Question
How do doctors check a baby’s fontanelles?
Answer
Hello, doctors typically examine a baby’s fontanelles based on the baby’s age at birth and head circumference. At birth, the fontanelles are about 1.5 to 2.0 centimeters in diameter. In the first few months after birth, the fontanelles expand as the head circumference grows. Generally, after 6 months, as the frontal and parietal bones gradually ossify, the fontanelles begin to shrink and are usually closed around 18 months old. The posterior fontanelle is a triangular space formed by the occipital and parietal bones at the back of the head and usually closes between 6 to 8 weeks after birth.