Rodnichok in infants as an indicator of health

The children's fontanel is a characteristic feature of the structure of the skull of a newborn baby. It is a soft area on the parietal part of the head between parts of the skull. This area has no bone tissue, but is closed by a strong membrane. Spring in infants allows the bones of the skull to contract during childbirth during the passage of the baby through the birth canal.

What are the fontanelles of newborns?

Newborn babies have six fontanelles. The largest is the front, the second largest is the rear. There are two mastoid and two wedge-shaped. Open after childbirth, there are usually two main fontanelles: frontal (large) and occipital (small).

Sizes of children's fontanelles

The large fontanelle resembles the shape of a rhombus. Normal is considered if its size is within 1-3 centimeters. Most often, such fontanel in children is 1.7-2.5 centimeters. And at the age of three months it decreases to 1-1.5 centimeters.

To properly determine the size of the frontal fontanelle, you should add its longitudinal and transverse diameters and divide the resulting sum by 2. The small fontanelle resembles the shape of a triangle. Its dimensions usually do not exceed 0.7 centimeters. Although most often the child is born already with a closed small fontanel. But do not worry if the size and shape of the fontanel in the child is different from the standard ones. Every child is different. You should consult a pediatrician who will determine if this causes fear.

Timing of ferns closing

Four lateral fontanelles in full-term children are closed for birth, in preterm infants - for the first few days after birth. The occipital fontanel in infants is completely closed in 2-3 months. But there are no exact dates for closing the largest fontanel. This is a very individual process. He can grow to 12 months, and maybe 1.5 and 2 years. In recent years, due to the acceleration of children, the frontal fontanelle disappears by 10 months.

What is the reason for the early closure of the frontal fontanel?

Early is considered the closure of the fontanelle before the third month of the baby's life. Usually this is due to the enthusiasm of the expectant mother taking multivitamins and calcium-rich foods, which results in small and fairly dense fontanel in the child. Therefore, you should observe the norm in taking vitamins by pregnancy.

Than it is dangerous?

Early closure of the fontanel has a significant effect on the full development of the brain, interfering with its normal growth. The danger is that the early overgrown Fontanel can cause serious diseases of babies. Very rarely (but the probability, nevertheless is) the kid can have one of two diseases: an anomaly of development of the brain and craniosynostosis. These diseases are accompanied by a number of other symptoms. If the fontanel of a child closes early, but the circumference of his head is normal, it means that the baby is healthy.

What is the reason for the closure of the fontanel?

Later, the closure of the frontal fontanelle is associated with a low calcium content in the body . The lack of calcium limits the intake of vitamin D3. And this leads to a change in bone tissue.

Than it is dangerous?

By itself, the closure of the fontanel does not speak of danger. It is important to study and accompanying symptoms, as this can be a dangerous signal.

The most common cause of late closure is rickets. It can also be a signal of Down's syndrome, achondrodysplasia and other serious diseases. Even if the long-unresolved fontanel in infants does not cause fear, you should consult a specialist.

What else can "tell" fontanel?

There are several more "signals" that can not be ignored:

• Fontanel in infants sinks - the body lacks fluid;

• For a long time it is "convex" - increased intracranial pressure ;

• Increased size - a violation of ossification or prematurity.