Walks and more. Some of the answers will be given at a school for young parents, some can be found out from your own family, and, of course, doctors and the Internet will tell you something.

One of these questions that worry young mothers is fontanelle... What it is, why it is needed and how the processes take place overgrowth- let's figure it out.

The fontanelle in a child

Is the area that connects the bones skulls of newborns... It is his presence that allows the child to "leave" the mother's body without damaging her - thanks to soft tissue head slightly deformed. It is also necessary for the free growth of the brain. It is due to the ability to pass through the birth canal for the first time after childbirth that the head looks a little elongated.

In fact, there is not one on the head. There are four of them at once: back, front, and two side. The connective tissue of which they are made turns into bone over time. However, there is no need to worry - fontanelles are very dense, and protect the brain and blood vessels of a newborn in almost the same way as bones.

When they say about fontanelle, most often mean exactly the largest - front... This is a diamond-shaped area approximately in the middle of the head (in other words, at the top of the head). Only a pediatrician can tell you about his condition in detail, but not a friend or relative.

This part of the head helps during the first two years old baby- protects the brain from possible damage and injury, and allows it to develop correctly. Don't be afraid by accident to hurt the kid's head during dressing and gymnastics, as well as with possible independent actions (for example, when moving in the crib) - it is the fontanel, due to its flexibility, that helps to prevent possible serious consequences. But, of course, strong blows, for example, if the baby is knocked or hit by a toy, should be examined.

IMPORTANT! If you see that the fontanelle of your baby or concave and is in this state even when the child is resting - be sure to consult a doctor.

Again, as much as we would not want to deviate from the standards, but for general peace of mind, doctors have developed a formula for calculating and assessing its proportions:

1. Fold the longitudinal and lateral diameters of the soft area together.
2. Divide the received amount by 2.
3. Compare with the average norm.
4. It is believed that the ideal fontanelle is a rhombus 25x25mm (+/- a few mm).

Generally accepted fontanel size standards

• 0-1 months - 20-30 mm;
• 1-3 months - 18-20 mm;
• 4-6 months - 16-17 mm;
• 8-9 months - 12-14 mm;
• 11-12 months - 4-8 mm.

Why do you need a fontanelle

Main feature fontanelle in a newborn serves the moment that it contributes to the unhindered development and growth brain. Considering the body's growth so rapidly baby- Availability not overgrown fontanelle very important!

More importantly, fontanelle helps in thermoregulation of the body... Since this process in babies is poorly debugged in the first months of life, it is very easy to achieve overheating of the body, but you can cool the child quite simply - by removing the hat or kerchief from the child's head. You can check if the child is cold or not in a simple way... With its warm forefinger feel in the crease behind the ear near the cheekbone. If it's warm there, then the baby is warm too. And if, for example, the child's temperature rises above 38 degrees, then due to fontanelle brain cools naturally.

In the first months of life, the presence of such soft tissue allows you to do Baby head ultrasound if necessary, and check work and development of the brain and blood vessels... After overgrowth of fontanelle the bones of the skull no longer allow this. Also, inflammation in this area of ​​the head helps to determine the early stages diseases such as encephalitis and meningitis.

IMPORTANT! Monitor your child, his general condition and the appearance of the fontanel. For any external pathologies - consult a doctor.

When the fontanelle is overgrown

This question is one of the most exciting and frequently asked. The rate of overgrowth of the fontanelle depends on several conditions:

• The presence in the body of a sufficient amount of calcium;
• Suitable age;
• Prematurity of children;
• Lack of disease.

The rate of overgrowth of the fontanelle

• Usually, overgrowth of the small (posterior) fontanelle occurs already in the womb, or during the first 2-3 months of life - if the baby was not born on time.
• Large fontanelle overgrows and turns into bone tissue by about a year - one and a half years of a child's life. It grows gradually, decreasing in size. You can probe it for, say, a month, and check its size at 6 months.

