hard nodules on lo's head and neck?

[red and lulu]

last week i noticed a pea-sized lump at the base of dd's skull, to the right of her atlanto-occiptal joint. it is definitely under the skin, and doesn't feel as hard as bone, but not completely cartilaginous either. it didn't seem to bother her when i touched it. today, i noticed another one on the side of her neck as she napped in the stroller. her head was sort of slumped to the left, and i noticed it on the right side, a few inches below her jaw — it felt the same as the one on her head.

i'm just wondering if anyone can offer any insight into what they might be?

tia

(dd is a little under the weather — she ran a relatively high fever for about 48 hrs, and has been very congested. likely unrelated but i thought i'd throw it out there.)

[ElliesMomma]

might be swollen lymph nodes. i'd show them to the ped. and be sure. you don't say how old your LO is. my infant had them, and it was considered normal.

[2xy]

Another guess for swollen lymph nodes. I've had them and both DSs have had them when ill, after shots, when there's a bug bite near the area, etc. They can be tender if pushed on, but usually don't hurt.

[ameliabedelia]

Another vote for swollen lymph nodes, and I would guess it is really related to the fever/congestion. Lymph nodes get swollen easily whenever you are fighting off something, or even from bug bites.

[Vermillion]

Another vote for lymph nodes, but I wouldn't necessarily say they're swollen... at least not in the sense that there's an active infection or anything. Pea size lymph nodes are a pretty normal finding in kids even when they're not fighting something off. Some kids always have them palpable.

If they were from an infection they'd likely be larger and tender. So don't be surprised or overly concerned if they're still there even when she isn't under the weather. Though having a dr. have a look can be reassuring. Btdt

[Llyra]

If you push on them, do they sort of wiggle or squirt out from under your finger? Those are the lymph nodes. It's normal and expected for them to enlarge when LO is fighting off a cold or other illness. They may remain enlarged a bit for a long time after the illness is over. No big deal, and I wouldn't even mention it to the ped unless you happen to be there anyway, or if they remain enlarged for a long period of time.