{"id":29103,"date":"2022-03-08T18:23:05","date_gmt":"2022-03-08T17:23:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/news-approfondimenti\/fontanelle-craniche-nel-neonato\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T11:31:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T10:31:24","slug":"cranial-fontanelles-in-the-newborn","status":"publish","type":"news-approfondimenti","link":"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/en\/news-approfondimenti\/cranial-fontanelles-in-the-newborn\/","title":{"rendered":"Cranial Fontanelles in the Newborn"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-8339 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fontanella-neonato-baby-wellness-foundation.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1361\" height=\"908\" srcset=\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fontanella-neonato-baby-wellness-foundation.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fontanella-neonato-baby-wellness-foundation-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fontanella-neonato-baby-wellness-foundation-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fontanella-neonato-baby-wellness-foundation-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fontanella-neonato-baby-wellness-foundation-120x80.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1361px) 100vw, 1361px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-start=\"115\" data-end=\"402\">The skull is the skeletal structure of the head and is composed of 22 bones joined together by cranial sutures. In newborns, in addition to the bones and sutures, there are soft, fibrous areas known as <strong data-start=\"321\" data-end=\"344\">cranial fontanelles<\/strong>, located at the junctions where two or more sutures meet.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"404\" data-end=\"746\">The term <em>fontanelle <\/em>derives from the perception of a pulsation that may resemble the movement of water in a small fountain. These structures serve an essential function: they make the skull more flexible to facilitate passage through the birth canal and allow for the rapid growth of the brain, particularly during the first year of life.<\/p>\n<h5 style=\"background-color: #e8eff4; color: white; padding: 5px;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #006271;\">Types and Characteristics of the Fontanelles<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n<p class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-start=\"801\" data-end=\"892\">Overall, there are <strong data-start=\"820\" data-end=\"839\">six fontanelles<\/strong>, but the two main and most easily palpable ones are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-start=\"894\" data-end=\"1036\"><strong data-start=\"894\" data-end=\"927\">Anterior fontanelle (Bregma):<\/strong> diamond-shaped, measuring between <strong data-start=\"962\" data-end=\"976\">2 and 4 cm<\/strong> in diameter. It is the largest and most visible fontanelle.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1038\" data-end=\"1139\"><strong data-start=\"1038\" data-end=\"1072\">Posterior fontanelle (Lambda):<\/strong> triangular in shape, measuring approximately <strong data-start=\"1118\" data-end=\"1126\">1 cm<\/strong> in diameter.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1141\" data-end=\"1386\">Fontanelles are examined by palpation while the newborn is in a <strong data-start=\"1205\" data-end=\"1225\">sitting position<\/strong> and in a calm state. Under these conditions, they feel like fibrous tissue overlying the cranial bones, and the pulsations that can be felt are entirely normal.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1388\" data-end=\"1478\">As the child grows, the fontanelles gradually close as fibrous tissue is replaced by bone:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1480\" data-end=\"1676\">\n<li data-section-id=\"3l8oqn\" data-start=\"1480\" data-end=\"1558\"><strong data-start=\"1482\" data-end=\"1510\">The posterior fontanelle<\/strong> closes between <strong data-start=\"1526\" data-end=\"1550\">6 weeks and 3 months<\/strong> of age.<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"59eik9\" data-start=\"1559\" data-end=\"1676\"><strong data-start=\"1561\" data-end=\"1588\">The anterior fontanelle<\/strong> begins to close around <strong data-start=\"1612\" data-end=\"1624\">6 months<\/strong> and completes closure between <strong data-start=\"1655\" data-end=\"1675\">18 and 24 months<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5 style=\"background-color: #e8eff4; color: white; padding: 5px;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #006271;\">Fontanelle Abnormalities<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n<ul data-start=\"1994\" data-end=\"2163\">\n<li data-start=\"1994\" data-end=\"2050\">\n<p class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-start=\"1711\" data-end=\"1759\"><strong data-start=\"1711\" data-end=\"1733\">Sunken fontanelle:<\/strong> may indicate dehydration.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1994\" data-end=\"2050\">\n<p class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-start=\"1711\" data-end=\"1759\"><strong data-start=\"1761\" data-end=\"1794\">Bulging or raised fontanelle:<\/strong> may occur during crying or when the baby is lying down.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Premature closure<\/strong> of the fontanelles (<strong data-start=\"1890\" data-end=\"1910\">craniosynostosis<\/strong>) may interfere with normal skull growth, resulting in cranial deformities.<\/p>\n<h5 style=\"background-color: #e8eff4; color: white; padding: 5px;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #006271;\">Prevention of Positional Plagiocephaly<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n<p data-start=\"2356\" data-end=\"2490\"><a href=\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/en\/news-approfondimenti\/positional-plagiocephaly-in-infants-prevention-and-best-practices-for-harmonious-cranial-development\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong data-start=\"2034\" data-end=\"2051\">Plagiocephaly<\/strong> <\/a>(flattening of the skull) may develop when an infant spends prolonged periods lying on their back. To help prevent this condition, it is recommended to provide the baby with supervised <strong data-start=\"2237\" data-end=\"2251\">tummy time<\/strong>, always under adult supervision. It is also advisable<strong> to alternate the baby&#8217;s head position in the crib or stroller<\/strong>, helping to prevent unilateral flattening caused by preferential visual or auditory stimulation.