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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Worried - baby with huge head

19 replies

OdaBear · 01/08/2013 10:39

Hello all

I have a 7-week old son with a massive head. It was big at birth (above 35cm but it wasn't documented, so can't give exact figure).

At his 6-week check it was off the charts. He's a long baby, in the 80th centile, but rather underweight (now catching up very quickly with formula in the day).

He's well - he sleeps when he's tired, he eats when he's hungry, he fills his nappies appropriately, he smiles, looks at us, looks around, has reasonable muscle tone. He can't lift his head well when we lift him forward by his arms. He can't lift head far during tummy time. He seems to hold his head better when upright. He can turn his head from side to side when lying down.

From what I can tell, it is a normal shape. I was thinking scaphocephaly (sp?), but his head isn't that shape (wide forehead). I can feel his fontanelle. Was also thinking hydrocephalus, but in the absence of any other symptoms, and normal shaped head, I don't think so.

We do have a paediatrician referral for something else, and although my GP didn't comment on his head, I've become worried and fixated with his head.

Anyone with any experience of anything similar?

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jenniuol · 01/08/2013 11:36

Hmm I don't think I'll be any help but I do also have a baby with a big head! Ds is now 24 weeks, he was born between 50th and 75th centile for weight and length but his head was pretty much off the chart. It wasn't mentioned to me and to be honest I never even noticed til a health visitor mentioned it when he was a few weeks old. She never really said much about it but it worried me too.

I asked gp at his 6 week check who told me he was perfectly fine, he might 'grow into it' or maybe he just has a big head! His dad does have a very big head so I've just put it down to being genetic. But if you're worried definitely pursue it with paediatrician. Can't hurt to ask especially if it puts your mind at rest.

UnderwaterBasketWeaving · 01/08/2013 11:48

DS is two, and the last time I measured him his weight and height were ~50th centile, but his head was something like 91st!

Nothing's ever been said about it. It doesn't look odd to me. The only thing was that when he was learning to walk if he fell he'd put his hands down but would bump his forehead on the floor.

He has since grown out of this, or his neck is stronger.

By all means ask about it if its worrying you. But don't panic just yet!

Original poster

OdaBear · 01/08/2013 11:50

Sounds very similar to my son's proportions. He was born in the 75th on length and weight, head huge. He dropped down to 10th-25th on weight by the time his 6-week appt came round, so he really does look like a lollipop (which can't help). I'm tiny, his dad is 6'4, but doesn't have a big head. Hubby's dad does have a massive head. I will bring it up with the paed, but am also hoping he grows into it! (I've spent the morning studying pictures of my baby's head and comparing to his older brother's head and abnormal heads on the internet! I have to say, my baby's head shape looks very normal!).

Thank you xx

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LittleBearPad · 01/08/2013 12:04

Stop googling. You'll drive yourself batty.

Talk to the paed as you plan to but your son sounds lovely. There's only 6 cm between the top and bottom centiles at 7 weeks which is nothing if you think about it. It's very unlikely that there is a problem.

Original poster

OdaBear · 01/08/2013 12:38

Good advice re: get off google! X

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ellesabe · 01/08/2013 19:29

My dd had a crazily big head.

When she was born she was 50th centile for all measurements except her head which was 98th.

Her head is still massive but not noticeably so. People don't believe me when I say that she wears age 6 hats...she is 2.5yo

KnittedWaffle · 01/08/2013 19:41

My ds2 was 50th centile for weight, 75th for length and 98th for head size! He's 6 months old now and a lovely little chunk. It's never affected his head control either - he's always been able to hold his head up and he was sitting up on his own at 4.5 months.

Original poster

OdaBear · 01/08/2013 20:14

Thanks for your stories everyone. I think it is worse when you already have a child to compare to. My eldest son was so, so strong. He was physically ahead with everything it seemed. My youngest son (Big Head) doesn't seem to be as strong, but that's not to say he doesn't have any strength. My GP said that he will struggle to gain control of his head with being so skinny, which is totally understandable. He is gaining weight at a fantastic rate now, so hopefully all the building up will increase his strength and he'll be able to lift that head better!

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PeoplesRepublicOfBerkshire · 01/08/2013 20:16

DS2 was 98th centile for head circumference and 1st centile for weight/height .

We had paed referral but they found nothing - he's now 3.10 years, still has big head and tiny body and he's very bright !

