and “large” are relative to the fontanel. You can find out what it should be normally by focusing on the very approximate figures given in the table. To measure the fontanel, take a measuring tape and look at the distance between the opposite sides of the “diamond”.

Scheme for measuring the fontanel

Interestingly, in the first days of a baby’s life, the size of the soft crown may increase in size. This is due to the fact that the shape of the skull changes. Then the “cranial window” will only get smaller.

The role of fontanelles in children of the first year of life

All babies have 6 fontanelles in the womb. These formations are located between the bones of the skull, covered with a thin membrane. By the time of birth, the baby has only two holes left on its head. The closure of all fontanelles in utero signals serious health problems in the newborn.

The large fontanel is located between the parietal and frontal bones and has the shape of a regular rhombus. Normal size at birth is about 2.5 cm in each dimension. It closes between the first and second years of a child's life. Premature or delayed closure of the membrane indicates the development of a serious pathology and requires the attention of a specialist.

The small fontanel is located at the junction of the occipital and parietal bones. Its dimensions do not exceed 1 cm. Usually this formation closes two months after the birth of the child. Any deviations from these deadlines also deserve the attention of a doctor.

Fontanas are an important element on a baby’s head. It is precisely due to the fact that the bones of a newborn’s skull do not completely converge that the child can pass through the birth canal without any major damage. The fetal head is somewhat compressed and deformed during childbirth, due to which the child travels the entire required path. If at the time of birth all the holes were closed, the baby simply would not be able to be born without injuries.

Fontana in newborns: why does a child need it, functions of the fontanel

Most babies have only one crown on the top of their head at birth. It has the shape of a rhombus. The soft crown, as the fontanelle is also called differently, tends to pulsate, and sometimes such fluctuations are very noticeable.

Functions of the soft crown:

Thanks to such holes, the process of giving birth to a newborn is greatly facilitated. The cranial bone tissues slightly overlap each other, and this makes it easier for the baby’s head to pass through the birth canal of the woman in labor. Sometimes the baby's head can change shape significantly during childbirth, this is not so scary
. Over the next few days, the baby’s skull will return to normal.
In case of falls, the soft crown helps to softly absorb the bones of the skull. It is thanks to the fontanel that sometimes serious injuries do not occur when the head hits a hard surface.
The soft crown of children serves as an excellent thermostat. So, if your baby is sick and his temperature rises above 38 degrees, then cooling will occur thanks to the fontanel. Too high a temperature can be dangerous for a baby
. At temperatures above 39 degrees, some babies experience convulsions and even swelling of the brain. It is the diamond-shaped fontanel that serves as a natural cooler for babies.

Fontanas in infants - skull structure

Should there be pulsation?

When parents pick up their baby, the first thing they notice is a large fontanel. This formation is located on the front of the head, and it is simply impossible not to detect it. Why does the fontanelle pulsate? Is this normal or should I immediately run to the doctor?

Young parents do not need to worry when they detect a pulsation on the baby’s head. This phenomenon is considered completely normal and occurs in all babies in the first year of life. It's simple: the membrane pulsates in time with the heart that beats in the child's chest. With each contraction of the heart muscle, there is a rush of blood to the brain, which explains the pulsation of the hole, covered with a thin membrane. If there were bone in place of the membrane, the blood flow would simply go unnoticed by the parents.

The second reason for pulsation is associated with the movement of cerebrospinal fluid along the meninges. As blood passes through the vessels of the brain, the impulse is transmitted to the intracerebral fluid. As a result, the cerebrospinal fluid changes its position, and parents notice a pulsation on the child’s head. This condition also does not require any treatment and disappears in the second year of life after the membrane has healed.

Thus, pulsation of the fontanelle in a baby of the first year of life is a completely normal phenomenon. It’s a completely different matter if the membrane between the bones of the child’s skull bulges or sinks deep into the tissue. Such symptoms indicate the development of a serious pathology and require immediate treatment.

