Question
A one-and-a-half-year-old girl is experiencing brachycephaly and ribcage outward curvature. Are fontanelle closure and ribcage outward curvature common phenomena in child development? How should they be handled?
Answer
The changes in the fontanelle are a normal stage in the development of an infant’s head. As the brain and skull grow, the length of the midline connection of the anterior fontanelle is typically 1.5 to 2 centimeters at 3 to 4 months. Normally, the fontanelle closes completely between 1 and 1.5 years old. For cases of delayed fontanelle closure and ribcage outward curvature, it is recommended that parents take their baby for a professional medical examination to ensure healthy development.