Reasons for deviations

It should be borne in mind that small deviations in either direction are not a problem, since each baby develops individually. The reasons can be very different:

• Rickets. This is the most common form when we talk about deviations from the norm. It occurs mainly in premature babies who do not sunbathe and their mothers' diet during pregnancy and their current diet lack calcium.
• Hypothyroidism It is observed in the case of a decrease in thyroid hormones.
• Down Syndrome. Only a doctor can supply it!
• Vitamin D3 deficiency. If you rarely walk in the sun, and your little one does not receive vitamin D3, your doctor will prescribe the intake of this vitamin in the form of droplets. Be sure to observe the dosage!
• Feeding method. Again, it depends on him whether the baby receives required amount calcium or not.
• Excess calcium able to close the fontanelle ahead of time... But the question is that the child's brain must grow and develop, it is important that there is enough space. Try not to let this happen!
• Constantly, even during quiet communication with you or sleep, the baby depressed fontanelle- most likely he is dehydrated.
• Early closure fontanelle may indicate abnormal development of the brain or craniosynostosis (the disease occurs against the background of rickets, increased function of the glands). These diagnoses are rare, but it must be remembered that pathologies exist.

Watch your baby, pay attention to his development. Use common sense and don't panic in vain! Your local pediatrician will answer all your questions and concerns.

Why does the baby's fontanel not overgrow

This is a reason to go to the doctor once again. Increase in size connective tissue of the skull, or its incomplete overgrowth in accordance with age - the likelihood of a disease or lack of necessary enzymes in the body.

By the way, according to the observations of pediatricians, we can say that fontanelle in boys grows a little faster than girls.

If the child has fontanelle quickly overgrows- you need advice from a pediatrician, endocrinologist and neurologist. There are cases that the fontanelle is completely overgrown by 6 months, in the complete absence of pathologies - this also happens. But it is better for the child and you to receive timely advice.

Useful video

Of course popular pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky also commented on such an exciting question and dispelled myths about the fontanelle in infants.

In this video Doctor Olga Vasilievna Parshikova will show you how to handle the baby and what to look for in the fontanelle.

They have tiny antennae, but no knee caps yet. Newborns also have more bones than adults: 300 versus 206. The fact is that some bones fuse together during growth. For example, the bones of the skull - it actually consists of several parts. This is necessary so that the baby's head can pass through the woman's birth canal. The bones of the skull are completely fused into one box when the fontanelle is overgrown.

Photo GettyImages

Although on the head of a newborn we see one fontanelle - frontal, in fact there are as many as six. There is also a small occipital and four temporal, which usually close at the time of birth or during the first month of life.

The role of the large frontal fontanelle is to protect the baby's head from damage when passing through the birth canal and to allow the brain to fully develop, without limiting it to hard bones of the skull at least at the first stage of a person's life. In addition, the fontanelle is involved in thermoregulation of the brain. Over time, the process of natural regulation is getting better and the frontal fontanelle closes by 12-18 months of age.

But all terms are strictly individual. Late or early closure is normal for a particular baby. The condition and size of the fontanelle is monitored by the local doctor.

How to care for a fontanelle

The fontanel does not require special care. The main thing to know is that in no case should you put pressure on this area. But while the baby's skull is forming, there are still a few things to watch out for.

If the baby sleeps all the time, turning his head in the same direction, the skull on this side may become flat. Ideal if the baby sleeps on his back, or turns the head in different directions. Parents can influence this: put your baby's favorite toy on the side where you want him to turn. This "exercise" will also help to strengthen the neck muscles. And even if a "plane" appears, it will be smoothed out when the baby becomes older, can sit, lie on his stomach.

But if the shape of the head seems strange to you, then it is better to discuss it with your doctor. He will conduct an examination and will be able to understand if there is a problem with the development of the bones of the skull. You can usually fix it with normal physical therapy. If the problem is serious, your pediatrician will refer you to a specialist.

