Taking care of a baby involves many details, and I often heard: be careful with the baby’s fontanelle! An open fontanelle means this, a closed one means that, and so on and so forth, but after all, what is a baby’s fontanelle and how do you take care of a baby until their fontanelle is fully closed? And what about those bumps that appear on the baby’s face? Are they normal and how do you take care of them?
Well, all babies are born with the fontanelle open. The fontanelle is a gap in the bones of the skull. These gaps exist to make it easier for the baby to pass through the birth canal if the baby is born naturally, through the vagina. While passing through the pelvis, the fontanelle acts like a spring, allowing the skull to compress safely so it can pass through the pelvic and vaginal bones, protecting the brain. The fontanelle overlaps one part of the skull over the other to reduce the size of the baby’s head, and right after birth, this can sometimes give the baby’s head a pointed shape, which soon can go back to normal. There are two fontanelles at birth, one in the back near the nape of the neck and another on the top of the head.
Usually, by the end of the first year of life, the baby’s fontanelle closes completely. However, until the gap is fully closed, some care needs to be taken with this area on the baby’s head. These precautions should be taken because this is a place where only the scalp protects the brain. So, what care should you take with the baby’s fontanelle?
Do not let the baby’s fontanelle get bumped anywhere. Small children may accidentally bump the baby’s fontanelle, so you should watch older siblings or cousins around the baby. Pay attention if the fontanelle closes too early as well—usually, the first fontanelle closes between the 5th and 9th month, and the second opening by 1 year. If it closes much earlier, you’ll need to speak to the pediatrician.
There is a folk belief that babies with wide-open fontanelles take longer to talk than babies whose fontanelle is smaller and narrower. Shortly after the fontanelle closes, the baby starts to speak. Another tale is about the position of the fontanelle: if it’s more to the front near the forehead, the next baby will be a boy; if it’s higher up on the head, it will be a girl. Of course, these are old wives’ tales that are still heard today. Another important detail is that a baby’s fontanelle can pulse in sync with the heartbeat, and this is perfectly normal. Another curiosity is that the fontanelle can indicate if the baby is dehydrated; if the fontanelle is very sunken, this can be the first and most important sign of dehydration in the baby. Remember—the important thing is to protect the fontanelle from impacts.
Bumps on a Baby’s Face – What Could They Be?
Almost all babies have bumps on their faces right after birth, and these bumps have a specific name—Erythema Toxicum. These are tiny, reddish, watery little bumps that are very common and tend to go away on their own, but there are some cases where they may last longer and then it is necessary to talk to the pediatrician. Usually, these bumps are caused by some skin irritation. People in the past say they are ‘kiss bumps’ because they can appear from contact with dad’s skin or beard, or from saliva, since a baby’s skin is very sensitive. How should you care for your newborn to avoid these bumps?
Avoid kissing your baby and exposing them to closed spaces or people who are sick. Always wash your hands before bathing the baby and, most importantly, never apply any medication without guidance, and do not pick at the bumps. Another problem that can happen on a baby’s skin is neonatal acne. These appear because of excess oiliness of the skin, and many babies are born with or develop some small white bumps on the nose and face after the third week of life. No treatment is necessary for this condition; in time, the acne goes away—this can take up to six months.
See also: Basic manual on how to take care of a baby – Ears, Flattened Head, and Burping
Photo: Nina Matthews Photography