Hopefully it's just "one of those things".

onceipopicantstop · 01/08/2013 20:37

The most common cause is a normal family trait. Do you or your partner have large heads? Its often difficult to tell in adults just by looking, but you can find adult centile charts on line if you want to measure and plot yourselves. I'm surprised noone commented about it being above the top line though, and definitely worth discussing with the paediatrician. Also the trend is helpful - so if always above the top line but running parallel to it that's perhaps less concerning than if the measurements are getting further away from the top line.

MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday · 01/08/2013 20:49

I have two big heads Both of my girls had average sized heads but the boys had whoppers. Obvious whoppers at that! DS1 was sent for a scan to check but he was fine.. just had a huge head. I used to have to have sweatshirts opened up to get them over. But he is nearly grown up now and it no longer looks big so he must have grown into it at some point! He is very physically able and agile despite his head.

DS2 has weak muscle tone so his big head was a bit of a problem. But he got it up eventually. Still can't get hats to fit mind! He's 16 now and 6 ft and fits his head beautifully :)

Try not to worry.. some kids just do have big heads:)

Original poster

OdaBear · 01/08/2013 20:55

They didn't document his head circumference at birth, but his was enormous at birth. When the health visitor measured it when he was 1 week old, it was 38cm, which is somewhere between 98th-99th. It was roughly on what would be the 100th centile - so it has jumped a couple of centiles since birth. My GP did comment on his large head, but didn't suggest that it was a problem. (He may have asked the paed to review his head in his referral letter - incidentally, the referral to paeds was for slow growth and a teeny sacral dimple). I have a small head, my husband looks like he has a small head. My eldest son as an average sized head. My FIL has a huge head. As I say, the shape of his head seems normal, and there's nothing else that I was worrying me developmental-wise. His weight is climbing steeper than the centile curve also. It looks like he's destined to be a big boy - his dad is 6'4 and was a 10lb baby. He just really looks like a lollipop at the moment!!

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FreyaKItty · 01/08/2013 21:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

OdaBear · 01/08/2013 21:29

Crikey to the forceps Freya!! Somehow (I don't know how), I managed to deliver his enormous head without any help, and without the need for stitches afterwards!! But believe me, I felt that head coming through. Was a much harder labour than my first because of that head. I recommend giving birth in the water... I digress. The shape of his head is rather lovely, I think. He has a very cute face (but I would say that)... I think his body just needs to get bulkier, and he will look more in proportion. Just got the letter for the paeds appointment - it is next week just before my kid's bedtime!!!!! (So annoying!).

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catchafox · 01/08/2013 21:43

My DS was tiny at birth - off the scale small - and then while his weight steadily increased so he was 0.4, 25th etc by week 16, his head which was 0.4 at the beginning went to somewhere around 81 or 91 (I forget) centile. I could see it happen...no one else could, strangely. I went to the doc who poo-poohed me until I insisted he measure it. When he did, he blanched and sent me to the paed for a check up. He had a scan, was monitored, all was fine.

My DH has a big head...so it must come from that. they look alike.

I know it's a bit of a worry worry, I was worried, but you'd see other symptoms if there was a problem.

He's now 2.5 and it must have settled down, and he's grown into it, because I don't notice it, even though he is still small and slender. He wears big hats and he has a wide forehead, but he's a lovely looking toddler...and he's very bright.

Original poster

OdaBear · 01/08/2013 22:06

That's a lovely story catchafox - very reassuring.

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BeaWheesht · 01/08/2013 22:11

Both my kids have heads on the 99.6th cebntile.

Ds was quite skinny when a baby so 25th centile for weight at 6 weeks, 98th for length and massive head, I think it was 42cm at 6 weeks because the nurse couldn't believe it but it was 6 years ago so I'm not sure.

Dd is 2 I had to but her an adult Sun hat this year.

By all means ask the paed but in the absence of other symptoms I wouldn't be overly worried.

SimLondon · 01/08/2013 22:30

my dd was on the 9th for weight/heigh but 50th for head - I to drove myself crazy with google :-) but it was fine.

BombJack · 02/08/2013 01:13

Our twins have huge heads, in the 90th percentile. No comment was made about it by medical personnel, but I asked one of the doctors about it.

He smiled, measured my head with a tape measure, and just said, "Benign Familial Macrocephaly". Because I've never worn hats, I've never really been aware of how big my own head is (big, as it turns out ).

A big head can be a sign of problems (hence Google being a nightmare here), but unless other markers are present, it will just be hereditary.

DS3 has a normal head, around the 50th percentile.

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