Question
When do babies’ fontanels close? Is there a connection between their closure and when a child starts speaking?
Answer
Infants have two types of fontanels: the anterior fontanelle and the posterior fontanelle. The posterior fontanelle typically closes within six months after birth, while the anterior fontanelle closes around 18 months after birth. The closure of the fontanels is part of the skull’s growth and development process, whereas language development is controlled by the nervous system, and there is no direct connection between the two.