The health of a newborn child is the first concern of all parents. There are things that are especially disturbing and frightening, especially during the neonatal period. For example, this is the navel and the process of its healing, as well as the fontanel, the size and rate of tightening of which also play an important role in the development of the crumbs.

The normal size of the fontanel in accordance with the age of the baby

With regard to the parameters of the crown in infants, it is important for parents to be careful, but not to panic for any reason. If a child was born with a small or, conversely, a large fontanel, you should consult with the local pediatrician to take the necessary measures when required. Otherwise, neglecting this issue can provoke serious health consequences.

However, not all deviations in the size of the fontanel are a pathology or a violation in the development of the baby (we recommend reading:). According to generally accepted standards, in a newborn, the parameters of the fontanel are in the range of 3 centimeters and decrease every month. These rates are quite individual and depend on the characteristics of the child's body, but there are certain norms that can be guided by when comparing the size of the fontanel in a baby. The table below shows the parameters of the crown in accordance with age indicators up to 1 year:

These tables are not strict, and a deviation of 3-4 cm from them in both directions is acceptable. However, a more significant deviation is not always a reason to be nervous. It is important to find out the reason why the size of the crown does not correspond to the age of the baby.

What determines the closure of the fontanel?

Dear reader!

This article talks about typical ways to solve your questions, but each case is unique! If you want to know how to solve your particular problem - ask your question. It's fast and free!

There are a number of factors that can speed up or slow down the overgrowth of the fontanel. These include:

Why is the child's fontanel small?

The process of closing the fontanel stretches for a period of 3 months to 2 years. In some, it overgrows within 6 months, in others, the final disappearance of the pulsating crown is observed only by the age of two.

In most cases, closing occurs after 8 months, but earlier closing at 5 or even 3 months is not excluded, and also later. If the crown of a newborn baby is small, then it can close even at 2 months after birth.

Possible reasons that a child will be born with a small fontanel:

1. Nuances in the cranial structure. This means that the baby has no pathologies and there is no need to worry.
2. Craniosynostosis. A disease associated with the skeletal system of the baby. Occurs rarely. Additionally, the crumbs have other characteristic symptoms. The disease can be congenital or acquired.
3. Pathologies of brain development. For example, microcephaly is an underdevelopment of the brain, leukomalacia is a disease when the brain tissue softens locally.
4. Excess calcium in the body.

Possible consequences

Parents should keep in mind what a very small or large crown means in a monthly baby and what threatens to neglect this issue and untimely assistance. Not always the small size of the crown in a child who is 1 month old will lead to the fact that it closes quickly. It happens that in the first 5 months, the fontanel, on the contrary, increases in size along with the growth of the brain.

However, too large deviations from the norm in a smaller direction can provoke complications:

If the fontanel of a non-standard size is not due to the individual characteristics of the organism, then this is usually associated with abnormalities in the growth of the brain and the formation of the skeletal system. Such problems are solved surgically after an accurate diagnosis is established. If such an operation is performed before the age of 6 months, then the likelihood of a positive result increases.

Protruding and sunken fontanel

In addition to the fact that the fontanel may be uncharacteristic for the corresponding age, it can be protruding or sunken. In any of these cases, you need to be guided by the circumstances and accompanying symptoms. Sometimes the fontanel bulging or sinking is not something serious and is considered as the norm for a particular baby. In another situation, this indicates a pathological process.

For example, a bulging fontanel is often observed when:

• meningitis;
• encephalitis;
• tumors;
• intracranial bleeding.

Should be contacted immediately medical care if the bulging of the fontanel comes with the following symptoms:

As for sinking, it is observed with dehydration caused by:

• rise in temperature;
• vomiting;
• diarrhea.

How to care for a small fontanel?

Many parents, in principle, are afraid to touch the fontanel, even if it is normal and there are no abnormalities. However, this is an excessive and unjustified concern.

The fontanel can be combed and washed without the risk of damage or injury, as it is very dense and does an excellent job with protective function. Caring for him does not have any features.

For a small crown, when problems related to physiology are diagnosed, specific care is also not required. In general, in specific cases, it is necessary to follow a number of tips:

• review and adjust the number of breast milk feedings and their single and daily volume;
• introduce vitamin D into the diet, but only when prescribed by a pediatrician and at the prescribed dosage;
• avoid trauma to the skull;
• if possible, avoid hypothermia and overheating;
• go for check-ups regularly, even if the child feels well.

What does Dr. E. Komarovsky say?

