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Video: Baby's soft spots (fontanels)
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Video
Video: Baby's soft spots (fontanels)
By Mayo Clinic staffTranscript
A baby's skull consists of several bones, and there are soft spots — or fontanels — where they meet. A baby's soft spots are covered by a thick fibrous layer. The soft spots are safe to touch and typically close within 12 to 18 months, when the skull bones fuse together.
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References
- Kaur H, et al. Physical examination of the newborn. In: McInerny TK, et al. American Academy of Pediatrics Textbook of Pediatric Care. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2009:757.
- Lehman RK, et al. Neurologic evaluation. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1608/0.html. Accessed Oct. 7, 2011.
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