Natural causes of fontanel pulsation

The fontanelle is the thinnest place on the baby’s head.
The soft crown on the head of a newborn is easy to notice. A pulsating fontanel often worries inexperienced parents. This is the thinnest place on the baby's head; there are no bones here. During the work of the myocardium, the shock wave, spreading, affects the vessels of the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (liquid circulating between its membranes), which leads to vibrations. When a baby's fontanelle pulsates, this is normal, since this feature is a reaction to heart contraction. This beat is much weaker than the heartbeat, so the tremors may not be visually noticeable.

Normally, a child’s fontanelle pulsates in time with the working heart muscle. When the baby cries or is active, hesitation may not be visible. The pulsation is most noticeable during restful sleep.

The rate of vibration of the fontanelle is determined by physiology. A baby's heart beats faster than an adult's (120-140 beats per minute, and when screaming - 160-180). Therefore, the rate of its contractions in the first 2-4 months of life is the highest. Optimal is the coincidence of heart rhythms and vibrations of the soft crown. Over time, the large fontanel will gradually become overgrown. The nature of the shocks at its location will also change:

1 month. The pulsation of the fontanel with a size of 25-30 mm is clear, rhythmic, and visually noticeable. Intensifies when crying, when pushing.
2-3 months. The size of the fontanel is slightly reduced to 23-24 mm. The heart rate stabilizes, the pulse becomes less frequent and deep. The fontanel in a 2-3 month old baby pulsates evenly and regularly, becoming more frequent with emotional stress and increased body temperature.
4-5 months. The diameter of the fontanel is 16-18 mm. The vibration gradually subsides and is clearly visible only during times of increased activity and tension.
6-7 months. The bones of the skull form sutures. The spring narrows to 14-16 mm, the shape of the head changes. No oscillations are observed. If the fontanel continues to pulsate at 6 months, consultation with a specialist is necessary.

Each baby has its own developmental characteristics, so the given values are averaged.

A month after birth, the fontanel may increase in size. This phenomenon is due to rapid brain growth.

When should you see a doctor?

It is recommended to visit a specialist in the following situations.

Bulging of the fontanel.

The pulsation of the fontanel in itself does not pose a threat to the child’s health. A completely different situation arises if the baby’s fontanel bulges above the surface of the bone. Such a symptom may indicate the development of hydrocephalus, increased intracranial pressure, meningitis or a tumor. The occurrence of seizures against the background of this pathology is especially dangerous. In this situation, you should immediately consult a doctor.

High temperature, convulsions and bulging fontanel are reasons to call an ambulance.

Retraction of the fontanel.

If a child’s fontanel is below the level of the bone, serious problems in the body cannot be ruled out. This happens in infants with severe dehydration (for example, in case of excessive vomiting or diarrhea). Retraction can also be caused by a lack of fluid in hot weather.

Intermittent or irregular pulsation.

This condition in an infant may indicate the development of cardiovascular pathology. To exclude congenital heart defects, you must undergo an ultrasound and examination by a cardiologist. If the pulsation is very weak, treatment should be started immediately.

The pulsation is too strong.

If a child’s fontanel is pulsating too quickly, with a ragged and inconsistent rhythm, do not delay a visit to the doctor. This symptom also indicates disturbances in the functioning of the heart. To exclude serious pathology, you should undergo electrocardiography. If necessary, the doctor may prescribe an ultrasound of the heart, brain and other examinations.

Fontana pulsation, norms and deviations

The pulsation of the fontanelle itself is normal. You will be able to observe it by about six months of age of the baby.

But if there is no pulsation, this is a reason to consult a doctor as quickly as possible. The absence of pulsation indicates problems with the functioning of the heart or the circulatory system as a whole.

You should be alarmed if the pulsation is uneven, intermittent, and sometimes disappears.

Also consult a doctor if the fontanel is strongly sunk inward or, conversely, is constantly protruding noticeably.

By the way, in moments of tension or prolonged crying, the fontanel may temporarily bulge, and the pulsation increases. This phenomenon should not scare you.