Photo GettyImages

What to do if the fontanelle is poorly overgrown

However, if you are concerned about the slow tightening of the fontanel, you can consult a neurologist. He will examine the baby, if necessary, conduct an ultrasound of the brain and dispel your doubts.

A tiny baby is the most amazing creature that brings true family happiness to a young couple. But the appearance of a child is accompanied not only by joy and unforgettable emotions, but also by increased caution and additional worries. To all loving parents you have to learn a lot of subtleties proper care take care of your baby, monitor his condition and provide comfortable conditions for full growth. In this case, the little treasure will grow healthy and strong, and its body will be able to effectively resist various diseases.

When the fontanelle overgrows in a child

When a baby appears in a family, many mothers and fathers ask themselves the question: when the fontanelle heals - a gentle pulsating area on the head of the newborn. This object of increased parental anxiety is an important indicator of the state of children's health so you need to be aware of all the signals it can provide. Many young mothers treat the fontanelle with extreme caution, protecting it like the apple of their eye. This is not strange, because such an education on the head of the crumbs needs special treatment and care.

Any deviations in the condition of the fontanelle can indicate a developmental pathology or the presence of a serious illness. When a child's fontanelle overgrows, what he can tell parents about, what size tables mean and other important points will be discussed in the current article.

As mentioned above, the fontanelle is the soft space between the bones of the skull that contains the connecting part. In the process of development, it ossifies. Few people know that in addition to the main fontanelle, there are about 5 smaller ones on the head, but they, in most cases, heal immediately after childbirth. If someone believes that such an object does not mean anything, he is deeply mistaken. In fact, the role and purpose of the fontanelle are very important. It is known that during childbirth tremendous pressure is exerted on the baby's skull, but the presence of this pulsating formation allows the skull to contract, reducing the difficulty of labor.

After the birth of the crumbs, the remaining fontanelles serve as reliable shock absorbers to prevent brain damage in case of unexpected falls or bumps. Nevertheless, they forbid the bony part of the skull to squeeze the small, rapidly developing brain, and when exposed to high temperatures act as thermostats, contributing to the effective cooling of the organ.

Mothers who gave birth to their first child should know where the notorious large fontanelle is located. In fact, it is very easy to notice it, because it measures 3 by 3 centimeters and is located in the center of the crown. As for the small posterior fontanelle, it should be looked for in the occiput. However, small sizes complicate the process of finding an element.

What does the fontanelle "speak" about?

As mentioned above, the poor state of such a pulsating formation can serve as an unconditional signaling device, indicating the presence of certain health problems of the crumb. Based appearance such a pulsating formation, you can understand a lot:

• If the fontanelle looks sunken in the first days of a child's life, this may indicate a too long pregnancy. If this condition is noticed even in adulthood, you need to think about consulting a doctor. In many cases, the problem indicates dehydration;
• If the fontanelle is swollen and throbbing, this is a sign of increased intracranial pressure. If this kind is noticed only when the child is crying or is capricious - it's okay. If the situation does not change at rest, it is better to consult a pediatrician;
• If the object does not heal for a long time and does not close, the development of rickets or hydrocephalic syndrome is not excluded. Take the baby to the hospital as soon as possible or call the doctor at home;

Any changes in the external state of such an education must be recorded and provided to the district pediatrician during the appointment. This is due to the fact that mothers are with their child 24 hours a day and may know what is hidden from the doctor.

When does the fontanelle overgrow in a child?

Asking when the fontanel should grow, one should take into account physiological features child and a lot of other individual moments. There are no strict criteria for when such an object should heal. Nevertheless, a significant part of pediatricians are of the opinion that overgrowth occurs between six and 18 months... Sometimes closure occurs at six months of age or when the baby is one year old. Less commonly, it happens at the age of three months or two years. Again, the individual differences of the child play a role here.

You should not worry about an unhealed fontanelle. Each baby is a unique creature with its own physiological properties and characteristics. If a neighbor's child has a fontanelle closed, but yours does not, do not sound the alarm. Most likely, this state is explained by the individual development of the crumb.

