F: What is a fontanelle?

The fontanelle, or 'soft spot', is a very noticeable feature of your baby's head. A newborn baby has two fontanelles – a small one at the back of the head and larger, diamond shaped fontanelle at the front. This is the more noticeable of the two.

The fontanelle serves a specific purpose during birth, which is to allow the soft bones in the baby's skull to overlap and make the head smaller. This helps the baby make the journey through the birth canal and into the world.

The smaller fontanelle at the back of the head will normally close by around six weeks of age, due to the head bones growing and fusing together. The larger fontanelle at the front will take longer to close, usually by around eighteen months of age.

As well as serving a purpose during birth, the fontanelle can also be used to help assess the health of your baby. For example, a sunken fontanelle can be a sign that your baby is dehydrated, while an enlarged and bulging fontanelle can be a sign of meningitis. Your doctor or health visitor can give you more information about the fontanelle and what to look out for.