We all know that on the top of the baby's small head, there is a soft and harmonious place, no bone cover, grow up to grow strong, this is the fontanelle. It feels so fragile to the touch, and Bao's parents are also very careful.
Closed less than 1 year old, is there a problem?
Is it related to calcium supplementation?
Do you usually pay attention to shampooing and haircuts?
Because it grows on the top of the head, people have to more, afraid of what will go wrong.
First of all, let's understand what fontanelle is!
(Image source: Internet)
The fontanelle (xìn mén) is the bone gap formed by the insufficiency of the skull in infants and young children.
There are front fontanelles and posterior fontanelles. The anterior fontanelle is located at the anterior apex, is diamond-shaped, and closes within about 2 years of age after birth.
The posterior fontanelle is located on the occipital, triangular in shape, and closes at about 6–8 weeks of age after birth.
Note: The current fontanelle was closed 6 months ago, or if it is not closed after 2 years of age, it is necessary to go to the hospital for examination. However, this does not prove that there is necessarily a problem, and requires the doctor to make a comprehensive judgment based on the change in the head circumference.
Close prematurely
Microcephaly, dysplasia of the brain, can cause the anterior fontanelle to shrink to close. Abnormalities can be observed at birth.
Close too late
It generally refers to the fact that the anterior fontanelle of children has not been closed at the age of 1.5 to 2 years old, and has seen delays to 3 years of age and still not closed. Closing too late has nothing to do with intelligence, but often as a disease signal.
Vitamin D deficiency rickets: this disease is more common, due to insufficient vitamin D, resulting in abnormal calcium and phosphorus metabolism, systemic bone changes. The skull changes significantly, the softened bone, when pressed lightly with the fingers, it will be slightly inverted, and the loose hand will bounce back, and there is a feeling of hand pressing the ping-pong ball, so it is also called "ping-pong head". The front gate will be too large or the closure will be delayed.
Minor illness: Due to hypothyroidism, small diseases caused by it will also delay the closure of the anterior fontanelle.
Hydrocephalus can also cause delay in closing the anterior fontanelle.
Fontanelle is "touched" in the end
Or is it "untouchable"?
In fact, the fontanelle is less "fragile", it is the suture of the skull that has not yet been closed, and its surface is the scalp, below which is the meninges, followed by the brain and cerebrospinal fluid.
The beating felt by placing the hand lightly on the fontanelle is that the pressure of cerebrospinal fluid changes with the heartbeat and blood pressure changes, which is consistent with the pulse.
So, the fontanelle is actually much more solid than it looks. The outer protective film is enough to cope with general touch, so the daily care of the baby by parents, such as sin head and haircut, will not hurt the baby's fontanelle
Is the baby's fontanelle actually a window to see a doctor?
Parents should not underestimate the baby fontanelle ~ many parents feel that the fontanelle is nothing more than not long, does not play any role, and does not have any egg use.
In fact, the baby's "fontanelle" is not an ordinary "window", it is actually a window to see a doctor...
1
The fontanelle is raised
(Image source: Internet)
The front fontanelle is originally flat, and if it suddenly bulges, especially when the baby is crying, and there is a tight feeling when the hand is touched, accompanied by fever, vomiting, and even convulsions, it indicates that the baby's intracranial pressure is increased.
Usually, the increase in intracranial pressure is caused by an intracranial infection, and the baby may have various diseases such as meningitis and encephalitis. At this time, it should be sent to the doctor for ultrasound examination to see if the baby has sudden consciousness disorders or intracranial hemorrhage, and then treat the baby's condition.
2
The fontanelle is excessively concave
(Image source: Internet)
If the fontanelle is excessively depressed, it may be caused by insufficient food or dehydration caused by prolonged vomiting or diarrhea.
When the baby is accompanied by severe diarrhea, severe feeding disorders, and there are eye sockets, dry skin, low body moisture, tears, saliva, and urination, and severe dehydration, the front fontanelle is in a depression, the mothers must pay attention.
However, if the child's mobility is normal, some slight depression in the front fontanelle is normal, and Mommy does not have to worry too much.
All in all, when there is an abnormal situation in the baby's fontanelle, do not be impatient, be sure to find the cause first, see if there are congenital abnormalities or other obstacles, and then deal with the disease, which is the most correct approach.
Everyday life
How can parents protect fontanelles?
Do not use pillows that are too hard for the baby, such as mung bean pillows and sand pillows, otherwise it is easy to cause deformation of the baby's head and fontanelle.
Protect your baby's head, pay attention to the furniture at home, and avoid sharp hard corners from hurting your baby's head. If your baby accidentally scratches the scalp, it should be disinfected immediately with an alcohol cotton ball to prevent infection.
Let bao bask in the sun for 1-2 hours in autumn and winter, but it is best to carry the baby out in the morning or around dusk, and the behavior of the hot sun shooting directly into the fontanelle must be rejected!
Fontanelle cleaning can be carried out in the bath, you can use baby shampoo instead of strong alkali soap, so as not to irritate the scalp to induce eczema or aggravate eczema.
When cleaning, the fingers should be placed flat at the fontanelle and gently rubbed, and should not be forcefully pressed or scratched, and no hard object should be scratched at the fontanelle.
If the "cradle cap" at the fontanelle is not easy to wash off, you can first steam it with sesame oil or refined oil and then wet it for 2-3 hours, and then wipe it off with sterile cotton balls in the direction of hair growth after these dirt become soft.