The size of the fontanelle in a child by months. table

Each examination of the baby at the pediatrician's appointment will be accompanied by a detailed study of the condition of the fontanel, including measuring the size by months. Such activities are necessary in order to know how the growth and development of the brain and the strengthening of the skull occurs. Today, several specific norms can be distinguished that indicate the optimal size of the fontanel by months. To obtain the required data just use special tables, which are available on forums for young mothers and other similar resources.

After birth, the size of the main fontanel is 3 by 3 centimeters, but sometimes the data from the table differ from reality. The presence of less or less large sizes however, such deviations are not considered to be something dangerous or unacceptable. For a month of life, the fontanelle will increase, but this is not a reason to sound the alarm. Any such incidents indicate severe compression of the skull during growth. However, after some time, the previous shape returns due to the elastic tissues that envelop the inner part of the skull. In addition, the rapid growth of fontanelle size due to the development and growth of the brain... In most cases, actual sizes are comparable to those shown in the table.

A fontanelle in a two-month-old baby

In the second month of life, the size of the fontanelle may decrease. You may not even notice such changes, since they are minor. However, the district pediatrician will definitely take this feature into account. It is not easy to give an accurate definition of the optimal size at two months of age based on the tables. Here it is necessary to take into account the dimensions after birth. In most cases, they are 22 by 25 centimeters. In such early age the closure of such a pulsating formation should not be expected. If the fontanelle is hidden for some reason, it is better to call a doctor and tell about what happened, because such an incident can become extremely undesirable for such a crumb.

Too early closing of the fontanelle up to three months indicates a serious pathological abnormality, with the exception of atypical dimensions of the head circumference due to the individual characteristics of the baby. Among the reasons for the early overgrowth of the fontanelle may be the following:

• is present in the body excess calcium that comes with food;
• the brain is underdeveloped;
• the presence of craniosynostosis - a specific disease that appears against the background of endocrine diseases or rickets, when there is previously closure of the skull sutures and other symptoms;
• the presence of any brain abnormalities(very rare);

To say that early overgrowth of the fontanelle is a sign of a serious illness, can a trained neurologist... Only after the doctor establishes an accurate diagnosis can you begin to take certain measures to prevent negative consequences and further development of the anomaly.

The fontanelle in a child at an older age

An overgrowth of fontanelle at the age of three months is noticed in only 1 percent of children. According to the table, the average dimensions are 23-24 millimeters. If your child is in the 1 percent category, you do not need to sound the alarm or carry the baby around the hospital. If for some reason the large fontanelle is closed, although there are deviations in the plan overall development no, most likely, you should not be afraid of the presence of pathologies and oddities. If the size of the head is appropriate for this age, excessive vigilance will be superfluous.

For four-year-old children, significant changes are characteristic in terms of the size of the pulsating formation on the head. During this period, they are no more than 20 millimeters. It is then that the fontanelle is completely overgrown, but complete ossification is uncharacteristic. There is no point in sounding the alarm if the overgrowth has slowed down. Perhaps, after being examined by a local pediatrician, you will be advised to give your baby vitamin D or to increase the amount of calcium consumed, which is contained in maternal nutrition.

Already at 5 months of age, the dimensions are reduced to 17 millimeters. Up to 6-7 months, the fontanelle will completely disappear. If this does not happen, most likely, the child has individual differences from the average number, so this phenomenon remains quite normal. As for the average indicators from the table, they look like this:

• 8-9 months - 14-15 millimeters;
• 9-10 months - 12-14 millimeters;
• 10-11 months - 9-11 millimeters;
• 11 months - one year - 5-8 millimeters;

In most cases, complete overgrowth occurs at the age of one, and sometimes even earlier. Again, it all depends on the individual characteristics of the child and physiological differences from other children.

