Newborn Baby Fontanelles
There is one posterior fontanelle at the back of the baby s skull.
Newborn baby fontanelles. At birth the average size of the anterior fontanelle is about an inch in diameter 2 1 centimeters but it can be bigger or smaller. Sometimes there is a third bigger fontanelle other than posterior and anterior ones in a newborn. The posterior fontanelle usually closes first followed by the sphenoidal fontanelles mastoid fontanelles and anterior fontanelle.
In a study the frequency of third fontanelles in an unselected population of newborn infants was 6 3. The gaps between these bones are important as they give the bones room to move and overlap during labour when the baby passes through the birth canal. These gaps or spaces are called fontanelles.
The fontanelle on the top of her head is the anterior fontanelle. The spaces also allow the baby s brain to grow and develop. Both boys and girls genitals often appear swollen initially but will look normal within a few weeks.
The soft spot on the back of your baby s head is called the posterior fontanelle. Babies are usually born with six fontanelles. The main two are the anterior fontanelle which you can palpate or feel at the top of the baby s head and that is diamond shaped.
It is very common in down syndrome and some congenital infections. And then there s a posterior fontanelle at the rear of the baby s head which is triangular shaped. They are one of the most important things to look after in a newborn baby there are two fontanelles based of their positioning if you scrutinise the head of your baby you will notice spots that.
There are two fontanelles on your baby s head and they may vary in size slightly. This small opening is in the shape of a triangle and it usually measures less than inch 1 centimeter at birth. This flexibility also allows.