fontanelle

Everyday

A fontanelle is a soft spot on a baby's head where the bones of the skull have not yet joined together. It closes as the baby grows, usually by about 18 months to 2 years. tree →

In the lessons

In science and family-life lessons about babies and growing up, the fontanelle shows that a baby's skull is made of separate plates that can move a little at birth and then grow together. Parents are told to be gentle with a baby's head. Phrases: «the soft spot», «the fontanelle closes».

Examples

• A newborn baby has a soft fontanelle on top of its head. tree →
• The fontanelle lets the baby's skull grow. tree →
• Be gentle with the baby's head because of the fontanelle. tree →
• The nurse checked the baby's fontanelle. tree →
• The fontanelle closes by about the age of two. tree →
• Everyday people call the fontanelle the soft spot. tree →

Note

UK spelling: fontanelle; US: fontanel. Say «fon-tuh-NEL». Myth: touching it gently does not hurt the baby; there is a tough layer under the skin.