If your child was born earlier than the established date, it is possible that the size of the pulsating formation on the head will be impressive and do not correspond to the table. Often, premature babies have large objects, and in addition to the anterior and posterior ones, there are also lateral objects. For this reason, the development of such children may differ from their peers, so if fontanelles grow more slowly, you should not worry. Very often the healing process ends at one year of age or even later. However, don't worry if you find slow action. Even if your baby is seriously lagging behind in development, soon his growth will stabilize.

Often, the fontanelle begins to grow only at the age of 1.5-2 years. In rare cases, this happens when the baby is 2.5 years old.

It is important to understand that premature babies should be put under special control by pediatricians and the slightest hint of the presence of any pathology should be indicated at the next examination by a specialist. If the child is really developing poorly or is sick with something, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment, taking into account all the subtleties and individual properties of the premature baby. If any oddities are noticed in the infant's behavior, do not postpone seeking help from a pediatrician.

Why does the fontanelle grow badly?

Many mothers ask themselves why the fontanelle is not overgrowing well enough. In most cases, this is determined by the following factors:

• full-term;
• unfavorable nutrition;
• development intensity;
• heredity;

If such a natural process occurs earlier than expected, it may be necessary to put the baby on special account by the local pediatrician. The main thing is not to be indifferent to changes in behavior and other manifestations of pathology, reporting what is happening to an experienced specialist. In this way, your child's growth and development will be at its best.

All parents noticed on the head of their newborn baby a section of an unossified pulsating area - a fontanelle. Many even try not to touch this place, fearing to harm the child. But the doctor must feel the fontanelle during a routine examination. After all, it serves as one of the indicators of the health and development of the child.

With age, the fontanelle stiffens. When the fontanelle overgrows in newborns, it depends on many factors - these are the individual characteristics of the baby, and the developmental and health disorders of the baby. Therefore, the condition of the fontanelle requires special attention.

The fontanelle is a soft, non-ossified area of ​​the skull, consisting of a dense membrane that connects certain bones of the infant's skull. These areas allow the skull to transform to facilitate labor. In addition, thanks to the fontanelles, the cranial vault adjusts to the rapidly growing brain of the newborn.

After childbirth, the baby has six fontanelles:

• • The fontanelle connecting the two parietal bones and the occipital bone of the skull

It is called posterior or occipital. It is quite small, only 0.6 mm;

• • Anterior, which connects 2 frontal and 2 parietal bones

At birth, its size is about 30 mm;

• Lateral fontanelles of two types: wedge-shaped and mastoid

Wedge-shaped are located closer to the temples, mastoid - to the back of the head;

The main fontanelle is the anterior fontanelle. It stays open the longest. Another fontanelle that can be felt is the posterior one, although it is much smaller than the large one. However, it becomes overgrown in 1-2 months after birth. The rest of the fontanelles have very small gaps, are almost invisible, and overgrow and ossify within several months, forming cranial sutures.

Since the baby's head is quite large at the time of birth, its passage through the birth canal can be difficult. Thanks to the fontanelles, the baby's head is deformed, which not only facilitates patency, but also protects the contents of the skull.

In addition, fontanelles have other functions:

1. 1. The fontanelle plays a significant role in the thermoregulation of the infant.

Newborns rather poorly maintain the required body temperature due to the immaturity of thermoregulatory mechanisms. The fontanelle helps to dissipate heat in case of overheating, protecting the baby's brain and the body as a whole.

1. 1. The elasticity of the fontanelle tissue helps to protect the child from injury from falls

It is a kind of shock absorber between the bones of the skull. It is in infancy and early age that the child has the worst control over his body, therefore, nature protected the head of a small person in this way from frequent falls and blows.

1. 1. According to the condition of the fontanelle, some diseases in the child are determined

So if the fontanelle is swollen, it could be a sign of intracranial pressure.

1. Through an open fontanelle can be done ultrasonography brain(neurosonography)

After the soft area is overgrown, this will become impossible, because the cranium serves as an acoustic barrier.

