A mother brings her 2-month-old daughter in for an examination and says, "My daughter rolled over against the wall, and now I have noticed that she has this spot that is soft on the top of her head. Is something terribly wrong?"
The nurse's best response would be:
a.
"Perhaps that could be a result of your dietary intake during pregnancy."
b.
"Your baby may have craniosynostosis, a disease of the sutures of the brain."
c.
"That 'soft spot' may be an indication of cretinism or congenital hypothyroidism."
d.
"That 'soft spot' is normal, and actually allows for growth of the brain during the first year of your baby's life."
ANS: D
Membrane-covered "soft spots" allow for growth of the brain during the first year of life. They gradually ossify; the triangular-shaped posterior fontanel is closed by 1 to 2 months, and the diamond-shaped anterior fontanel closes between 9 months and 2 years.
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