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Soft spots (fontanelles)

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Soft spots (fontanelles)

Babies normally are born with two soft spots (fontanelles) on their head: a large soft spot on the top and a small one on the back. The soft spots are areas where the bones of the skull have not yet grown together.

Although they are called soft spots, these areas are made of tough fiber and can be touched gently.

When a soft spot becomes hard, it is considered closed. By age 4 months, the soft spot on the back of the head has closed. By age 2 years, the soft spot on the top of the head has closed.

Bulging of a fontanelle (soft spot) is a sign of increased pressure inside the skull.

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

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NOTICE: This health information was not created by Columbia University Irving Medical Center and may not necessarily reflect specific CUIMC practices. For medical advice to your personal condition, please consult your doctor. Medical advice disclaimer.