Features of fontanel pulsation in the first year of life

The pulsation is most clearly felt in a child in the first two months of life. At this age, it is enough to place your hand on the baby’s head to feel the beating under your fingers. Any changes in the child’s behavior (crying, screaming and other emotions) are also reflected in the pulsation.

By 4 months, the pulsation is no longer so noticeable. Now the beating under the skin on the baby’s head becomes visible only when the baby cries. After the age of 6 months, the vibrations of the membrane between the bones become less and less and by the end of the first year of life they are almost the same. If the large fontanel in a one-year-old child pulsates too strongly, you should consult a doctor.

A large fontanelle is not only an indicator of the baby’s health status, but also a kind of window into his nervous system. Through it, children under one year old can have an ultrasound and find out if there are any abnormalities in the condition of the brain. When bones heal in the second year of life, such a simple study becomes unavailable.

The birth of a baby brings parents the most incredible and indescribable emotions. At the same time, many are afraid to take the baby in their arms - he is so small and fragile that it seems that one careless movement can seriously harm him. Handling a newborn requires great care, and there are areas that require special attention. We are talking about the fontanel. What is it, and why is such a vulnerable anatomical feature needed?

The fontanel pulsates in newborns: age characteristics

As already mentioned, until the baby is 6 months old, pulsation of the fontanel is considered normal. But each period of the baby’s development is characterized by certain changes in the fluctuations of the fontanel.

In the first two months, newborns are characterized by intense vibrations of the soft crown; they are noticed even from afar. If the baby pushes and cries, the pulsation intensifies.
In the third month, the baby’s fluctuations normalize and become less noticeable.
When the baby is four months old, the fontanel will begin to pulsate less. To notice the pulsation, you should carefully examine the surface of the baby's head
. The pulsation of the membrane on the fountain intensifies when the baby shows his character.
In the fifth month, the tremors of the soft crown begin to subside. They are already difficult to see even when your child is crying
. Bone tissue at this age leaves small gaps for the fontanel.
At six months in children, the lumen is so unnoticeable that there are no longer any pulsations of the soft crown. If parents observe pulsation of the fontanel at six months, then in this case it is necessary to visit a doctor
. The child may have a lack of vitamin D, calcium, etc.

Examination by a pediatrician

Fontanas and their purpose

Everyone knows that the skull is a collection of individual bone formations that are tightly connected to each other. The flat bones of the child’s skull begin to form from the sides, gradually increase in size and eventually converge to one point. By the time of birth, almost all the bones of the skull are already formed, although they are more fragile than in an adult. A feature of the anatomy of a newborn’s head is the presence of non-ossified areas of the skull, represented only by membranous plates and connective tissue - these “gaps” are called fontanelles. The baby has only six of them - a large anterior one, a posterior one, a pair of sphenoid and a pair of mastoid.

If the child was born on time, then only two unpaired fontanelles, the largest in size, will be visually visible. Paired ones are either very small and difficult to notice, or they close very quickly.

The baby simply needs these distances between the bones, first of all, during childbirth. Thanks to the fontanelles, during labor the skull can easily adjust to the size of the mother’s pelvis, thereby facilitating birth. Within a few days after birth, the head takes on its normal shape. The fontanelles are also important during the child’s growth process - during falls and blows, which often occur in the first year or two of life, the open fontanelle maintains the elasticity of the skull, thereby protecting the child from serious injuries. Also, these areas are involved in thermoregulation processes and help protect the baby from overheating or hypothermia.

Fontana in a child aged one month

Why does a baby's fontanelle pulsate?

Many parents, especially those with only one baby, get scared when they notice a pulsation in the area of the large fontanelle - the most noticeable and largest. However, this is a natural phenomenon due to the structural features of the child’s skull. Doctors give the following reasons why the fontanel pulsates:

oscillations occur in rhythm with the heart, blood flows to the brain as a result of sharp contractions of the heart muscle, which gives it a noticeable pulsation;
The cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain transmits vibrations caused by the pulsation of blood vessels inside the baby's skull - this is also a normal phenomenon.

