The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-26
Soft Spots On Your Baby s
 Head
By S. JOSEPHINE BAKER.
 NJ. D.. Dr, P. HI.


 NIEARI,Y every mother knows that a
 baby normally has two so-called
 "soft spots" on his head at the time of birth and that these do not disappear until some time afterward. Rut there are few mothers who know how long these soft places should re- main and what it means when they do not harden at the proper time.
 These soft spots are called tontanelles The larger one is just above the brow and is about one and One-half inches in diameter; this is named the anterior fontanelle. The other one IS smaller and is just above the neck at the back of the head; this is called the posterior fontanelle.
 The bones surrounding the posterior fontanelle close in when the baby is about six weeks old. The anterior ion. tanelle is much slower in closing and is not entirely covered by the growing bones of the head until the baby Is about eighteen months old. Until these soft spots have become hard and firm and completely covered by bone, great care must be used to be sure that there is no pressure on these places.
 Because of these soft spots, the baby's head may be quite mis-shapen immed' lately after he is born. DO not let such a condition worry you. The head will regain its natural shape within a few days.
 If the fontanelles do not close in and grow hard and firm at an even and steady rate, it is pretty clear evidence that something is wrong with the baby \ nutrition. The difficulty usually lies iD ha hot tho hohy hoe happ fpd
 If his food is not suitable for his needs and noursihing him properly his bones will not get the material that they must have if they are to be formed in a strong and satisfactory way. The right amount of mineral salts and fats in the food is necessary for the proper nutrition of the bones and teeth and if these are not supplied the bones are apt to remain soft and pliable and will not grow to be hard and firm and strong.
 The failure of the fontanelles to close at the right time may be d symptom of the condition known as rickets. This is disease due to improper nutrition. There are frequently other symptoms that accompany this dease such as de. layed teething; night sweats, particu. larly of the head; failure to grow prop. erly, and sometimes lowing of the legs especially if the child has been urged to walk at too early an age. In rickets the head Is often flattened at the top, sometimes the wrist and ankle joints are enlarged and there may be little hard nodules, like beads on the ribs.
 Often the slow closing of the fon- tanelles is the earliest sign that the baby's nutrition is below normal or tha, there is danger of the occurrence of rickets. am going to talk to you about the treatment of this disease in later article.
 Today I want to emphasize the i'm. portance of noticing the signs that may mean that your baby's nutrition is no, normal and to urge you to get good medical advice if any of these signs are present. It is not difficult to pre- vent undernourishment and early at- tention to your baby's proper feeding and care will not only make him healthy. but 1t will prevent the possibil- ity of bog-legs and other bone deform- ities and assure him sound bones and OoOd tnnth