Where is

There is a large fontanelle in the upper part of the head, almost at the crown. It connects the two frontal and two parietal parts of the skull. The plot has a diamond shape. The fontanel size may vary. As the head grows, it decreases. So from the initial size of about 3 * 3 cm, it gradually decreases to 5 mm and overgrows.

When overgrown

The large fontanelle should overgrow closer to 12-18 months. However, it depends on how much calcium is in the baby's body. If it is enough, then the fontanelle can drag on for up to a year. Small deviations in the timing of overgrowth from the norm are not critical. In the absence of other signs of pathologies, they cannot indicate violations in the body.

The timing of the overgrowth of the fontanelle can be influenced by the following factors:

• • Premature baby

Such children usually lag behind their peers in development. Therefore, the fontanelle can grow more slowly. Usually, by 3 years, the lag disappears.

• • If the child grows quickly with adequate nutrition, then the fontanelle can close faster.

With an abundance of carbohydrates or proteins in the diet, growth may slow down.

• Infant feeding method

In children on breastfeeding the fontanelle overgrows faster, as breast milk most fully absorbed by the body.

but deviation from the norm can also be caused by hereditary diseases or a lack of calcium and vitamin D3.

Norms and deviations. When to worry

How many months the fontanelle will grow depends on the individual characteristics of the organism and related factors.

If it is overgrown before 3 months, then this is not normal. If the child is older, then it is necessary to regularly show the baby to the pediatrician, who will monitor his condition. In a newborn, the fontanelle pulsates. In some countries it is called a fountain. If this pulsation does not go away with age, then you should consult a doctor.

Often, a deviation from the normal state of the fontanel can be evidence of disease. In this case, it is necessary to pay attention to other accompanying symptoms.

• • A bulging fontanelle indicates a possible increase in intracranial pressure

What can be a sign of such diseases as hydrocephalus (dropsy of the brain), meningitis, encephalitis. If the bloating fontanelle is accompanied by seizures and high temperature, then the child needs urgent medical attention;

• • A sunken fontanel can be a sign of malnutrition and dehydration.

If a sunken fontanel is accompanied by fever, diarrhea, vomiting, which indicates the presence of infection and dehydration of the body, then it is necessary to urgently call ambulance and hospitalize the child;

• • A fontanelle size exceeding the norm may be one of the signs of Down syndrome;
  • A fontanel that does not overgrow for a long time may indicate rickets.

Rickets occurs due to a lack of calcium and vitamin D in the body. However, to diagnose this disease, it is imperative to look not only at the fontanel, but at other characteristic symptoms;

• A slowly overgrowing fontanelle may be a sign of endocrine disruption;
• If the fontanelle has overgrown too quickly, it may indicate the development of a disease of microcephaly or craniosynostosis (craniostenosis).

Therefore, for any deviations from the norm, it is better to consult a doctor. It will help determine if there are other signs of illness or if this condition is normal for this child.

Fontanelle care

Often, parents are afraid to even touch the fontanelle. But don't worry. Connective tissue is strong enough to withstand touch and hygiene procedures... Of course, you need to take some care, but the child can fearlessly wash his hair, comb his hair, and perform other care procedures.

There is no special care for the fontanelle. You do not need to constantly feel or measure it. If there are violations, they will immediately become noticeable.

In addition, the doctor, during a regular examination, always feels the fontanel and will notice deviations.

Fontanelle myths

Often, unknowingly, parents are unnecessarily worried about fontanelles. There are such myths:

1. If the fontanelle is rather large and does not overgrow well, then the child has rickets..

However, this is not required. In addition to the speed of overgrowing of the fontanelle, rickets have other signs: sleep disturbance, severe sweating, tearfulness, muscle flabbiness and others. Therefore, the diagnosis must be made by a doctor. The duration of the overgrowth of the fontanelle depends on other factors.

1. The fontanel should not be touched, it can damage the brain

This is not true. The brain is protected by a strong membrane of connective tissue. She is able to withstand both touch and infant care activities.

