When your baby is born, their skull is very soft and made up of separate bones that haven’t fused yet. This helps the head to pass through the birth canal. When your baby is born, you may notice a dent (soft spot) on the top of their head. This is perfectly normal and no cause for concern.
About Your Baby’s Soft Spot at Birth
Once your baby is born, you may notice two soft spots on their head. There is one gap at the top-front of the skull that is most noticeable. The other is smaller, toward the back of their head. Depending on your child and the size of these spots, you may not even notice them.
A baby’s soft spots are called fontanelles. They allow your baby’s brain to grow larger at a fast rate during their first year of life. It’s important to avoid pressing into their soft spots, as it could cause damage to their skull or brain.
What should the soft spot look like?
The soft spot is often noticeable because it may bulge out when your baby cries or pulses up and down with your baby’s heartbeat. When your baby nurses or takes a bottle, you may see the soft spot move along with the motion of their sucking.
When does the soft spot go away?
Since the back soft spot is smaller, it usually closes when your baby is around 3 months old. The larger spot on the top-front of their skull won’t close until they’re around 18 months old. As your baby ages, you will notice that the spots get smaller and smaller with each passing month until they are barely noticeable.
Your child’s doctor may examine the soft spot during regular checkups to make sure their skull is developing normally for their age.
How Should You Care for Your Baby’s Soft Spots?
Most of the time, your baby’s soft spots don’t need much attention. When you’re holding your baby, support their head and neck to protect their head. But you can gently touch your baby’s fontanelles when you’re washing their hair. Just don’t apply pressure to your baby’s soft spots.
If you notice your baby’s soft spots are bulging or sunken in more than normal, contact your pediatrician right away.
Most of the time, the soft spot at the back of your baby’s head will go away by the time they’re 2-3 months old. The front spot usually closes by the time your baby is 18 months old. If your baby’s soft spot doesn’t close by the time they’re 2 years old, talk with your pediatrician about your baby’s development.
Concerns Related to Baby Skull Development
Most of the time, your baby's soft spot won't need special attention from you. But contact your doctor if you notice any of the following changes:
Swollen soft spot
If you notice that your baby’s soft spot appears swollen for an extended period, that is cause for concern. It could signal that your baby’s head is swelling. If your doctor suspects brain swelling, they may request imaging tests and blood tests to find out what’s the cause.
Your baby’s soft spot may also be larger due to certain medical conditions, including:
- Down syndrome
- Hydrocephalus
- Intrauterine growth retardation
- Premature birth
A sunken soft spot is just as concerning, as it can be a sign of dehydration. If your baby’s soft spot looks like a significant dent in their head, begin tracking how much they are nursing or taking from a bottle. Depending on your baby’s age, dehydration can worsen quickly into a dangerous condition and will require treatment from your doctor.
Craniosynostosis
In rare cases, a baby is born, and their skull bones fuse too soon. This could affect brain development and cause your baby’s head shape to appear abnormal.
Types of craniosynostosis include:
Sagittal synostosis. The sagittal suture runs along the top of the head from front to back. If the space fuses too early in development, your baby’s head may grow to be long and narrow. This is the most common type of craniosynostosis.
Coronal synostosis. The right and left sutures run from each ear to the top of your baby’s head. Since these are two separate spaces, one side may fuse, while the other doesn’t. When one of these gaps closes too early, your baby may appear to have a flat forehead on one side of their head. This may extend into the facial development on the side of their head that is impacted.
Bicoronal synostosis. If both of the gaps going from your baby’s ears to the middle of their head close, they may have a broad and short skull.
Lambdoid synostosis. The lambdoid suture goes across the back of your baby’s head and may cause the back of their head to appear flat if the gap fuses too soon.
Metopic synostosis. The metopic suture extends from your baby’s nose to the sagittal suture at the top of the head. If this part of the skull fuses too soon, your baby’s forehead may have a slight triangular shape. Also, the back of her skull will be broader.
Remember, if you ever have concerns about your baby’s development, talk to your pediatrician. They can answer your questions and do an exam on your baby if they think it is necessary. It is better to address concerns sooner rather than later so that problems may be fixed before they lead to additional health concerns.
Takeaways
Your baby is born with two soft spots, or fontanelles, on their head to help them pass through the birth canal. You should hold your baby carefully to protect their head, but most of the time, these soft spots won’t need much attention from you. In time, they’ll harden and close on their own. Contact your pediatrician right away if you notice that your baby’s soft spots are bulging or sinking in.
Baby’s Soft Spot FAQs
What does it mean if my baby’s soft spot is sunken in?
Usually, a sunken soft spot means your baby is dehydrated. Offer more bottles or breastfeeding opportunities if you suspect your baby is dehydrated.
Why do babies have soft spots?
The soft spots on a baby’s head help them pass through the birth canal more easily. These spots also help their heads quickly grow in their first year.
Is it normal for a baby’s soft spot to bulge?
No, it’s not. If your baby’s soft spot is bulging — especially after a fall — it could be a sign of head trauma. Other times, a bulging soft spot may be a sign of viral or bacterial infection. Talk with your pediatrician right away if you notice this.
