Newborn baby - is not only infinite happiness, but also the mass of anxieties and experiences. What are the myths about fontanelle, in which people still believe the parents, it's time to debunk?
When a baby is born, he has six fontanelles, the largest of them - the frontal, and is associated with it most fears and experiences. Frontal fontanelle is located at the top, where are connected the frontal and parietal bones and resembles a diamond, and the size varies between 2.2 - 3.5 cm.
After birth fontanelle gradually begins to decrease and completely closed to 6-18 months, sometimes it happens before - 3 months, and sometimes later - up to 2 years. But it is important to understand that the size and timing of the closing fontanelle due genetically and directly nothing to do with mental development or dangerous diseases. What are the main myths about the fontanelle is still afraid of new parents?
Too large fontanelle - a sign of rickets
Mother and baby / istockphoto.com
Dimensions fontanelle in no way associated with rickets and to identify the disease on such a basis is impossible. Yes,
among other symptoms of ricketsthere is a softening of the bone edges fontanelle, but not its size. In addition, rickets have a lot more bright and evidence of symptoms.Vitamin D is not conducive to rapid closing and fontanelle is required, particularly in the autumn and winter when the sun is very low activity.
When small forbidden fontanel vitamin D
Some people believe that when a small fontanelle in any case should not be given vitamin D, even if the child has obvious signs of rickets. It attributed this to the fact that vitamin D will contribute to the rapid closure of the fontanelle, but it is not. If there are signs of rickets necessarily assigned special therapy: vitamin D and calcium supplements. Among the signs:
- reduced muscle tone;
- sour smell of sweat;
- neuro-reflex excitability;
- expansion of the frontal tubercles on the bones of the skull;
- change in blood chemistry.
If the fontanelle for a long time does not grow - a sign of hydrocephalus
The volume heads grudnichka / istockphoto.com
Timing of closing fontanelle and its size is very relative and individual, depend on many factors. Hydrocephalus main indicator is not fontanel size as the growth rate of the head baby, because of the increased amount of fluid in the brain, head circumference increased significantly faster. In addition, signs of hydrocephalus are:
- anxiety;
- sleep disturbance;
- change in retinal vessels;
- muscle tone.
Fontanelle indicative of the presence of common symptoms, but as the only sign indicating the presence of a child hydrocephalus, rely on it does not make sense.
If the fontanelle is closed too soon, the child will be mentally retarded
Closing Dates fontanelle / istockphoto.com
This myth is associated with fears of parents that when closed fontanelle, the brain simply does not grow much. All fears were groundless, because the skull is increased not only due fontanelle, and to a greater extent due to the seams, so the intelligence and fast closing fontanelle are not connected.
Any manipulation in the fontanelle may damage the brain
Many mothers are afraid to even touch the fontanel, but despite their vulnerability, damage the brain by simple manipulation is impossible, since it is protected variety of tissues. So feel free, but gently brush the crumbs, wipe with a towel over the area of the fontanelle, no harm will not.
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