1. If the fontanelle overgrows quickly, then you can not take calcium and vitamin D3, even with rickets

Parents should be aware that rickets is a very serious disease. You cannot self-medicate. If the doctor has prescribed the drug, then it is necessary to take it. For all other questions, it is better to consult additionally;

1. All children of the same age should have the same fontanel size.

This is not true. There are certain norms, but each child has its own characteristics of growth and development. Therefore, the size of the fontanelle and the rate of overgrowth may differ in children of the same age.

1. When the fontanelle is closed prematurely, the brain will stop enlarging and the child will be mentally disabled.

This is not true. The development of the brain is not associated with the timing of the closure of the fontanelles. The skull is not a monolithic structure. The bones of the skull are connected by elastic sutures that lengthen as they grow. The skull grows up to 20 years.

Thus, deviations from the norm in the size of the fontanelle can be both an individual feature and a symptom of the disease. Therefore, you should be careful about this site.

If the child is healthy and vigorous, nothing bothers him, then, most likely, deviations from the norm are his individual feature... If in doubt, be sure to consult with your doctor so as not to waste time.

The process of giving birth to a baby is so delicately "thought out" by nature that it provides all the moments for a child to be born healthy. In order for the small body to pass through the mother's birth canal, its head takes on an oblong shape and flattens a little from the sides. The baby has gaps between the bones of the skull, which fill the plates of connective tissue. These gaps are called fontanelles , and parents have a lot of different questions about them. However, most of them - and there are six fontanels after birth - quickly overgrow. Therefore, parents often simply do not notice that there were so many of them. But the main one - the frontal or large fontanelle (abbreviated - BR) remains for a longer period. After all, its function is also to provide shock absorption, protecting against injuries and fractures during a fall.

About when the crown of a newborn is overgrown and how this process occurs, it will be discussed in the article below.

When does the fontanelle overgrow in newborns?

Young parents are often worried about whether everything is going well and are looking for information about when the large fontanelle is overgrown. The older the baby becomes, the more worries parents have about this. But in fact, even after the baby is one year old, and the crown remains, there is no need to worry. Indeed, in children, this process normally ends before 1.5 years. But if, nevertheless, a certain anxiety is overcome that the process is progressing with a delay, it is better to visit a doctor who will help determine when the child's fontanel is overgrown in this or that case.

After all, we can talk not only about the disease, but also about a certain developmental feature. Therefore, sometimes the answer to the question of by what age the fontanelle overgrows in a child is not so categorical. In any case, when visiting the doctor with the baby, the mother should ask him all the questions about how long the fontanel should grow in the child.

What should be the crown?

The doctor evaluates the characteristics of the fontanelle immediately after the baby is born, as well as every time at monthly examinations. The pediatrician must pay attention to the size of the crown, the rate of its decrease, the density of the bones surrounding it.

What size should the fontanelle have healthy baby? In a full-term baby, its dimensions are 2.5-3 cm. The doctor determines this by palpating the skull and taking measurements between opposite sides of the rhombus.

In premature babies, these sizes are larger - about 3.5 by 3.5 cm. But if a large baby was born at 41-42 weeks, then the crown may be smaller. Interestingly, a baby at the age of 1 month may have even more BR than at the time of birth. The thing is that during this period the brain is actively growing, and therefore the bones diverge a little.

Therefore, it is difficult to determine exactly what BR should be in a baby at a certain age. However, in some sources, you can still find certain indicators:

• at three months - 1.8-2 cm;
• in half a year - 1.8-1.6 cm;
• at nine months - 1.3-1.4 cm;
• in one year - 0.4-0.8 cm.

But it should be understood that these indicators are just an approximate guideline. This is due to the fact that:

• the size of the fontanelle in all children is different initially;
• how the fontanel is tightened in children does not depend on its size; a large one can take up to a year, a small one sometimes does not grow up to one and a half years.

