Toddler has a VERY large head

[pixelpeeper]

Hi All

Looking for some advice or experience here - I have a 2.5 year old son, who has a REALLY big head.
At 6 months old he was on the 75th centile, but I have recently plotted him on the chart at 140th centile, if such a thing existed!
His circumference is 54cm.

I have taken him to the GP and the GP has referred him for a brain scan - obviously I am hoping they just turn around and say "yep, he sure does have a big head, but that's it", but I am wondering what else could it be? GP mentioned hydrocephalus but looking at wikipedia he doesn't really match any of the other 'symptoms'.

Anyone else have a big headed baby?!

I meant, I am surprised GPs refer when there are no other symptoms aside from a large bonce.

There's no such thing as 140th centile by the way -it's impossible to be above 100. Laws of mathematics innit

All my DCs have larger than average heads, DH's head is enormous! I think it's a family trait. DS at 2.7 can't fit in anything below a 4-8yo hat.

I claim they all have large heads to fit the genius brains in :o

Argh, this thread has had me measuring my own head (56cm in case anyone is interested )
Anyway, DS has got a fairly small head, but was born with size 2 feet Am fairly sure they all become in proportion at some point

DS2 does have hydrocephalus caused by prematurity. He is 2.9 and has a head circumference of 54 cms but that's now in normal range because he had a VP shunt put in to drain the excess fluid when he was 5 months. Positive for your DS, pixel

There would be other signs too if it was hydrocephalus eg 'sunset' eyes. It's hard for them to look up properly because of the pressure behind the eyes. Also they wouldn't develop according to general milestones because the pressure affects different parts of the brain.

I've read quite a few threads about big heads on MN and it's usually a family thing. Good job DS2 was diagnosed early because DH has a massive head!

lilbreeze - thanks for the maths lesson I know there is no 140th centile, which is why I said 'if such a thing existed'... my point was he's not just off the chart, he's a good way off.

Thanks for all the words of reassurance though everyone!

The GP referred because DS USED to be on the 75th centile, and is now off the charts. I never really thought that DH or I were particularly big headed - not in the physical sense at any rate

eyeofthestorm - good point about the eyes. I don't THINK he has hydrocephalus but I do think he is a teeny bit slow developmentally. I'm not sure. His older brother was really advanced so I don't know if DS2 is slow, or just normal, as my perception of normal is a bit skewed.

But it seems to me reading this that lots of toddlers have a big head, and my GP is just erring on the side of caution, which is reassuring anyway!

Sounds very normal to me but I live in the house of big heads. I am 59cm, DD (5.5) is 55cm and DS (2.8) is 54cm.

I cannot buy hats to fit and the DCs wear adult hats usually. I hope that reassures you. The only thing that worried me about it was giving birth (hence ELCS ).

Both my DS's were on the 91st centre at birth (one EMCS, the other forceps!) and have stayed large headed; DS1 was wearing age 4 - 7 hats at age 18 months, and by 3 was in 8 - 11. He is now almost 10 and still wearing the same hats he had at 3! So ime, it all even out in the end!

DD has a head above 99th centile. Her body's just above 25th. If it wasn't for her ginormous head, she'd probably be on the 2nd centile. She was EMCS, too, stuck at 7lbs4 thanks to that head. She's 2.9 now and this winter we were sharing hats - I have a small head so buy from the older children's section for myself. DS 11w also has 99th centile head. DH is to blame.

No problem apart from have to be careful with jumpers/tops and DD seems to have a balance issue due to high centre of gravity!

Both my ds's have mahoosive heads.
Ds1 is 7 and needs a teenage size hat
Ds2 is 2 and wears a 6 yr olds hat

but my fil also has big head so im guessing thats where it came from

Sorry I was being flippant really and did spot the "'if such a thing existed" in your OP.

Seriously though, I guess the point is that while your DS is presumably in the top centile for head size, that will cover a big range, so your DS is possibly not as much of an outlier as he sounds when quoting 140th.

Hopefully it just means he has a big clever brain

Yes I like to think of it as needing more room for his clearly exceptional Brain Matter ;)

My son had an adult bike helmet at age 3

soooo... looking at the responses, DS2 Of The Giant Head is not exceptional and actually there are a lot of big heads out there. This is reassuring!

DD has a big head. She's 0.4 centile for height and 99.8 for head circ. In fact she's above 99.8 but the HV said she had to make a dot somewhere!

Doesn't look wrong though.

I'm going to get the tape measure out, ds1's head is massive - just turned 4 and wearing adult size hats and bicycle helmet. All his T-shirts that have been passed onto ds2 have stretched necklines and he refuses to wear button up shirts!

My DS can't wear hoodies unless they have a zip down the front as his ears would literally get rippied off

Hello. I know this is an old post but I also have a 2.5 year old son with a 54cm head. Would you mind sharing the outcome with your child? Were waiting on an order for an MRI, but that's hard due to the need for anesthesia. Any info would be appreciated! Thanks.
Cody Kennedy

Hi Cody,
same case here: 2 years and 3 months with 53.5 cm.

The neuropediatrician ordered an MRI as well.

Can you update me about it?