Changes in the pulsation of the fontanel and the reasons for contacting a specialist against the background of such changes will be discussed in more detail.

Where are the large and small fontanelles located in a child?

Characteristics of pulsation in infants in different months of life

The pulsation of the fontanel is a natural phenomenon, but it is very important to be able to distinguish the nature of the pulsation normally from the pulsation if there is some problem. The fontanel gradually tightens with age, so its “behavior” changes from month to month. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the normal characteristics of this part of the skull in an infant.

* the size of the diamond-shaped large fontanel is determined by the distance between the two most distant points (usually along the longitudinal seam).

Reasons for concern

As already mentioned, atypical movements of the fontanel may indicate disturbances in the functioning of the baby’s body. In practice, the following potentially and actually dangerous situations occur:

if the fontanel pulsates too often, then this is a sign of a rapid heartbeat;
also, frequent pulsation can be caused by severe tension and increased pressure inside the skull (for example, due to prolonged crying);
intermittency, atypical weakness of pulsations, frequent changes in their pace and strength are reasons to consult a doctor;
if pulsation is not observed at all, then this may indicate problems in the functioning of the cardiovascular system that urgently need to be eliminated. In such a situation, contacting a specialist should be immediate;
by the age of six months, the fontanel should still be pulsating; if there is no fluctuation, then this indicates too rapid overgrowth and is not the norm;
Also, the presence of active pulsation after 6 months should be a cause for concern - the bones should grow together, and if the pulsation is still clearly noticeable, then something is going wrong;
a strongly sunken fontanel is a dangerous symptom of dehydration;
if the fontanel bulges, but there are no more symptoms, this may indicate either high blood pressure or the development of a tumor or meningitis. Seeing a doctor is mandatory;
if the bulging area is accompanied by additional symptoms (convulsions or fever), then you must immediately call an ambulance.

Video by Dr. Komarovsky: everything about the fontanel in a child

Attention to the baby’s condition and its characteristics, such as the pulsation of a large fontanelle, is a primary task for parents. A timely noticed change in the condition of the soft part of the skull will help to avoid many conditions dangerous to the child’s health.

Author: Elena Gostishcheva
Print

Allergist, caring mother, just a friendly and smiling person. Rate this article: (0 votes, average: 0 out of 5)

» Baby 6 months

The fontanel pulsates in newborns: what are the signs that you should go to the doctor?

When a baby gets sick, this is reflected not only in the baby’s mood, but also in external signs. In particular, the fontanel may begin to pulsate, and it will immediately become clear that the baby has health problems.

How can you determine from various tremors in the fontanelle area that the baby is sick?

Weakened vibrations of the fontanelle or their complete absence . These signs indicate the presence of pathological changes in the baby’s body. To determine what kind of disease this is, you need to visit a pediatrician.
Unstable, intermittent fluctuations may also indicate the presence of some kind of illness in the child. In such cases, you should immediately consult a medical specialist for help.

If these changes occur in a baby who is already six months old or will only be six months old, then there is no need to worry. During this period, the fontanel begins to gradually overgrow, which is why the vibrations may gradually fade away.

Features of fontanel pulsation in newborns

With intense pulsation of the fontanel, parents should not immediately rush into panic. After all, children are active and when they begin to do some actions, the heart begins to beat faster, so the tremors of the crown will be visible more clearly and more often.

If the child is nervous and crying, then the force of the liquid pushing against the membrane will increase. This condition is considered normal

. After the baby calms down, these visible manifestations will disappear.

Retraction and fluctuations of the infant fontanel, if they do not go beyond the norm, are also not a reason for any concern. Therefore, parents do not need to worry if the fontanel is pulsating
. You should worry more when there are no vibrations at all or they are not very rhythmic.

Why does the fontanelle pulsate in a baby and how can it be dangerous?

