Temechko in a newborn is also called a fontanel. It is a soft area on the baby’s head, which is covered only with skin and a special membrane. Over time, the fontanel begins to tighten and completely hardens. A soft little crown helps the child to easily be born, and also performs other functions.
What is a child’s head and what does it consist of?
Typically, the fontanel in a baby takes the form of a rhombus. When feeling it, mommy can feel a slight pulsation, however, this is absolutely normal.
Where is the crown of the newborn? You can usually feel it just above or below the height of the surrounding bones. Its normal size does not exceed 3x3 cm, but it can be much smaller. It all depends on the mother’s nutrition during pregnancy and heredity. The more calcium in the diet of a pregnant woman, the smaller the size of the little girl will be in the baby. But calcium should not be abused, because with a large number of such products, the fontanel can completely drag out already in the womb, and the baby will suffer a skull injury during childbirth.
The human skull consists of three bone plates that grow rapidly after birth. Between them, and there is a little head in the newborn. A photo can be provided by a pediatrician. At first, the distance between the bones in the baby is large and soft, but later the plates grow, and the fontanel is completely tightened.
What is a fontanel for?
Nature does not create anything for nothing. First of all, a fontanel or little crown in a newborn helps the head to adjust during exit from the birth canal. This is also confirmed by the fact that a child is born with a slightly flattened and elongated skull shape.
In addition, the soft fontanel protects the baby in the first year of life from head injuries, and the risk of falling in the newborn is especially high. During the stroke, the head adjusts and absorbs the shock.
Also, without a soft fontanel, the child’s brain would not be able to grow at the right speed. Bone mobility allows the head to expand and not obstruct the brain.
When does the closing process take place?
It should be recalled that the fontanel is considered to be the normal size of the fontanel up to 3x3 cm. A small little crown on the newborn is considered if its size does not exceed 0.5x0.5 cm. Parents should not be afraid if in the first days of life they found that the soft crown increased slightly in size. This is necessary in order for the head to take the final and correct shape. In the future, this distance will only decrease.
Not a single pediatrician can say for sure after how long the little head is completely closed. It depends on many factors, including heredity. However, in modern medicine there are approximate figures, which are considered the norm.
In most children, the fontanel closes in the first two years of life, in half of the newborns in the first year. There are babies in whom the topochki hardens already three months after birth.
It is worth noting that the closure of the fontanel also depends on the gender of the child. And this is a medically proven fact. So, the hardening of the little stones is much faster for boys than for girls.
Late overgrowth and large sizes of the crown of the newborn
Doctors can say for sure what size a little head should be for a newborn. When the fontanel overgrows, it is also known, therefore, any deviation from the norm is considered a potential danger. Such abnormalities may indicate various congenital diseases.
A large crown and its late overgrowing may indicate:
- Rahite. A similar ailment is usually manifested in premature infants or in children with a lack of vitamin D. Newborns with rickets usually suffer from a flat nape. With this symptom, it is recommended to immediately consult a pediatrician for advice.
- Hypotheriosis. In infants, congenital thyroid dysfunction is sometimes noted. A child with hypothyroidism is very lethargic, sleeps a lot, eats poorly and suffers from a violation of the excretory system. If the baby showed such symptoms, it is recommended to donate blood to thyroid hormones.
- Achondrodysplasia. This is a rare pathology, which manifests itself in a violation of the growth of the baby, shortening of the limbs, and a wide head. Unfortunately, this is a congenital ailment that can not be cured.
- Down Syndrome. It's no secret that such a pathology is manifested in a violation of the development of the baby. Also, the child has a short neck, poor facial expressions. In modern medicine, Down syndrome is diagnosed immediately after birth, but there are also mild forms that manifest only with time.
- Other bone diseases and skeletal development.
Rapid closure of the fontanel and its small size
When a little head heals in newborns quickly and is small, this also indicates certain disorders in the body. Despite this, rapid overgrowing and small sizes are less common.
- Craniosynostosis. A disease characterized by a small head circumference and high pressure in the skull. At the same time, strabismus, low hearing and late growth are noted. Craniosynostosis is successfully treated by the surgical method.
- Also, the small size of the fontanel and its early closure is also noted with abnormalities in the development of the brain. In order to make such a serious diagnosis, the conclusion of a neuropediatrician is required. The outcome depends primarily on the specific diagnosis, as well as on the severity of the pathology.
It is important to remember that any deviation from the norm requires an early examination and treatment.
Sunken little baby
Sometimes mothers notice a hollow little thing in a newborn when it is overgrown. Photos of such a fontanel can be found in the literature.
A similar problem does sometimes appear in babies, however, it does not pose a serious danger to the body. Mom can cure a sunken crown on her own, because the problem, most likely, lies in the dehydration of the body.
In order to normalize the baby's water balance, it is necessary to observe the drinking regimen and without fail to monitor the amount of urination. Normally, a newborn should urinate at least 8 times a day.
The fontanel also sinks after vomiting, diarrhea, that is, with poisoning the body. If symptoms of intoxication have been noticed, then you need to seek help from a doctor. He will already prescribe drugs to restore the water-salt balance, such as "Regidron". "Regidron" is good even for babies from the first days of life, but in the right concentration and quantity.
Bulging fontanel
A bulging little head in a newborn is a serious symptom. Usually it looks like a slightly swollen area, which, as a rule, appears due to increased intracranial pressure in the child's head.
Increased intracranial pressure and bulging fontanel can be a symptom of diseases such as:
- encephalitis;
- tumors;
- bleeding
- inflammation.
Such ailments can be suspected only in the presence of other symptoms, including drowsiness, increased irritability, fever, cramps, nausea, and temporary loss of consciousness. All these signs serve as a direct indication for an early visit to the doctor, because untimely assistance provided can lead a newborn to death.
Pediatrician visit
Even before the birth of the baby, mom should decide on a specialist who will monitor his development. The pediatrician must be highly qualified.
At each visit to the doctor, the fontanel is carefully examined. Inspection is carried out on the following items:
- first the crown is felt and a conclusion is made whether it is open or closed;
- its size is established and compared with the age of the baby;
- with light pressing movements, the doctor determines the degree of softness of the fontanel, if its edges are too soft, then this most likely indicates rickets;
- palpation of the membranous part, when pressed, the doctor should clearly feel the pulsation.
If there are deviations in at least one of the points, then the pediatrician must prescribe an examination or treatment (if the diagnosis is already established). As a rule, an ultrasound examination of a little girl in newborns is considered not superfluous. This procedure is absolutely safe for the child and helps to identify some diseases in the initial stages.
Full formation of the fontanel
Usually, the full formation of the fontanel in the baby occurs in the first years of life and without any outside help. To prevent rickets, a child is recommended to give foods high in vitamin D.
Many mummies, especially inexperienced ones, are afraid to touch the neck of a newborn. Such concerns are completely unfounded. It is protected by special membranes and it is impossible to harm the baby. The head must be washed gently, and then just gently wipe with a towel.
To speed up the process of formation of the fontanel, pediatricians recommend doing a light massage, but it is necessary to precisely control the degree of pressure.
So, in conclusion, it should be noted that the soft little crown performs a very important function in the development of the baby, and also helps to suspect the presence of any congenital pathologies in the child.