Question

A young mother delivers a healthy 7lb 12oz boy. She confides to the nurse that she concerned about the two ""soft spots"" she found on her baby's head. The nurse's response should be based on which of the following?

- both the baby's fontanels should close within the first month
- both the baby's fontanels should close within six months
- The baby's posterior fontanel should close after one year
- The baby's anterior fontanel should close after about a year and a half.

Answer 1

The two soft spots on a baby's head, known as fontanels, are normal and necessary for birth and brain growth. The posterior fontanel closes within the first few months, and the anterior fontanel closes by 18 months.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concern a young mother has about the two "soft spots" on her baby's head refers to the fontanels, which are normal anatomical features in newborns. The posterior fontanel typically closes during the first two or three months after birth, while the anterior fontanel usually closes by nine to 18 months post-birth. These soft spots are crucial for the birthing process and early brain growth, as they allow the bony plates of the skull to flex, enabling the child's head to pass through the birth canal and giving the brain room to grow.