small fonatanelle

[bonnie]

Hi, i have a little boy who is almost 7mnths old. When he had his 1st check up the nurse commented that he had a small soft spot and as long as it continued to grow all would be ok. Each check up it got smaller and smaller but his head has grown at a rate of about 1cm per mnth, it is average in size. As long as it continues to grow she said that it would be ok. At his 6 mnth check up the fonatanelle was completely closed, which is very early. But again my health nurse has not been concerned. i also have asked my GP about it, who advises all ok.. His head shape is fine, not out of shape, but there is a ridge up the top, i cant remember if my 2 year old also had this .. When i searched small fontanelle closing early, it refered to Cranio a lot.. Just wanted to know if a small anterior fontanelle closes early, it is likely that they will need surgery down the track. I personally cant understand how the brain is meant to devlip if the head stops growing if the fontanelle is closed, Anyone have any info on this
Thanks

[dannlark]

Welcome to CK! You've found a great support site with tons of information. My son's anterior fontanel was completely closed by 6ish months and he was diagnosed with metopic cranio (suture running from the top of the nose up to the anterior fontanel closed prematurely). Have an anterior fontanel close early can be a red flag, and you mentioned that you feel a ridge on top of his head which is usually what the sutures feel like when they fuse. Is it running front to back on his head or ear to ear?? I would push for a consult with a CFS or PS if you start to see any head shape changes. You could do that now too, just so you won't wait and worry. They might request a 3-D CT to see what's really going on inside. I hope and pray that you're not going to be joining us on the cranio coaster. Keep us posted and good luck!!

[Amy K]

Even with a closed fontanelle, the head can still grow because the sutures are open. My son was born with no posterior fontanelle, a very tiny anterior fontanelle and a totally fused sagittal suture.....yet his other sutures were open and so his head grew fine. Obviously, due to the cranio, it was growing in the wrong directions, but it still grew!

If his head is not oddly shaped now, I would just keep close watch of his soft spot and his development, and his head shape of course! Good luck! :)