<\/p>\n<h5 style=\"background-color: #e8eff4; color: white; padding: 5px;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #006271;\">Recommended Positioning<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-start=\"2498\" data-end=\"2640\"><strong data-start=\"2498\" data-end=\"2525\">Semi-reclined position:<\/strong> supports the trunk while allowing the head to move freely, encouraging exploration of the surrounding environment.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2642\" data-end=\"2747\"><strong data-start=\"2642\" data-end=\"2687\">Prone on the parent&#8217;s chest (0\u20132 months):<\/strong> promotes bonding and strengthens the neck and back muscles.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2749\" data-end=\"2889\"><strong data-start=\"2749\" data-end=\"2804\">Prone on the changing table (from 2 months onward):<\/strong> helps develop head control and the motor skills that prepare the child for crawling.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2891\" data-end=\"3033\"><strong data-start=\"2891\" data-end=\"2912\">Held in the arms:<\/strong> alternating the side on which the baby is carried promotes symmetrical neck muscle development and active head rotation.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3035\" data-end=\"3161\"><strong data-start=\"3035\" data-end=\"3077\">Held in a flexed (contained) position:<\/strong> maintain an ergonomic posture while alternating the side on which the baby is held.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8341\" src=\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/posizione-sul-torace-baby-wellness-foundation-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1338\" height=\"892\" srcset=\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/posizione-sul-torace-baby-wellness-foundation-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/posizione-sul-torace-baby-wellness-foundation-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/posizione-sul-torace-baby-wellness-foundation-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/posizione-sul-torace-baby-wellness-foundation-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/posizione-sul-torace-baby-wellness-foundation.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1338px) 100vw, 1338px\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3486\" data-end=\"3833\"><em>The fontanelles are key structures in the newborn&#8217;s cranial development, and their proper observation provides valuable information about the infant&#8217;s overall health. At the same time, careful attention to positioning from the very first months of life is essential to promote harmonious development and help prevent positional cranial deformities.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The skull is the skeletal structure of the head and is composed of 22 bones joined together by cranial sutures. In newborns, in addition to the bones and sutures, there are soft, fibrous areas known as cranial fontanelles, located at the junctions where two or more sutures meet. The term fontanelle derives from the perception [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":29105,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"focus-approfondimento":[886],"focus-appartenenza":[],"coauthors":[110],"class_list":["post-29103","news-approfondimenti","type-news-approfondimenti","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","focus-approfondimento-cranial-development-and-postural-well-being"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Cranial Fontanelles in the Newborn - Baby Wellness Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/en\/news-approfondimenti\/cranial-fontanelles-in-the-newborn\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cranial Fontanelles in the Newborn - Baby Wellness Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The skull is the skeletal structure of the head and is composed of 22 bones joined together by cranial sutures. In newborns, in addition to the bones and sutures, there are soft, fibrous areas known as cranial fontanelles, located at the junctions where two or more sutures meet. The term fontanelle derives from the perception [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/en\/news-approfondimenti\/cranial-fontanelles-in-the-newborn\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Baby Wellness Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-29T10:31:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fontanelle-craniche-nel-neonato.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"Dr.ssa Alexandra Semjonova, PhD., PhDr., MBA\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/en\/news-approfondimenti\/cranial-fontanelles-in-the-newborn\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/en\/news-approfondimenti\/cranial-fontanelles-in-the-newborn\/\",\"name\":\"Cranial Fontanelles in the Newborn - Baby Wellness Foundation\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/en\/news-approfondimenti\/cranial-fontanelles-in-the-newborn\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/en\/news-approfondimenti\/cranial-fontanelles-in-the-newborn\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fontanelle-craniche-nel-neonato.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-03-08T17:23:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-29T10:31:24+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/en\/news-approfondimenti\/cranial-fontanelles-in-the-newborn\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/en\/news-approfondimenti\/cranial-fontanelles-in-the-newborn\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/en\/news-approfondimenti\/cranial-fontanelles-in-the-newborn\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fontanelle-craniche-nel-neonato.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/fontanelle-craniche-nel-neonato.png\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1080},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/en\/news-approfondimenti\/cranial-fontanelles-in-the-newborn\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Cranial Fontanelles in the Newborn\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/\",\"name\":\"Baby Wellness Foundation\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Cranial Fontanelles in the Newborn - Baby Wellness Foundation","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/en\/news-approfondimenti\/cranial-fontanelles-in-the-newborn\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Cranial Fontanelles in the Newborn - Baby Wellness Foundation","og_description":"The skull is the skeletal structure of the head and is composed of 22 bones joined together by cranial sutures. 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