Fontanels can make a newborn’s head look bit ridged or flat in spots at first, then shift with crying or position as the flexible skull grows.
Newborn heads tell a story. Those gentle soft spots and seams give room for a fast-growing brain, and they also change how a baby looks from day one. Parents often see a slightly pointy crown after a first bath, a flat patch after a long car ride, or a soft rise that pulses when a baby cries. All of that links back to the fontanels and the open sutures around them.
What A Fontanel Is
A fontanel is a small membrane-covered gap between skull bones. Babies have two main ones: a diamond-shaped anterior fontanel near the top front, and a tiny posterior fontanel toward the back. The gaps sit where cranial sutures meet, acting like expansion joints so the skull can mold during birth and widen with brain growth. The membranes are tough, not fragile, and sit under skin and a layer of connective tissue.
| Feature | Typical Details | What Parents See |
|---|---|---|
| Anterior fontanel | Widest soft spot; closes around 9–18 months | Soft, flat at rest; slight movement with crying |
| Posterior fontanel | Small; usually closes by 1–2 months | Often hard to feel or see |
| Cranial sutures | Open lines between bones allow molding | Faint ridges early on; smooth with time |
| Normal feel | Soft and level with skull at rest | Gives gently under a light touch |
The timing of closure varies, and a range is normal. The front soft spot often stays open through the first year, while the back one fades early. During that window the skull looks a little different week to week because those flexible points let shape change with pressure, posture, and expression.
How Fontanels Shape A Newborn’s Look
Right after birth, many babies show molding. As the head passes through the birth canal, bones overlap at the sutures and the front soft spot looks longer or taller. A day or two later those overlaps shed their sharp edges, the point settles, and the hair swirls find their usual pattern. Babies born by cesarean may skip much of this early molding but can still show small ridges along the sutures that smooth out with normal growth.
Early Days: Molding And Ridges
In the first week, parents may notice a ridge along the sagittal suture or a flat patch on one side from lying in one position. The soft spots allow these shifts without harming the brain. As swelling fades and feeding and sleep settle in, the crown looks rounder, and the fontanel sits flat again when the baby rests.
Day-To-Day Changes: Crying, Straining, And Position
The membrane over a fontanel moves with pressure. When a baby cries, coughs, or bears down during a bowel movement, fluid pressure inside the skull rises for a moment, and the soft spot can look full. When the baby calms, it returns to baseline. Long stretches in one position, like a swing or car seat, can press on one area and shape the skull toward a flatter look. Tummy time while awake and varied holding positions spread that pressure so the head keeps a round contour.
For a plain-language guide to soft spots and safe head shape habits, see the American Academy of Pediatrics’ overview of your baby’s head on HealthyChildren.org. It explains the front and back soft spots, normal movement, and ways to prevent flat areas while keeping back-sleeping.
Do Soft Spots Affect A Newborn’s Appearance? Common Patterns
Yes—soft spots and open sutures influence how a baby looks every day. A full cry gives a brief forehead lift. A long nap with the head turned to one side can leave a flat patch that looks more obvious after a bath. A growth spurt can make the front soft spot feel a bit wider for a few weeks. These patterns ebb and flow and usually even out with simple care.
Hairlines, Swirls, And Hat Marks
Fontanels sit under hair and skin, so headwear and styling can change their look. A snug hat can leave a groove near a soft spot that fades within minutes. Brushing hair away from the crown can make the front fontanel more visible; brushing toward it can hide it. None of this changes skull safety. The membrane is sturdy, and a light touch for washing and drying is fine.
Taking Care Of The Soft Spots
Gentle routines protect shape and keep babies comfy. Hold your baby so the head rests in varied spots on your arm and chest. Alternate the end of the crib where you place the feet so the baby turns to a new view. Offer frequent tummy time while awake and watched, starting with short bursts and building up. During baths, use your fingertips to wash the scalp, then pat dry; there’s no need to avoid the soft spot.
Feeding Positions And Burping
Switch sides during feeding. That simple swap shifts pressure points and builds neck strength evenly. After feeds, hold your baby upright for burping with the head on your shoulder, then try the other shoulder on the next feed. Baby carriers also help by taking pressure off the back of the head during awake time.
Safe Sleep And Flat Spots
Back-sleeping lowers the risk of sleep-related death, so keep that habit for every sleep. To balance head shape, change your baby’s head turn from left to right at each nap and bedtime, and build in supervised tummy time while awake. The CDC page on craniosynostosis also explains how true suture fusion differs from a simple flat spot.
When A Soft Spot Needs A Check
Most soft spot changes are harmless. A sunken look with dry mouth and fewer wet diapers points toward dehydration and needs prompt fluids and a visit. A bulging look that lasts when a baby is calm, or bulging with fever, vomiting, or poor feeding, calls for same-day care. If the front soft spot seems closed early, or head shape keeps getting more uneven even with position changes, ask your pediatrician to take a look.
| What You Notice | Likely Cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Soft spot pulls inward | Dehydration | Offer feeds; see your clinician soon |
| Soft spot looks full when calm | Pressure inside skull | Seek urgent care |
| Flat area grows over weeks | Positional molding | More tummy time and varied holds |
| No soft spot felt by a few months | Early closure of sutures | Schedule a medical visit |
C-Section, Vacuum, Or Forceps: What Changes
Birth methods can change that first head photo. A cesarean birth often shows a rounder crown on day one, while vaginal birth can bring a cone shape that softens fast. Vacuum cups and forceps can leave a swelling or a bruise that fades over days to weeks. Through all of this, the soft spots do their job: they give the skull room to adapt and then return toward round as swelling clears.
Photos, Headwear, And Everyday Tips
Want a smoother look for photos? Hold your baby upright for a few minutes so gravity relaxes the crown, then gently brush hair forward over the top. Rotate beanies and headbands so the elastic line doesn’t sit in one place hour after hour. During stroller time, tuck a rolled cloth under one shoulder to help the head turn to the other side, then swap the cloth to the other shoulder later in the day.
Healthy Growth Timeline
In month one, the back soft spot often shrinks to a pinpoint. By month two, molding ridges fade. Through months three to six, better neck control means more time off the back of the head, so flat patches soften. Many babies keep a small front soft spot through the first year, with closure sometime in the second year. Head shape keeps maturing as the jaw and face grow, and hair fill changes how the crown looks in photos.
What To Remember
Soft spots and open sutures shape the first months of a baby’s look. They make room for growth and allow harmless day-to-day shifts. Gentle touch is fine. Vary positions while awake, stick with back-sleeping, and build in plenty of tummy time. See your pediatrician sooner for a sunken spot with signs of dehydration, a bulging spot when calm, or head shape that keeps drifting off course even with steady rotation efforts.