Causes

The child’s fontanelle pulsates in time with the work of the heart, because the fluctuations are dictated by the flow of blood, which flows to the brain with each regular contraction of the main organ of the human body;
In the cranium, the brain is surrounded by a liquid called cerebrospinal fluid: when the intracranial vessels pulsate, it transmits vibrations to the cerebrospinal fluid, which are precisely visible through the thin skin on the baby’s head.

Danger

if the fontanel is pulsating very strongly, it means that the baby has a rapid heartbeat, but this is not yet a reason to panic, because in young children it should be more frequent than in adults;
The cause of this condition may be intracranial pressure, or when the baby cries too long and strained: if bursts of such activity occur in such cases, it is enough to calm the baby down - and the oscillation frequency will return to normal;
if the fontanel has sunk and pulsates in time with the heartbeat - evenly, calmly, always in the same rhythm (most often) - this corresponds to the norm for up to six months, after which this place on the baby’s head begins to gradually overgrow, and the vibrations subside;
if a newborn’s fontanel pulsates intermittently, weakly, at different rates and speeds, this is already a reason to worry and continue to monitor the fluctuations: if the situation does not change, you must inform the doctor about this;
if you can’t see it pulsating at all, there is nothing to think about: you need to immediately seek medical help and undergo an examination: this may be an alarming signal of problems with the baby’s cardiovascular system; the sooner they are identified, the faster they can be resolved.

Age characteristics

at 2 months . the pulsation is frequent, clearly visible to the naked eye, especially noticeable in moments of excitement when the baby is crying;
at 3 months . the pulsation speed becomes more uniform and calm, the vibrations are still visible clearly;
at 4 months . now, in order to see how the baby’s fontanel is pulsating, you will need to look more carefully at the head, but as soon as crying is heard, you won’t have to make any special efforts for this;
at 5 months . if the speed and rate of pulsation remain at the level of 2–3 months of age, you should consult a doctor to see if everything is in order, because the fluctuations should already begin to subside;
at 6 months . rapid overgrowth of the fontanel in infants should not occur, therefore, if by this age it is no longer visible by any signs, this is also not the norm: the pulsation should still be discernible even at six months.

In case of any deviations or doubts, it is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner and undergo all examinations prescribed by him to identify possible pathologies in the child.

Fontana in newborns: when should it completely close?

There is no standard period for such a process. Much depends on the individual characteristics of the child’s body and genes

.
The fontanelle usually closes completely in a child who is one to one and a half years old. However, there are many cases when the crown closed earlier, or vice versa - later
.
This process had absolutely no impact on the overall development of the children
.
So, overly suspicious parents do not need to raise the alarm if you suddenly discover that your baby still has a fontanel at one or one and a half years old
. It is enough to go for a consultation with your doctor so that he can investigate the cause of this phenomenon.

When a lot of time has passed, and the crown still does not heal, then the alarm should be sounded. The child may have a disease such as rickets
. In a child’s body with this pathology, there is an acute shortage of building material - calcium, which is why the bone tissue of the skull does not grow as expected. To prevent the disease, experts prescribe vitamin D and B.

If the child does not have rickets, then delayed overgrowth of the fontanel can cause another dangerous disease - hydrocephalus. It is manifested by excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain tissue; the first symptoms of the pathology are high blood pressure, disproportionate growth of the baby’s head.

According to research by medical scientists, it was found that children's fontanelles tighten differently for everyone. And this, as mentioned earlier, is greatly influenced by the genetic factor of both parents

. Therefore, before you panic, you should ask your grandparents when the fontanelles of the baby’s parents tightened during infancy. Only after this should you think about any deviations.

When does the infant's fontanelle heal in babies?

Also, tremors in the area of the child’s soft crown may not disappear after six months due to hereditary factors. If these are not genes, then there may be problems with the baby’s health. The child may have high blood pressure or a lack of minerals and minerals in the body
. In such situations, contact a pediatrician or neonatologist.

What can a large fontanelle tell about a child?

