Most couples who have just become parents ask the question: "When does the fontanel overgrow in children?" When can I sound the alarm and run to the doctor? Let's talk about it.
What is a fontanel, and what effect does it have on the development of the brain of a child?
The fontanel is a site on the head of a newborn that is not covered by the bone of the skull. Due to these intervals, the cranial bones can be displaced during the movement of the child along the birth canal. When a little time has passed after birth, the baby's head will come back to normal form. A large fontanel is called the rhomboid gap, which has a size of about three centimeters at the place where the frontal and parietal bones of the newborn converge. As a rule, it closes by one and a half to two years.
When a fontanel overgrows in children: premature and 25% of full-term
Such babies at birth have an open small fontanel at the very base
skulls. Usually it closes by three and a half months of life. If the dynamics of overgrowth of the fontanel is not typical, then this allows the pediatrician to identify a serious disease.
What functions does the fontanel have?
Its main function and task is to ensure that the baby's head passes normally through the birth canal. In the first few years of life, the fontanel is the protection of the child from severe head injuries . Most parents are afraid of damaging him, but this is in vain, since he is protected by a durable film, which can hardly be broken. Newborns have 6 fontanelles, four close in the first few days of life, the fifth - somewhere in a couple of months, and the largest - up to one year.
When a fontanel overgrows in children - does it happen at the same time?
In each child, fontanelles have different sizes. It is worth noting that the original dimensions are in no way associated with those that are available at closing. In the first few months of a baby’s life, a large fontanel can become larger, as the brain develops rapidly. Since each baby has a strictly individual body, the period for which the fontanel overgrows can also be very different. In some children, the fontanel quickly overgrows, that is, by about three months, which is the norm for healthy children. Experts have noticed that this process is a little faster for boys than for girls. Anyway, if something bothers you,
then you should seek the advice of a
pediatric neurologist who will conduct an examination and, if necessary, prescribe an
ultrasound of the brain.Is pulsation dangerous when a fontanel overgrows in children?
Very often, mothers believe that the fontanel is an “open” place and therefore they are afraid of damaging it. But such fear is greatly exaggerated. Where it is located, the brain has three-shell protection: cerebrospinal fluid, which acts as a shock absorber, tendon mesh and skin. If the fontanel is pulsating, which can be seen or felt, then this is absolutely normal, just like it swells during a scream or muscle tension.
What does the fontanelle hollow mean?
If it looks very sunken with an infectious disease, high fever, diarrhea or vomiting, then this may be a sign of dehydration.