The famous children's doctor Komarovsky has his own attitude to the fontanel and an opinion about the unnecessary worries of newly-made parents. Cases when a child has a congenital disorder of bone tissue metabolism are rare. The disease is caused by the rapid absorption of calcium by the bones. At the same time, there are convulsions, fragility of bone tissues and rapid overgrowth. The baby's head will grow regardless of the closure of the fontanel. If it happened early, but there are no other symptoms, then there is no reason to worry.

You should never experiment with nutrition, vitamin D and calcium. It is important that the child's body receives these substances in the optimal amount, not too little and not too much. For example, the daily dose of vitamin D is 400 IU. Only a doctor can increase it if rickets is suspected.

As for falls and injury, children with an unclosed fontanel are much less likely to get a concussion than those who have already closed it. This is the main danger of early closing. You just need to protect the child from falling.

Each newborn has a fontanel on the head - a small pulsating area that is not covered by the bones of the skull. It is temporarily tightened with a membrane, which, despite all the fears, is quite strong. Over time, it stiffens and tightens up. But up to this point, parents are very worried about the size of this area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe baby's head.

What to do if, from the first days of life, a newborn has a very small fontanel that does not meet the standards? First, you need to make sure that it really differs from medical standards.

If you do not notice in time that the child has a small fontanel, the consequences of such a mistake can be a serious danger to the life and health of the baby. More often, however, young and inexperienced parents panic too early. To prevent this from happening, you need to know the standards for the normal size of this area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe head of the crumbs in order to compare them with the indicators of your newborn:

• up to 1 month - 30 mm;
• 2 months - 25 mm;
• 3 months - 22 mm;
• 4 months - 20 mm;
• 5 months - 18 mm;
• 6 months - 17 mm;
• 7 months - 16 mm;
• 8 months - 15 mm;
• 9 months - 14 mm;
• 10 months - 12 mm;
• 11 months - 8 mm.

Naturally, all these indicators come with a small error and are not the gold standard. If the deviations from the norm are 3-4 mm, this is not a problem. But if a newborn has a small fontanel, even taking into account this error, parents should think about it more seriously and take certain measures to avoid unpleasant consequences. The second step after comparing the sizes is finding out the reason for this phenomenon.

Why the baby has a small fontanel can only be determined by a doctor, so it is useless to try to find out through omniscient grandmothers and neighbors. After the pediatrician examines the baby's problem area, he will be able to determine the cause of the phenomenon. Most often they are:

• idiosyncrasy the structure of the skull of a newborn: in this case, parents do not need to be afraid and worry, since there is no danger to the health of the baby;
• craniosynostosis - a fairly rare disease of the baby's skeletal system, in which too early closure of the cranial sutures, high blood pressure, hearing loss, strabismus, problems with the growth of the entire skeleton are diagnosed; the disease can be congenital and acquired due to rickets or abnormalities in the thyroid gland;
• various anomalies in the development of the brain.

Despite the fact that these diseases are diagnosed quite rarely, nevertheless, a small fontanel in infants is a reason to go for a consultation with a doctor. He will clarify the cause of this pathology, prescribe the appropriate treatment, if necessary, give advice. This will help avoid unwanted consequences.

Parents should know what a small fontanel at birth can lead to if you do not pay attention to it in time. Craniosynostosis is especially dangerous in this regard:

• skull deformity;
• blindness;
• strabismus;
• delayed mental and physical development;
• hearing impairment;
• mental disorders.

The treatment of such a disease requires surgical intervention, and the sooner it is carried out, the more chances for recovery the child will have. Therefore, it is desirable to notice a small fontanel from the first days of his life. Even if at birth this part of the baby’s head is close to normal in size, you need to check it weekly for compliance with the above standards so as not to miss a dangerous pathology that leads to such serious consequences.

But even if the doctor did not reveal anything during the examination, parents are advised to take a number of measures that will allow them to bypass all the dangerous pitfalls relating to the newborn's small fontanel.

Some useful tips will allow young parents to tighten the size of the fontanel in an infant to normal levels if it seems too small to them. These recommendations should be given at consultations by pediatricians (do not introduce any restrictions without agreement with them), if they do not find abnormalities in the development of the brain.

1. Since the size of the fontanel is still different from normal, you need to be more careful so that the baby does not fall and accidentally hit this place. It must also be protected from hypothermia.
2. If the child is on artificial feeding, reduce the amount of milk he drinks (replace it in some feedings with another liquid) and pay attention to the fact that the formulas are not fortified with vitamin D;
3. When breastfeeding, mother's milk should also be given in a limited amount (but in no case should you stop lactating).

