What are "fontanelles" in infants?

Fontanelles are indeed soft spots on a baby's skull. These areas are crucial during an infant's developmental stage, as they allow for the flexibility of the skull during birth and accommodate the rapidly growing brain in the early months of life.

The skull of an infant is comprised of several bones that are not yet fused together, and the fontanelles are the gaps between these bones. The most well-known fontanelles are the anterior fontanelle, located at the top of the head, and the posterior fontanelle, found at the back of the head. These soft spots typically close as the bones fuse together over the first months and years of the baby's life, which is essential for normal skull development.

Understanding the function and the presence of fontanelles helps caregivers monitor an infant's growth and development. Abnormalities in the shape or tension of these soft spots could indicate medical issues that require attention.