What happens if a babys soft spot is touched

Other signs of a head injury or trauma requiring immediate medical attention include:. Prolonged pressure on the softer skull bones can flatten out the area. Find out more about flat head syndrome and what you can do to treat or prevent it.

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Request Appointment. Healthy Lifestyle Infant and toddler health. Products and services. Video: Baby's soft spots fontanels. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Shelov SP, et al. Bantam Books; Kliegman RM, et al. Neurologic evaluation.

The spaces between the skull bones are important as they allow the bones to move, and even overlap, when the baby passes through the birth canal. You may notice one such space, or fontanelle, at the front on top of the head and another smaller fontanelle at the back of the head.

Over time, the fontanelles harden and close. The fontanelle at the top usually closes sometime between the ages of 7 and 18 months. Some parents may feel anxious about touching the fontanelles.

However, there is no need to worry or to avoid touching the fontanelles, as they are protected by a tough membrane or layer of tissue.

For instance, delayed fontanelle closure or an enlarged fontanelle can be associated with a range of medical conditions. When you touch the fontanelle, it should feel firm with a slight inward curve. However, while a sunken fontanelle can occur when your baby is severely dehydrated there are many other signs of dehydration that happen before a fontanelle becomes sunken, such as fewer wet nappies and being less alert and responsive.

Usually dehydration occurs when the baby is not feeding well or losing fluid through vomiting or diarrhoea. See your doctor right away if your baby has any of these symptoms.

This is not a cause for concern. A bulging fontanelle that does not return to normal may be a sign of a serious condition, such as an infection or swelling in the brain. See your doctor immediately, especially if your baby has a fever or is unusually sleepy. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Find out some of the essentials for looking after your newborn.

Find out when your baby will need to have health checkups and immunisations. There is also lots of information on nappies, giving your baby a bath and teeth development.

Excessive crying could be a sign that your baby has colic.