When should I worry about a fontanelle dehydration?
What can I do about my baby’s sunken soft spot? No need to worry if your baby’s fontanelle seems slightly indented. But if your baby has a noticeably sunken soft spot, it’s important that you give him additional fluids as soon as possible.
Does dehydration cause bulging fontanelle?
A bulging anterior fontanel can be a result of increased intracranial pressure or intracranial and extracranial tumors, and a sunken fontanel usually is a sign of dehydration.
What does a sunken fontanel mean?
The fontanelles should feel firm and very slightly concave to the touch. A noticeably sunken fontanelle is a sign that the infant does not have enough fluid in its body. The sutures or anatomical lines where the bony plates of the skull join together can be easily felt in the newborn infant.
What does a sunken fontanel look like?
The one on the top of the head remains present until your baby is between 7 and 19 months old. A baby’s soft spots should be relatively firm and curve ever so slightly inward. A soft spot with a noticeable inward curve is known as a sunken fontanel.
Why is my baby’s fontanel swollen?
A bulging fontanel often indicates that the baby has hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus causes fluid accumulation in the brain’s ventricles, which are spaces containing cerebrospinal fluid. The pressure of the fluid widens the ventricles, potentially placing pressure on the brain tissue and causing the fontanel to swell.
Is it normal for baby fontanelle sunken?
It is normal for a fontanel to form an inward curve in infants while their skull is still hardening. But in some cases, it may become sunken, and the cause may need medical treatment. A sunken fontanel, when accompanied by other symptoms, can be a sign of dehydration or malnutrition.
How do I know if my baby is dehydrated?
How can I tell if my child is dehydrated?
- Dry tongue and dry lips.
- No tears when crying.
- Fewer than six wet diapers per day (for infants), and no wet diapers or urination for eight hours (in toddlers).
- Sunken soft spot on infant’s head.
- Sunken eyes.
- Dry and wrinkled skin.
- Deep, rapid breathing.
When does a baby have a sunken fontanelle?
However, while a sunken fontanelle can occur when your baby is severely dehydrated there are many other signs of dehydration that happen before a fontanelle becomes sunken, such as fewer wet nappies and being less alert and responsive, and usually dehydration occurs when the baby is not feeding well or losing fluid through vomiting or diarrhoea.
What happens if an infant has a fontanel?
However, the longer an infant goes without treatment, the greater their chances of lasting damage become. The human body needs to stay hydrated to function. A prolonged period of dehydration can lead to brain damage and even death. Prolonged malnutrition can lead to developmental delays and disability. Fontanels occur naturally in infants.
How to know if your baby has mild dehydration?
Signs of mild to moderate dehydration include if your child: 1 Plays less than what’s typical for him 2 Has a dry mouth 3 Pees less frequently (in toddlers) or has fewer than six wet diapers in a day (in babies) 4 Cries fewer tears 5 Has sunken eyes 6 Has sunken fontanelles (the soft spots on your baby’s head)
What does it mean when fontanelle is drawn in?
Many parents will worry about the fontanelle being ‘sunken’ (drawn in) and that this is a sign of being dehydrated (does not have enough fluid in their body).