Where is the baby's fontanelle? Where is the fontanelle?

The fontanelle is an organ on the baby's head. The healthy growth of the fontanelle is related to the baby's development. Today, I will tell you where the baby's fontanelle is and how to judge whether the fontanelle is intact.

Where is the baby's fontanel?

1. Anterior fontanelle

If you touch your baby along the midline of the top of the head, you will find that there is an opening in the front and back of the baby's skull. It feels soft. The front one is called the anterior fontanelle, which is diamond-shaped. It is the largest intersection of bone sutures on the skull. Because there is no bone here, it is slightly sunken and softer than other parts, and it will vibrate slightly when touched. Six months after the baby is born, the anterior fontanelle will become smaller as the skull sutures gradually ossify. It will close at the age of one year, and no later than 18 months, and be replaced by bone.

2Posterior fontanelle

The posterior fontanelle is located at the back of the baby's head, at the intersection of the suture between the occipital bone and the two parietal bones. It is small and sometimes even difficult to feel. The posterior fontanelle is almost closed when the baby is born, or can only accommodate the tip of a finger, and closes about 2-4 months after birth.

3. Although the baby's fontanelle is not big, it is an important window to reflect the baby's physical health. By observing this small window, many diseases can be discovered early within the baby's first year old, so that the baby can be diagnosed and treated early. Therefore, mothers should know more about the normal development process of the baby's fontanelle and the abnormal phenomena that are prone to occur.

Normal development process

The human skull is composed of 8 bones, among which the paired ones are the temporal bones and the parietal bones, and the unpaired ones are the frontal bones, ethmoid bones, sphenoid bones and occipital bones. *The skull of a newborn is not fully developed, and there are many gaps between the bones. The bones of the skull are connected by connective tissue membranes. The gaps between these skull bones are called cranial fontanelles. The largest cranial fontanelle is prismatic and located at the front end of the sagittal suture, called the anterior fontanelle (frontal fontanelle). In addition, there is a posterior fontanelle (occipital fontanelle) at the intersection of the sagittal suture and the lambdoid suture, which is triangular. There is an anterolateral fontanelle (sphenoid fontanelle) in front and below the parietal bones. There is a posterolateral fontanelle (mastoid fontanelle) at the posterior and lower corners of the parietal bones. *The anterior fontanelle closes at 1 to 2 years old after birth, and the other fontanelles close shortly after birth.

Why do we have fontanels?

When a baby is born, the skull is not fully developed yet. There are two gaps between the skull bones. The diamond-shaped area in the middle of the head near the front is the anterior fontanelle, which is commonly known as the "zenithal cover". If you observe carefully, you will find that the anterior fontanelle will jump from time to time. The fontanelle feels soft, but parents should not be afraid to touch it. The fontanelle area should be cleaned frequently to prevent symptoms such as seborrheic dermatitis.

When cleaning, it is best for mothers to choose special baby care liquid and gently rub it with their fingers.

When going out, put a hat on your baby to prevent direct sunlight from shining on the baby's fontanelle, which can easily cause heatstroke.

What is the function of the fontanelle?

Although the fontanelle is very small, it is very important. It is a window to the skull and also a small window for babies to see doctors.

1. Check the development of brain and bones

Normally, the baby's fontanelle will be completely closed at 18 months, but some babies close it earlier, at 6-7 months. Many parents worry that their baby's brain is not developing properly. In fact, as long as it is within the normal range, there is no need to worry. On the contrary, if it is lower than the normal value, you should go to the hospital for a check-up, otherwise it will not be abnormal brain development.

2. Pay attention to bulging fontanelle

The baby's fontanelle is usually flat. If it suddenly bulges and there is a fever, vomiting, or coma, it means that the intracranial pressure is increased. This means that the baby may suffer from encephalitis, meningitis, or cerebral edema. Seek medical treatment in time.

3. Sunken fontanelle

If the baby's fontanelle is sunken and accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, the most common cause is lack of water in the body. Because diarrhea in babies can cause water loss in the body, medical treatment should be sought as soon as possible.