From the moment they are born and during their first year of life, it is normal for the soft spot on your baby’s head –or fontanelle— to look very delicate and slightly sunken. This is because your baby’s skull is made of soft bony plates, which have the ability to adjust to the size of the birth canal.
We will share some interesting details about your baby’s fontanelle in these first months.
Things you should know about the soft spot on your baby’s head
1. Cone-shaped heads are quite normal
Towards the end of pregnancy, your baby is positioned on the pelvic floor and, due to delivery, their head may come out of the womb in the shape of a cone. That’s because of the time they spent in that position. The same can happen in babies born after a long labor.
In these cases, there is no need to worry, as your baby’s skull will round out in the following weeks.
2. Your baby’s head allows for proper brain growth
After birth, your baby’s brain grows faster. Since their fontanelle is still soft, the brain can grow properly. On the first day of your baby’s life, the size of their brain is about a quarter the size of an adult brain.
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3. You can touch your baby’s head
But, the soft spot on my baby’s head seems so fragile! That’s what you may think, but it is actually made to withstand normal daily handling even if this area does not yet have a bony layer.
In fact, when running your fingers over your baby’s head, it is totally normal to feel roughness in the areas where the bony plates of the skull have overlapped. After a few weeks, the skull bones will surely round out and the ridges will disappear.
Go ahead, you can safely touch your baby’s head!
4. Soft spot health care
Knowing how to care for your newborn is key to face each situation that arises calmly and objectively. This way you will know when it is necessary to call or visit your doctor.
In newborns, when the fontanelle is very soft this may be a sign of something else. For example, this, combined with poor feeding and dry diapers, could mean dehydration.
Remember to always consult with your doctor if you observe a sudden change in your baby’s behavior and development.
Another feature that could alert you to a disease is the size of your baby’s soft spot. If it is very small or very large, it is important to consult your doctor. It is also advisable to contact them when it closes too early or too late.
Rest easy and ask a specialist any doubts you may have! With the measurement of brain volume that your doctor performs periodically on your baby, they can make sure that everything is okay.
While the next appointment with your pediatrician does not arrive, download Kinedu app for free and track your baby’s development!