If the baby has a small fontanel, parents should not be afraid of this. First, you need to make sure that the deviation actually takes place. Secondly, you need to see a doctor to identify the cause. Thirdly, to provide the crumbs with decent and complete care so that the problem goes away forever.

One of the external indicators of the normal development of a child for pediatricians, neurologists and other pediatric specialists is the fontanel in newborns. It is a small soft pulsating area on the baby's head, under which the brain tissue is located close enough. The surface of the fontanel is covered with a dense film with a small fluff.

Fontanelle of a newborn baby

• The fontanel of a newborn greatly facilitates the process of childbirth, both for the baby and for the mother. Passing the birth canal, the bones of the skull are compressed, and therefore the head of the newborn for the first time after childbirth looks elongated. Then the shape of the head is restored;
• The presence of a fontanel provides optimal spatial conditions for normal growth the brain at the pace laid down by nature;
• The fontanel is involved in the processes of regulation of heat transfer of the baby and environment. If the child's body temperature exceeds 38 degrees, then the brain tissue naturally cools through the fontanel;
• Due to the ability to shrink, the fontanel can act as a shock absorber in case of an accidental fall of the child.

Where is

Determining where the fontanel is located in a newborn baby is quite simple.

A large diamond-shaped fontanel measuring 2 by 2 centimeters is located right in the middle of the crown, or, as they usually say, on the top of the head.

A small fontanel is located on the back of the head. Its size is about half a centimeter.

When overgrown

A large fontanel overgrows by about one year of age of the child, sometimes there are slight deviations from this parameter up to about one and a half years. But if the child meets the age norms in other respects, then there is no reason for concern.

A small fontanel in children born at term is already closed. However, it happens that it was discovered after childbirth. Then its closure should be expected in two to three months.

The speed and time of closing the fontanelles mainly depends on how much the baby's body is provided with calcium. If there were no deviations in the mother's diet, the optimal regimen for taking multivitamins was observed, then the overgrowth of fontanelles usually occurs normally.

Deviations in development

Knowing the timing when the fontanel overgrows, as well as the size, you can see any deviations, avoid and prevent the development of many dangerous diseases in newborns. Among them are a few:

Moms take note!

Hello girls) I didn’t think that the problem of stretch marks would affect me, but I’ll write about it))) But I have nowhere to go, so I’m writing here: How did I get rid of stretch marks after childbirth? I will be very glad if my method helps you too ...

1. Rickets. This disease is almost the most common cause of late closure of the fontanel. As a rule, this happens in premature babies who are rarely exposed to the sun, who have a lack of calcium and vitamin D. Read the article >>>;
2. Hypothyroidism. A decrease in the amount of thyroid hormones can also be the reason for slowing down the process of overgrowth of the fontanel;
3. Down Syndrome. Too large sizes of the fontanel indicate the presence of this disease along with other characteristic signs;
4. Overgrowth of the fontanel ahead of time may indicate an excess of calcium , as well as testify to diseases such as craniostenosis, microcephaly;
5. A depressed fontanel is also a serious symptom. This phenomenon indicates acute dehydration of the body.

(image is clickable)

Careful examination of the child by specialists, detailed description parents of the baby's condition will be a guarantee early detection deviations and will contribute to the correct appointment of preventive treatment.

Reasons for the early closure of the fontanel

(clickable)

Protruding fontanel?

Most often, a protruding fontanel is observed against the background of diseases that are accompanied by an increase in intracranial pressure: meningitis, encephalitis, tumors, intracranial bleeding, increased intracranial pressure for another reason.

If a bulging fontanel is combined with one or more of the following symptoms, you should call a doctor as soon as possible:

• Strong temperature;
• The bulging of the fontanel arose after a head injury, a child's fall;
• Vomit;
• Drowsiness or excessive irritability of the child;
• Strabismus;
• Convulsions or epileptic seizures;
• Loss of consciousness;
• Bulging fontanel for a long time without other symptoms.

Fallen fontanel?

Most often, the retraction of the fontanel is observed due to dehydration of the child against the background of temperature, diarrhea, repeated vomiting. If a sunken fontanel is found, the child should be given plenty of fluids and a doctor should be contacted to treat the disease that caused dehydration.

Fear of harm

Many are very much afraid of somehow damaging the fontanel. Remember! - it's practically impossible. Despite the apparent softness of the fontanel, it is very durable, and it cannot be damaged by ordinary manipulations (washing, bathing, combing, etc.).

Video:

Moms take note!

