When does the crown of a newborn grow?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Temechko in a newborn is also called a fontanel. It is a soft area on the baby's head, which is covered only with skin and a special membrane. Over time, the fontanel begins to tighten and completely hardens. The soft crown helps the baby to be born easily, and also performs other functions.

What is a child's crown and what does it consist of?

Usually, the fontanel in an infant takes the form of a rhombus. When feeling it, mommy may feel a slight pulsation, but this is absolutely normal.

Where is the crown of the newborn located? It can usually be felt just above or below the height of the surrounding bones. Its normal dimensions do not exceed 3x3 cm, but can be much smaller. It all depends on the nutrition of the mother during pregnancy and heredity. The more calcium in the diet of a pregnant woman, the smaller the size of the crown will be in the baby. But you should not abuse calcium either, because with a large number of such products, the fontanel can completely drag on already in the womb, and the baby will be injured during childbirth.skulls.

The human skull is made up of three bony plates that grow rapidly after birth. Between them is the crown of the newborn. A pediatrician can provide a photo of him. At first, in the baby, the distance between the bones is large and soft, but later the plates grow, and the fontanel is completely tightened.

What is the fontanelle for?

Nature does not create anything just like that. First of all, the fontanel or temechko in a newborn helps the head adjust during the exit from the birth canal. This is confirmed by the fact that a child is born with a slightly flattened and elongated shape of the skull.

In addition, a soft fontanel protects the baby in the first year of life from traumatic brain injuries, and the risk of falling in a newborn is especially high. During the impact, the head seems to adjust and absorb the impact.

Also, without a soft fontanel, a child's brain would not be able to grow at the right speed. The mobility of the bones allows the head to expand and not interfere with the brain.

When does the closing process take place?

It should be recalled that the normal size of the fontanel is considered to be up to 3x3 cm. A small crown in a newborn is considered if its size does not exceed 0.5x0.5 cm. the soft crown slightly increased in size. This is necessary in order for the head to take its final and correct shape. In the future, this distance will only decrease.

Not a single pediatriciancannot say exactly how long the crown will completely close. It depends on many factors, including heredity. However, in modern medicine, there are approximate figures that are considered the norm.

For most children, the closure of the fontanel occurs in the first two years of life, in half of newborns - in the first year. There are also babies whose crown hardens already three months after birth.

It is worth noting that the closure of the fontanel also depends on the sex of the child. And this is a medically proven fact. So, in boys, the crown hardens much faster than in girls.

Late overgrowth and large size of the crown of the newborn

Doctors can tell you exactly what size the crown of a newborn should be. When the fontanel overgrows, it is also known, so any deviation from the norm is considered a potential danger. Such deviations can indicate various congenital diseases.

A large crown and its late overgrowth may indicate:

• Rickets. A similar ailment usually manifests itself in premature babies or in children with a lack of vitamin D. Newborns with rickets usually suffer from a flat nape. With this symptom, it is recommended to urgently consult a pediatrician for advice.
• Hypothyroidism. In infants, congenital thyroid dysfunction is sometimes noted. A child with hypothyroidism is very lethargic, sleeps a lot, eats poorly and suffers from a violation of the excretory system. If the baby has a similarsymptoms, it is recommended to donate blood for thyroid hormones.
• Achondrodysplasia. This is a rare pathology, which manifests itself in a violation of the growth of the baby, shortening of the limbs, a wide head. Unfortunately, this is a congenital disease that cannot be cured.
• Down syndrome. It is no secret that such a pathology manifests itself in a violation of the development of the baby. Also, the child has a short neck, bad facial expressions. In modern medicine, Down syndrome is diagnosed immediately after birth, but there are also mild forms that appear only with time.
• Other diseases of bones and skeletal development.

Fast closure of the fontanel and its small size

When the temechko heals quickly in newborns and it is small in size, this also indicates certain disorders in the body. Despite this, rapid overgrowing and small sizes are less common.

1. Craniosynostosis. A disease characterized by a small head circumference and high pressure in the skull. Along with this, strabismus, low hearing and late growth are noted. Craniosynostosis is successfully treated with surgery.
2. Also, the small size of the fontanel and its early closure is also noted with anomalies in the development of the brain. In order to make such a serious diagnosis, the conclusion of a neuropediatrician is required. The outcome depends primarily on the specific diagnosis, as well as on the severity of the pathology.

It is important to remember that any deviation from the norm requires an early examination andtreatment.

A sunken crown in a baby

Sometimes mothers notice a sunken crown in a newborn when it overgrows. A photo of such a fontanel can be found in the special literature.

A similar problem does sometimes appear in babies, but it does not pose a serious danger to the body. Mommy can cure a sunken crown on her own, because the problem most likely lies in dehydration.

In order to normalize the water balance of the baby, it is necessary to observe the drinking regimen and without fail to monitor the amount of urination. Normally, a newborn should urinate at least 8 times a day.

The fontanel also sinks after vomiting, diarrhea, that is, when the body is poisoned. If symptoms of intoxication have been noticed, then it is necessary to seek help from a doctor. He will already prescribe drugs to restore the water-s alt balance, such as Regidron. "Regidron" is good even for babies from the first days of life, but in the right concentration and quantity.

Fannel protrusion

Protruding crown in a newborn is a serious symptom. It usually looks like a slightly swollen area, which usually appears due to increased intracranial pressure in the child's head.

Increased intracranial pressure and bulging of the fontanel can be a symptom of diseases such as:

• encephalitis;
• tumors;
• bleeding;
• inflammation.

Suspicion of such ailments is possible only in the presence ofother symptoms, including drowsiness, irritability, fever, convulsions, nausea, and temporary loss of consciousness. All these signs serve as a direct indication for an early visit to the doctor, because care provided at the wrong time can lead to a newborn's death.

Visit pediatrician

Even before the birth of a baby, mommy should decide on a specialist who will monitor his development. A pediatrician must be highly qualified.

At each visit to the doctor, the fontanel is carefully examined. Inspection is carried out according to the following points:

• first the crown is probed and a conclusion is made whether it is open or closed;
• its size is set and compared with the baby's age;
• with light pressing movements, the doctor determines the degree of softness of the fontanel, if its edges are too soft, then this most likely indicates rickets;
• palpation of the membranous part, when pressed, the doctor should clearly feel the pulsation.

If there are deviations in at least one of the items, then the pediatrician is obliged to prescribe an examination or treatment (with an already established diagnosis). As a rule, it is not superfluous to undergo an ultrasound of the crown of the head in newborns. This procedure is absolutely safe for the child and helps to identify some diseases in the initial stages.

Complete formation of the fontanel

Usually, the full formation of the fontanel in a baby occurs in the first years of life and without any extraneoushelp. To prevent rickets, the child is recommended to give foods high in vitamin D.

Many mothers, especially inexperienced ones, are afraid to touch the crown of a newborn. Such fears are completely unfounded. It is protected by special membranes and it is impossible to harm the baby. The head must be washed gently, and then simply wiped lightly with a towel.

To speed up the formation of the fontanel, pediatricians recommend doing a light massage, but it is necessary to precisely control the degree of pressure.

So, in conclusion, it should be noted that the soft crown performs a very important function in the development of the baby, and also helps to suspect the presence of any congenital pathologies in the child.