When does the fontanel overgrow a newborn and what do you pay attention to?

Soft pulsating fontanel - one of the main indicators of the correct development of the child. At each examination, the pediatrician will check his condition.

When does the fontanel grow in the newborn? To answer this question, let's turn to physiology.

The bones of the newborn's skull are plastic. The skull is not one whole and consists of separate parts. The castle-like seams and fontanelles unite these parts.

The shape of the baby's head depends on how the childbirth was flowing. With a head preposition , slight deformation can be observed, the skull is slightly extended into the oval. If the presentation is gluteal, the back of the head is slightly protruding, and the top is slightly flattened. If the child was born with the help of cesarean section, then its head has the correct shape.

Very soon the baby's head will take its physiological dimension. This will happen in a few days. If there was intrauterine deformation, then it will take from two weeks to a month. The pediatrician will observe the dynamics of overgrowing of the fontanel.

So, the fontanel in newborns when it grows? By three months its size should be 2.4-2.2 cm. In six months - 2.1-1.8 cm. In one year the fontanel will be completely closed, or its size will be within 1 cm.

Due to the unclosed space between the bones of the skull the baby has the opportunity to fully develop: thanks to this space the skull increases, and there is room for the growth of the brain tissue.

However, there are situations when the fontanelle grows in the newborn child later or earlier than the due date.

Slow overgrowth suggests that the baby develops rickets or metabolism is broken. In this case, the child must additionally take vitamin D. It should also be longer to walk outdoors in sunny weather.

If the fontanel in the newborn quickly overgrows, then, perhaps, it is associated with hypervitaminosis and can cause increased intracranial pressure. These babies do not need additional vitamin D supplementation. If the baby is breastfed, consult a doctor about diet and taking medication. Calcium preparations and sour-milk products, present in the mum's menu in large quantities, can provoke rapid closure of the fontanel in the baby.

When does the fontanel overgrowth completely in the newborn and what should be paid attention to? Normally, any fontanelle should close by 12-18 months. But sometimes it can drag on after half a year. If this does not affect the behavior or well-being of the crumbs, then you should not worry. But sour milk lure in the diet of such children should be introduced a little later.

Attention should be paid to the external changes of the fontanel.

Sedation in the first weeks of a baby's life indicates a delayed pregnancy. If this is observed later, it means that the baby loses fluid or is undernourished. Often the cause of this can be diarrhea or vomiting.

The protrusion of the fontanel signals intracranial pressure. In this case, you need to visit a neurologist. If the fontanel protrudes during crying, then you should not worry. This is normal. You just need to calm down the baby.

It is very important for parents to know about when the fontanelle overgrows a newborn. This will help not miss a possible evolving disease.