Question 1

what is the definition or description of: closed fontanel?

Accepted Answer

Closed fontanel: Closed fontanel is the fusion of a soft spot on a baby's head. Can either be the anterior or posterior fontanel

Question 2

is it normal for 1 year old and 2 month baby s fontanel to close because my nephew s fontanel is already closed and is it effect tooth formation?

Accepted Answer

That is normal: The frontal fontanel is typically completely closed by 18-24 months, but often feels hard/sealed by your fingers by around 1 yr, some a bit earler, some later. During routine infant exam, docs/nurses check this and so if baby has been growing, developing normally, without concern from his doc, i believe he is well/normal. Watch him do wonderful stuffs as he grows! enjoy and good luck.

Question 3

how to identify the anterior and posterior fontanels of a newborn, explain their functions.?

Accepted Answer

Soft spots: The fontanels can be identified by an exam of the baby's head. They are soft spots that you can feel between the different bones of the skull which have not yet fused. The anterior fontanel is easiest to find be cause it is typically larger. Fontanels do not a have a true function but are fibrous sheets of tissue that connect the plates of the immature skull while protecting the brain below.

Question 4

what do you know about fontanel early closure?

Accepted Answer

Enough...: The anterior fontanelle usually closes between 7 and 21 months. Early closure (before 6 months) causes concern that perhaps other areas of the skull might be fusing too early and that leads to abnormal head growth (plagiocephaly). It it can easily evaluated with a head x-ray. I have seen many cases and even with the fontanelle closed early the others are open. Surgery can fix if a problem is there.

Question 5

what does it mean when your baby's fontanel is risen?

Accepted Answer

Get checked: If you are checking the fontanelle while your baby is laying down, then it may appear bulging due to gravity, so sit the baby up and check it.  If it is still bulging or if the baby has a fever or is lethargic or inconsolable and very cranky then get your baby checked immediately.

Question 6

is it bad to have a large anterior fontanel?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Large fontanels may caused by:
    down syndrome
    hydrocephalus
    intrauterine growth retardation (iugr)
    premature birth

rarer causes:

    achondroplasia
    apert syndrome
    cleidocranial dysostosis
    congenital rubella
    neonatal hypothyroidism
    osteogenesis imperfecta
    rickets.

Question 7

why is my 6months old baby's fontanel swollen?

Accepted Answer

Get checked: If you are checking the fontanelle while your baby is laying down, then it may appear bulging due to gravity, so sit the baby up and check it.  If it is still bulging or if the baby has a fever or is lethargic or inconsolable and very cranky then get your baby checked immediately.

Question 8

why is my baby's fontanel (soft spot) swollen?

Accepted Answer

Go to ED: If the fontanel is bulging it needs IMMEDIATE evaluation! Get off the computer and get your baby to a doctor.

Question 9

what is the definition or description of: large anterior fontanel?

Accepted Answer

The fontanels: represent points over which the growing skull plates will eventually close.  Failure of the involved growth plates, those which meet at the front and top of the head, to grow to closure results in a large anterior fontanel.  It is the soft spot on the top, front of an infant's head.

Question 10

posterior fontanel still open on my 9 month old? he is otherwise developing normally.

Accepted Answer

Normal: Open fontanelle is usually no problem at this age. For reassurance ask doctor or child nurse to check head circumference (need to compare this with previous measurements). See "http://www.babycentre.co.uk/x552709/what-are-the-soft-spots-on-my-newborns-head" for more.

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Doctor answers about:

What is closed fontanel

A member asked:

What is the definition or description of: closed fontanel?

A member asked:

Is it normal for 1 year old and 2 month baby s fontanel to close because my nephew s fontanel is already closed and is it effect tooth formation?

A member asked:

How to identify the anterior and posterior fontanels of a newborn, explain their functions.?

A member asked:

What do you know about fontanel early closure?

A member asked:

What does it mean when your baby's fontanel is risen?

A member asked:

Is it bad to have a large anterior fontanel?

A member asked:

Why is my 6months old baby's fontanel swollen?

A member asked:

Why is my baby's fontanel (soft spot) swollen?

A member asked:

What is the definition or description of: large anterior fontanel?

A member asked:

Posterior fontanel still open on my 9 month old? he is otherwise developing normally.

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