When to be concerned about a child's head shape?

Question

Hello doctor,

What does the shape of a baby's head mean?

Infants are often born with uneven head shapes. I am looking for expert advice to learn about the normal and abnormal things about a baby's head (fontanelles). When should I be concerned about my child's head shape?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

The heads of babies usually vary in shape. It is not a serious condition but results from the baby having two soft spots in his skull called fontanelles, making his head malleable and changing his head's shape as it is being squeezed through the birth canal during labor. These two fontanelles close at different times. The fontanelle at the back of the head closes at six weeks, while the other at the front closes at around 18 months, making the baby's skull remain malleable for nine to eighteen months.

During this time, the baby may develop positional plagiocephaly (flattening of the back of the skull) while he is sleeping on his back which is a safe position for him. But rest assured, in most cases, your baby's head will even out by the end of six months. I suggest you to visit a pediatrician when the baby's head is misshaped and has persistent symptoms such as pain, headache, poor feeding, vomiting, lethargy, bulging, or tender fontanelles.

I hope this has helped you.

Thanks and regards.