Inexperienced parents usually ask a lot of troubling questions when visiting a pediatrician regarding the size, shape and timing of closure of a large fontanel. What should its normal dimensions be? When should this formation normally close? Let's try to dispel the most common parental misconceptions in this area.

The fontanel does not overgrow or pulsate! What to do?

Parents who decide that after the birth of the baby the size of the fontanelles should only decrease, may panic if these formations slightly increase in the first months of life. However, this is not a sign of a “terrible disease”, but merely indicates that the baby’s brain is developing rapidly. Doctors will speak with confidence about the presence of a particular pathology if it turns out that the fontanel does not heal after the second year of life.

A slight pulsation of the fontanelles in newborns is also considered normal. Why does the fontanelle pulsate? This is how it responds to the uniform contractions of the heart, which every now and then releases another portion of blood into the vessels. This rhythmic, uniform current can be observed as a slight pulsation on the baby's head. It is worth remembering that the fontanel pulsates a little more strongly when there is anxiety, screaming or tension - this is also a variant of the norm. But frequent and strong pulsation at rest is a reason to show the baby to the doctor.

What do changes in the fontanel indicate?

If parents discover that the baby’s fontanel is sunken or, on the contrary, protruding, they need to show the child to the doctor. Most often, bulging fontanel is observed against the background of pathological conditions accompanied by increased intracranial pressure (encephalitis, meningitis, tumors, etc.). If the fontanelle is sunken, the doctor can diagnose dehydration in the child. Most often this happens against the background of fever, repeated vomiting or diarrhea.

Too large a fontanel or its slow closure may be a sign of diseases such as rickets, congenital hypothyroidism, achondrodysplasia, and congenital pathologies of bone tissue development. If the fontanelle closes early (before 3 months) or if its size is too small with a normal head circumference, the child is usually considered healthy. However, in some cases, rapid closure is caused by serious diseases such as craniosynostosis or may indicate congenital abnormalities of brain development.

Share with your friends!

What can the rate of fontanelle closure predict?

There are diseases that can be recognized by the way the large fontanelle overgrows. Therefore, pediatricians examine the crown during each examination of the newborn. But the doctor also focuses on other symptoms that accompany severe pathologies. If the baby feels well and is developing normally, the doctor will explain that there is no reason to worry and will send you home. Rarely, but still there is a different development of the situation.

The fontanelle can heal quickly, up to 3-4 months, if the baby has craniosynostosis. This is a rare disease in which the cranial sutures close prematurely: the skull stops growing, becomes deformed, and intracranial pressure increases.

The newborn's head takes on an unnatural shape, and nausea, vomiting, headaches, and convulsions may begin. The disease is treated surgically.

Another pathology that is sometimes signaled by rapid overgrowth of the fontanel is microcephaly. It is even less common. The patient has a noticeable imbalance in proportions: a small size of the skull, with normal sizes of the rest of the body. The disease is accompanied by mental impairment. There is no special treatment for the disease.

Late closure of the fontanel, usually after one and a half years, may be one of the symptoms:

Rickets, which develops due to vitamin D deficiency. Other symptoms: sweating and sour smell of sweat, itching, sleep disturbance, poor appetite, increased excitability. Premature babies are at risk. If treatment is started in a timely manner, the problem will be solved without consequences for the child.
Achondroplasia is a congenital disease in which the growth of skeletal bones and the base of the skull is impaired. Often symptoms can be seen already in the first days after birth: enlarged head, short limbs. Patients are retarded in physical growth and dwarfism is diagnosed. Treatment is aimed at preventing and eliminating severe deformities.
Hypothyroidism, a condition caused by a persistent lack of thyroid hormones. The child will begin to lag behind in mental and physical development, will be lethargic, drowsy, eat poorly, grow and gain weight. The patient is prescribed hormone replacement therapy.
Down syndrome, chromosomal pathology. The disease is often detected early in pregnancy.

Pulsation of the fontanel in a child at different ages