Baby Fontanelles Sunken

Some baby s fontanels always appear slightly sunken even when they are well.

Baby fontanelles sunken. When to see a doctor. Like the sutures fontanelles harden over time and become closed solid bony areas. The fontanelles allow the brain and skull to grow during an infant s first year.

If your baby s fontanelle is sunken bulging or enlarged it is best to contact a doctor so they can be treated. But if the soft spot is significantly sunken it s usually a sign that your baby is dehydrated and needs to be given fluids immediately. Some baby s fontanelles may become enlarged if the child is vomiting or has a bug but it is still a good idea to check with a medical professional.

When you touch the fontanelle it should feel firm with a slight inward curve. What is a sunken fontanel. Your baby s fontanelles can appear to pulsate with their heartbeat.

A baby is born with several fontanels. For instance delayed fontanelle closure or an enlarged fontanelle can be associated with a range of medical conditions. A sunken fontanel when accompanied by other symptoms can be a sign of dehydration or malnutrition.

Make sure you feed your baby whenever they are hungry which is called on demand feeding if your baby gets sick feed them small sips of fluids often. They provide the skull with the flexibility needed to pass through the birth canal. Fontanelles allow the bones of the skull to move so the baby s head can change shape during delivery the birth canal is narrow and the movement of the bones helps the baby s head to get through.

There are normally several fontanelles on a newborn s skull. The spaces between the skull bones leave room for the rapid expansion of the brain and head. Preventing your baby from getting dehydrated helps prevent a sunken fontanelle.