Babies’ skulls feel soft and pliable due to the presence of open fontanelles, which are gaps between the cranial bones. These fontanelles allow for the baby’s brain to grow and accommodate the rapid development that occurs during the first year of life.
So let’s look at the request more closely
Babies’ skulls feel soft and pliable due to the presence of open fontanelles, which are gaps between the cranial bones. These fontanelles allow for the baby’s brain to grow and accommodate the rapid development that occurs during the first year of life.
To further understand the fascinating nature of babies’ skulls, here are some interesting facts and a quote that sheds light on this topic:
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Fontanelles: The fontanelles, also known as “soft spots,” are important for an infant’s skull flexibility. There are typically two fontanelles on a baby’s head: the anterior fontanelle (located at the top) and the posterior fontanelle (found at the back). These fontanelles allow the skull bones to slightly overlap during birth and provide room for the brain to grow.
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Closure: Fontanelles gradually close over time as the baby grows. The anterior fontanelle typically closes by the time the child is 18 months old, while the posterior fontanelle closes within a few months after birth. The closure of fontanelles is an important milestone in a child’s development.
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Protection: Although the baby’s skull feels soft, it still provides vital protection to the developing brain. The skull bones may be pliable, but they are designed to safeguard the baby’s delicate brain from external forces.
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Brain Development: The soft and flexible nature of a baby’s skull allows for rapid brain development during the first year of life. This remarkable growth is essential for learning and acquiring new skills as the child progresses.
Here is a quote from renowned pediatrician Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, emphasizing the intriguing nature of babies’ skulls:
“The soft spot’s appearance and disappearance are part of nature’s protection for the newborn. It adds to the mother’s instinct to guard the baby’s head just when its brain is most vulnerable.” – Dr. T. Berry Brazelton
To present the information in a tabular format, here’s an example:
Point | Details |
---|---|
Fontanelles | Gaps between cranial bones, known as soft spots |
Closure | Anterior fontanelle: Closes around 18 months |
Posterior fontanelle: Closes within a few months after birth | |
Protection | Despite softness, it provides essential brain protection |
Brain Development | Soft and pliable skull allows rapid brain growth during the first year of life |
Remember, this information is not taken from the Internet, and sources are not provided.
Video answer to “How do babies skulls feel?”
The video discusses the different types of fontanelles in the infant human skull, which are soft membranous gaps between cranial bones. These fontanelles allow for the flexibility and growth of the skull and brain during an infant’s first year of life. As minerals accumulate in the sutures, the fontanelles gradually close and harden. The closure of fontanelles occurs at different time frames, with the posterior fontanelle closing at two to three months, the sphenoidal anterolateral fontanelle at six months, the mastoid posterolateral fontanelle at 6 to 18 months, and the anterior fontanelle at 12 to 18 months.
Further responses to your query
How should a baby’s skull feel?Your baby’s fontanelle should feel soft and flat. If you softly touch a fontanelle, you may at times feel a slight pulsation — this is normal. If a fontanelle changes, or feels different to how it usually does, show your doctor or midwife as it may be a sign that your baby’s health may need to be checked.
Soft to the touch
The soft spot on your baby’s head is actually a space between the bones of their skull. Newborns’ skulls have not yet fused together, to allow them to maneuver through the pelvis during labor. The spaces between their five major skull bones are called fontanelles, and they feel soft to the touch.
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