Fontanelles in newborn babies

The human skull consists of several parts, grouped into two sections: the brain and the face. The flat bones of the cranium have sutures at the junctions, but in newborns, some areas of the joint do not grow together immediately. There are holes covered with strong connective tissue - a fibrous membrane. If you put your hand on them, you can feel the pulsation of blood, which evokes an association with a source gushing from the ground. This is how the concept of "fontanelle" appeared.

These soft areas of the skull perform several very important functions.

1. Facilitating the birth process for mother and baby. During the passage through the birth canal, the bones of the skull come as close to each other as possible. This is why the head of a newborn has a slightly elongated shape. However, the elasticity of the fontanelle tissue helps to return to its normal appearance within a few days.
2. Help for brain development. During the first year of life, the child's brain grows very intensively. The presence of soft joints expands the cranium, allowing it to occupy the necessary space.
3. Thermoregulation of the brain. In infants, heat exchange processes are only just forming, and therefore they often overheat. If the body temperature has risen above 38 degrees, the body is naturally cooled through the fontanelle, which prevents complications such as vomiting, swelling, and convulsions.
4. Shock absorption. Since the head is the heaviest part of the infant's body, it takes almost all the blows when falling. But the presence of fontanelles allows the bones of the skull to shift slightly and soften the shocks and concussions.

Until the hole closes, it is possible to conduct an ultrasound and neurosonography. These examinations help to identify pathologies in the formation of the brain at early stages, as well as epilepsy, hydrocephalus, perinatal encephalopathy.

The greatest concern for parents is the condition of the large fontanelle. The fact is that its size and timing of closure are individual for each child. In most cases, the bones completely fuse between the ages of 12 and 18 months, and in boys this process is usually completed faster. However, in 6% of absolutely healthy children, the final formation of the skull goes beyond this time period.

Various factors can affect the rate of bone fusion.

• Breast milk is ideally balanced for the functioning of the baby's gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, with the right diet of the mother, the fontanelle tightens on time.
• Poor-quality formulas, as well as complementary foods overloaded with carbohydrates and proteins, cause a slowdown in the process of fusion.
• Premature babies are slightly behind their peers in physical indicators, including the timing of skull bone fusion.
• Bones fuse more slowly with a lack of vitamin D. It is produced by the body under the influence of ultraviolet rays and facilitates the absorption of calcium.
• Congenital diseases hypothyroidism and achondrodysplasia inhibit bone fusion, and microcephaly and craniosynostosis cause too early closure.

In addition to size, the appearance of the fontanelle is sometimes a cause for concern.

A pulsating membrane is a natural and normal phenomenon, but if there is no pulse or a barely noticeable pulse, you should monitor the baby's blood pressure. A depressed hole may indicate dehydration. It often accompanies vomiting or diarrhea in a child. Before the doctor arrives, provide the baby with plenty of fluids. A protrudingappearance is observed when the temperature rises. If you notice this condition of the fontanelle for several days without other alarming manifestations, consult a doctor, as it may be a symptom of meningitis, encephalitis or increased intracranial pressure.

Many parents think the fontanelle area is fragile and vulnerable, but in fact, the fibrous tissue is quite strong and can withstand any manipulations to care for the baby's head. Therefore, you should not skip daily procedures for washing your head and removing yellowish-white crusts from the skin, which are formed due to increased activity of the sebaceous glands and require regular combing.

To properly remove seborrheic dermatitis, you should slightly warm up baby oil and lubricate the baby's head with it half an hour before bathing. Put a cap on your baby, and after water procedures, comb his hair with a special soft comb with natural bristles. Don't be afraid to put hats on your baby, or to stroke and kiss the places above the fontanelles.