Ubun

On the crown of the baby there is a soft spot that sometimes makes parents worry when accidentally touched. "Could it be that the part of his brain is depressed? How about this?" Take it easy, the soft part of the baby's crown is normal. In fact, it is the soft part that is very important for the development and growth of the brain.

Why is there a part that is still soft on the crown of the baby?

The baby's skull has not closed completely. There was still a part that had not been coated with a hard texture on its head.

The bones of the head or skull do not form completely rounded. There are several bone combinations that make up it. The bones that make up the skull are two frontal bones, two parietal bones, and one occipital bone. In infants, the bones have not yet met completely. This leaves a soft spot where the bones meet. These soft spots are called fontanels.

There are two fontanels on the baby's head, with the following details.

Front fontanel (anterior fontanel): is the space between the frontal bone and the parietal bone of the baby. This point is at the crown.
Back fontanel (posterior fontanel) : is the space between the parietal bone and the occipital bone. This point is located on the back of the baby's head.

For more details, see the illustration of the baby skull below.

Source: American Academy of Family Physicians

As they get older, the fontanel will close on its own, so that it eventually forms a hard part like the skull bones in general.

What do the fontanels do in babies?

This fontanelle is a natural formation that forms to give the baby's skull a flexible texture. The baby's head is formed flexible to make it easier when he comes out of the birth canal. This point will also remain open to make room for the baby's brain development. The baby's brain will grow and develop rapidly until the age of 18 months, so it still needs a flexible head structure to adjust to this size.

Is it okay to touch the fontanels?

You usually subconsciously hold this point every time you wash a baby's hair or hold a baby's head. Touching this point of course not dangerous baby.

Fontanel looks soft and seems brittle, but it's not. The fontanel is covered by a strong layer in order to protect the baby's brain tissue in it. So if you touch it, it's actually fine, as long as you don't push it hard.

Sometimes you can also see this part throb. This throbbing of the fontanel indicates blood flow through that point. Again, this is normal and nothing to worry about too much. Later this will decrease by itself as your little one grows.

When will the soft spots on the baby's head harden and become intact?

Over time, the fontanel will be completely closed, and the baby's head will completely harden. The back fontanel usually closes more quickly. Usually this back fontanel is gone by the age of 6 weeks. While the front fontanel can usually be felt until around 18 months of age.

What if it closes too quickly?

If this soft spot on the crown of the baby closes prematurely, there are certain conditions that can occur. Early closure of the fontanel is known as craniosynostosis. This condition can stop brain growth, causing mental retardation, blindness, seizures, and an abnormally shaped head.

The doctor will usually check these soft parts every time you go to the pediatrician or Posyandu. If this condition is found, usually the baby is given a special prescription or a special surgical procedure to reopen this area.

Fontanel can describe the health condition of the baby

Normally, when the soft part of the crown is pressed, the texture is tight and will return to normal. However, if the spot is too soft and when pressed does not return to its original shape (it becomes sunken) this could be a sign that the baby is severely dehydrated.

Usually apart from the fontanel condition, babies who are severely dehydrated will be unresponsive, and their diapers are rarely wet. See your doctor right away if your baby shows any of these signs.

In addition, fontanels can also be a sign of swelling in the brain. The fontanel sometimes stands out or looks like it is raised when the baby cries. This is still normal as long as the shape will flatten out when it stops crying.

However, if the soft part of the little one's crown remains prominent and the baby has a fever, this could indicate swelling in the brain. Immediately see your doctor if this condition occurs.