Fontanelle

A fontanelle is a soft spot on a baby's skull, located between the bones of the skull that have not yet grown together. There are two fontanelles on a baby's head, the anterior fontanelle, or "soft spot" located at the top front of the head, and the posterior fontanelle, located at the back of the head. Fontanelles are normal and are present until the baby is around 18 to 24 months old. The fontanelle allows the skull to flex and absorb the force of the baby's birth, and also provides space for the baby's brain to grow.