Hello girls! Today I will tell you how I managed to get in shape, lose 20 kilograms, and finally get rid of the terrible complexes of overweight people. I hope the information is useful to you!

In a newborn baby elongated shape head, which gradually becomes the usual round. This is explained by the structure of the skull: its bones are connected by a membrane and allow you to change position to pass through the birth canal. Dimples are visible in these parts, five of them are overgrown shortly after birth. The largest fontanel on the crown of the head is delayed later, deviations from the norm cause concern among parents. In some cases, there is a small fontanel in the newborn, which drags on too quickly.

What does the closure depend on?

The overgrowth rate determines the phosphorus-calcium metabolism, it mostly depends on the nutrition of the woman during pregnancy. With a sufficient amount of the trace element in her diet, the closure of the fontanel in the unborn baby takes place within the normal range. With an excess intake of vitamins and foods rich in calcium, a small fontanel with a dense membrane is observed in a newborn, the closure time is significantly reduced.

The hereditary factor influences: if one of the parents had a small fontanel that did not adversely affect its development, it is likely that the child born will have a similar feature.

The nutrition of the baby matters - with breastfeeding, the likelihood of untimely closure of the fontanel increases. The effect is not an excess of calcium and vitamin D, but a lack, leading to late overgrowth and disease. Therefore, a nursing mother, if there are prerequisites for late closing, should take vitamin complexes.

Accepted norms

In a newborn baby, the size of the fontanel is normally about 3 cm in diameter. Gradually it overgrows, generally accepted indicators:

The norms are not exact, a deviation up or down of 3-4 mm is acceptable. If the size of the fontanel in a baby is small, taking into account the error, you should not make hasty conclusions, but you need to find out the reasons. Overgrowth is checked by a pediatrician at a regular examination, you need to consult with him. You can not be guided by the advice of friends. If in doubt, it is better to visit two specialists, additionally consult with.

Dr. Komarovsky notes that the overgrowth of the fontanel occurs individually, varies from 3 months to 2 years. Additional information on the video. In most children, closure occurs after 8 months. Overgrowth occurs at 5 months and is the norm with good general indicators of development and growth of the baby. 3 are considered rare. month old baby with an overgrown fontanel. Fear should cause complete closure at 2 months, if accompanied by a painful condition of the baby, external defects in the structure of the cranium, a violation of psychomotor reactions. Children with these symptoms often suffer from severe developmental disabilities.

Causes

A baby can be born with a small fontanel, for some it normal size but grows too fast. Main reasons:

1. Individual features of the development of the baby's skull. If it does not interfere with brain growth, then it does not pose a health hazard;
2. Craniosynostosis is a bone disease in a child that provokes early fusion of the bones of the skull. Pathology is accompanied high blood pressure, hearing loss, strabismus, disorders in the development of the skeletal system. Sometimes the disease is formed during fetal development, the baby can be born with a small fontanel, or in the process of growth due to endocrine disorders, blood diseases;
3. Violation of the development of the brain;
4. Diseases nervous system;
5. Improper absorption of calcium in the body, impaired metabolism.

Only a doctor can detect pathology. Severe illness is rare, and more testing is needed to confirm the diagnosis. If there is any doubt, that is, washed away, visit a planned ultrasound of the head, which is performed for babies at 1 month in order to exclude various pathologies.

The fontanel in a child may be small, but the sutures of the skull fuse normally (the process is completed by the age of 20). With a high degree of their ossification, the doctor additionally prescribes a urine test for calcium content. He can refer to an endocrinologist, a neurologist to identify hormonal disorders, abnormalities in the development of the central nervous system.

Possible consequences

What can threaten a small fontanel at birth? It is not necessary that it closes quickly if this is an individual feature of the child. In the first 5 months, it may increase due to the rapid growth and enlargement of the brain. If a fontanel has already hardened in a baby at three months, this is not necessarily the cause of the disease. It is important to take into account the circumference, the proportionality of the head.

Too small disproportionate size may indicate violations in the formation of the skeletal system or slow brain growth. Anomalies that caused a rapid overgrowth of the fontanel in a baby can lead to:

• Deformities of the bones of the skull;
• loss of vision;
• strabismus;
• Lagging behind in mental and physical development;
• Hearing impairment;
• Mental disorders.

The changes are due to abnormal growth of the brain, depending on which part develops with great disturbances. Timely diagnosis and surgical operation will help to avoid serious consequences. More positive results are observed if you do it to a child up to 6 months.

