How big is your baby's soft spot? « Back to Group Discussions

[meesh933]

First off - hi ladies! I've been MIA for a looong time here. We moved halfway across the country and things have been nuts.

Second, how big are your babies' soft spots now? I'm really concerned because Jack's is basically nonexistent. I took him to the pedi 3 weeks ago, and she said it was within the range of normal, but it if closed before 12 months old it would be a problem. It's closed more in just those few weeks, and it is seriously so small I can't imagine it still being open at all in 6 more months! We have a referral in to a pediatric neurosurgeon, but I have no idea when we'll be seen, and until then, I'm starting to panic.

So how big are your babie's fontanelles? I can't even fit the very tip of my finger in Jack's. Maybe 1/2 cm across, maybe a little less. Is anyone else's close to that small?

[seraf]

Shay's is about half as wide as my pinky front to back and 2 fingertips side to side. His head is in the 96th percentile, so it's a pretty big head already.

[meesh933]

Originally Posted by seraf 

Shay's is about half as wide as my pinky front to back and 2 fingertips side to side. His head is in the 96th percentile, so it's a pretty big head already.

Jack's is probably half as wide as my pinkie in both directions. His head is in the 89th percentile, too.

[KayPea]

Oren's is about as big as a nickel, with pointy bits. His head is in the 98th percentile, 

[jbk21]

Dylan's is as big as a quarter, diamond shaped.  98th &ile here too.

[LunaLady]

I just tried to feel for R's and I'm not feeling anywhere that's feeling very soft... His head is 98% as of his 6 month appt.

Edited by LunaLady - 6/25/12 at 10:47pm

[birdhappy85]

Sora's soft spot is maybe a little over two fingertips wide and about pinky-width from front to back (I liked Sara's way of measuring  hehe). She has so much hair that I can't really see it and I'm a bad judge of shape from just feel... so that's all I've got. Her head is in the 75th% as of her 6 month checkup.

[Abraisme]

Coralies is about the size of a quarter (with pointy spots).  Her head is also in the 97%.  Our babies all have some big heads!  ;)
 

[seraf]

Abra, I was thinking the same thing!

[meesh933]

Thanks everyone!

I know there's a huge range of normal here, and I'm trying not to overthink this. I'll feel a lot better after the neurosurgeon takes a look, but just the idea of taking my baby to a NEUROSURGEON is scary....

[birdhappy85]

I had no idea that we're supposed to keep an eye on babies' soft spots. I never noticed the pediatrician checking it. Is it just supposed to stick around until the brain is full-sized? I feel so ignorant about this, like it's something I should've known about. I'm glad you brought this to light, Meesh. I'm so very sorry for the circumstances, though!  I hope everything goes fine with the neurosurgeon.

[seraf]

The idea of taking a baby to a neurosurgeon is very scary. I had a coworker whose son's skulls bones fused together too early and I heard all about the surgery and it was pretty great that the fix was available. I hope the neurosurgeon puts your mind at ease and his is just at the small end of normal.

Joanie, I think the soft spot goes away before the head is fully grown. My 6 year old's head would look really weird on an adult and it's grown a lot since she was one.

[KaliShanti]

Yes, having a soft spots that fuses early can be an issue and is worth seeing a neurosurgeon for. I pray that is it still in the range of normal, Meesh!

[meesh933]

The soft spot usually closes sometime in the second year. The pediatrician wasn't concerned unless it was completely closed before 12 months, but since it's so close to closed, I'd rather get it checked out now than wait until it's all the way closed. Not to mention our health benefits run out at the end of July, and I have no idea how big of a PITA it will be to get the kids on Medicaid, or how long it will take.