But it is very important to ensure that the fontanelles are at the level of the cranial bones, not too tense. It is assumed that the spring will sink or swell a little; its pulsation is also possible.

It is also important that the parietal and frontal bones surrounding the crown are dense, and there are no areas of softening on them.

If the fontanelle does not close - what to do?

You need to visit a doctor and consult with him if the fontanelle has not closed by 18 months. This condition may be normal for a baby. However, we can talk about certain pathologies.

If a baby has a very small fontanel, parents need to show the child to specialists - a pediatrician, endocrinologist, neurologist. Sometimes there are cases when the fontanelle heals in a newborn as early as 3 months. This rarely happens - in about 1% of cases. If at the same time all other indicators are normal for the baby, then we are not talking about deviations.

However, in some cases, too small BR may be evidence of pathology. The table below shows the possible conditions in which the baby's fontanel is too small.

What to do if the child's fontanel is too large?

The fontanelle is considered too large if its size exceeds 3.5 cm. But for immature or premature babies this may be the norm. In such cases, the child's large fontanelle closes up to one and a half years. Often, at the age of 3 months or older, BR begins to actively decrease, and by this age it gradually closes.

In other cases, it is imperative to consult a pediatric neurologist, conduct an ultrasound of the brain and other necessary studies to exclude hydrocephalus and increased .

Why does the fontanelle pulsate in the baby?

Since the brain is actively supplied with blood, and its vessels are located close to the heart, then during the flow of blood, there is strong pressure and, accordingly, tremors.

Such pulsation is transmitted to the cerebrospinal fluid, to the membranes of the brain and the plate that closes the BR. Therefore, if the fontanelle pulsates a little at 3 months or at a different age, this is normal. But if BR pulsates very strongly in a child, this may indicate developing diseases. But in this case, as a rule, there are other unpleasant symptoms - intoxication, dehydration, fever, vomiting, etc. In such a situation, you need to consult a doctor, establish a diagnosis and carry out the correct treatment.

What does it mean if the fontanelle in the baby has sunk?

When BR goes down, it is an indication that the baby is malnourished or dehydrated. A fallen fontanelle in a child due to fluid loss can be observed:

• with extreme heat;
• due to overheating, if the child is wrapped too much;
• as a result of increased temperature or intoxication of the body;
• after severe vomiting, or.

It is very important to replace the fluid loss immediately. If the baby is overheated, it should be chilled and given liquid. With an intestinal infection, manifested by severe symptoms, treatment is carried out in a hospital.

If the fontanelle sticks out - what does it mean?

Bulging (elevation above the level of the bones) of the fontanelle may be evidence of an increase in intracranial pressure - a symptom characteristic of tumors, intracranial bleeding. There are other possible reasons for this phenomenon.

Parents should be very careful and call emergency care, if, in addition to protruding fontanelle, the following signs are observed:

• high temperature;
• diarrhea and vomiting in an infant;
• disturbances of consciousness;
• bulging after head injury;
• convulsions.

In the absence of such symptoms and swelling for a long time, a specialist should also be consulted. In such a situation, an ultrasound of the brain in a baby may be needed. Whether it is the norm or not, the survey results will show.

Do you need special care?

There is no need to practice any hair care steps. Although the plate covering it is very thin, it is quite strong. Therefore, parents can safely comb the baby, cut, examine his head, bathe him. True, you still need to handle the comb carefully, since the baby may experience unpleasant sensations with sudden movements.

conclusions

Despite the fact that normally the process of BR closure is completed by one and a half years, sometimes certain deviations can occur in healthy children. Therefore, the answer to the question of when the fontanelle in a child should close is not always unambiguous. Parents should be alerted to the situation when the fontanelle closes in infants up to 3 months. If the parents have certain doubts about the ongoing process, about when the fontanelle closes in the child, it is better to ask the pediatrician.

The process of BR closure occurs faster if the baby is well nourished and gains weight quickly. Most often in children staying on breastfeeding closing is faster.