If the baby was born with a small fontanel, it is necessary to carefully monitor his condition, describe in detail the behavior of the pediatrician. If he often cries in his sleep, wakes up with a loud cry, he may have headaches due to. You should check the condition of the fontanel in a calm child. Protruding skin, felt, tension - signs possible increase pressure.

If a disease is detected, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the doctor's prescription. In many cases, parents' fears are not confirmed. Must comply general recommendations, regularly visit the pediatrician and, according to the schedule.

The fontanel in the baby acts as a shock absorber when falling, hitting the head. This allows the baby to avoid a concussion. With a small fontanel, the function is reduced, it is necessary to carefully monitor the child, to avoid head injury.

In the first months, the fontanelle contributes to the thermoregulation of the brain, helping to avoid overheating and seizures. It is not necessary to wear a cap for the baby in a room with a comfortable temperature.

The pediatrician may recommend limiting prophylactic calcium intake and to slow down the closure of the fontanel. Its cause is not an excess of substances in the body, but their improper absorption. Dangerous rare diseases that require treatment are capable of causing a violation of calcium metabolism. A lack of calcium and vitamin D, with a reduction in their intake, can lead to endocrine disorders.

There are suggestions to reduce the amount of formula or breast milk by replacing them with water. Malnutrition is dangerous for a child, especially in the first months, when there is a rapid growth, formation and development of the bone and nervous system. The baby needs nutrients, from breast milk, he additionally receives vitamins that strengthen the immune system.

You can’t make assumptions and try to independently change the baby’s diet, prescribe vitamins or specifically refuse them. Due to ignorance of medicine decision may be erroneous and negatively affect the condition of the baby. For any concerns and suspicions, you should seek clarification from a pediatrician.

Each baby at birth has a fontanel on its head, which is a site that pulsates and is not covered by the cranial bones. But temporarily it is tightened by the membrane. No matter how feared by adults and others, this membrane is quite strong and strong. Time passes, and the membrane is overgrown with bones, the fontanel is tightened. But while this is happening, parents are wondering about the size of the fontanel. Should there be small fontanel in a newborn and what are the rules. After all, it happens that in a baby this area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe head is very small, does not meet the standards. But first you need to figure out whether there really are differences from the standards of medicine.

Standard Norms

If the parents did not notice that the baby has enough small spring, this can lead to serious trouble. This applies to problems with the health and life of the child. But basically, the parents are quite young, have no experience, so they immediately begin to panic. To avoid such misunderstandings, you should have knowledge about the norms in the size of the fontanel in a cat.

These indicators can be compared with the size of the fontanel in your baby:

• Up to 30 days - 30mm;
• Up to 60 days - 24mm;
• Up to 4 months - 20mm;
• Up to six months - 16mm;
• 9 months - 14mm;
• 11 months - 8mm.

These dimensions may vary slightly, this is not a mandatory standard. When there are deviations up to 4mm, then you do not have to worry. But if a child, even with such errors, has a very small given area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe head, then attention must be paid here. Parents should take these things seriously and take action. The main thing is not to wait for the consequences. Then you need to find out the reasons for such indicators.

Causes of a small fontanel in infants

Only a qualified specialist determines why the baby has a small fontanel. Thus, there is no need to run around grandmothers and neighbors to find out these reasons.

When the doctor examined the fontanel in a child, he has the ability to determine the cause of such a phenomenon.

• An individual feature in the structure of the baby's head. Here, parents can not worry and not worry, because there is no danger to the health of the child.
• Craniosynostosis is very rare disease skeletal and skeletal system of the child, where a very early closure of the sutures of the skull is placed. There is an increase in pressure, strabismus, hearing is impaired, skeletal growth is impaired. Such a disease is congenital and obtained after the transfer of rickets or if there are violations of activity.
• Various pathologies in the brain.

These diseases are very rarely observed, but if the fontanel is small, then it is still worth consulting a doctor. He will explain the reasons for this phenomenon and give useful advice. It helps backfire.

Effects

Craniosynostosis is considered very dangerous. An operation is needed here. The sooner this happens, the sooner the baby will recover. If the size of the fontanel corresponds to the norms, then it is still necessary to check its size.

Adviсe

1. If the size of the fontanel differs from the norm, then you should ensure that the child does not hit his head and does not fall.
2. If the baby is fed artificial nutrition, then it is necessary to give him less milk, and there was not much vitamin D in the mixtures.
3. If the baby is breastfed, then it is also necessary to give less milk. But breast-feeding is not cancelled.

Thus, if the baby has a small fontanel, then there is no reason for fear. First you need to find out if there are deviations, to identify their causes. In addition, provide the baby with decent care and concern.