Odd ridge on top of head in 7 month old....any thoughts?

[Calico1]

Bit concerned about ds's head. He's 7.5 months and recently I noticed a little ridge on the top of his head running in a straight line from the fontanelle to his forehead. Have heard that this could be a sign of the skull bones fusing too early but mentioned it to HV last week and she said that lots of babies had funny lumps and bumps on their heads and not to worry. Anyone else's baby had this? Ds does have a bit of a flat head at the back but that seems to be improving - or else his hair is covering it up nicely, but the ridge is a bit odd! Grateful to hear is anyone else has noticed something similar?

I've seen lots of babies with that - it's normal I think. Even as adults we all have ridges and bumps on our heads but we don't see them because of the hair (unless we are baldies!)

Thanks for that - I have been staring at men with bald heads recently! I'll mention it again at ds's 8 month check up..... hopefully he's not turning into something from Star Trek after all.

Bumping to hopefully get some more response on this? Thanks....

Watch the flat head. Ask about plagiocephaly.

dd2 has the very same ridge running vertically from the top of her forehead towards the middle of her skull and we have been emphatically told it is nothing to worry about. Also, flat heads at the back are common because of sleeping positions so no worries there either.

There is a problem with flat heads if it is caused by plagiocephaly and you need that investigated to rule it out. If you use the wait and see approach it could well be too late to do anything about it. It isn't a cosmetic problem.

Some of mine have had ridges. Nothing to worry about. The skull bones don't fuse until they are around about 2yo so are still moving. My dc ridges had gone around 18m+ I think. I can't remember exactly.

Thanks so much for the reassurance! Not so worried about the flat bit (my head has a similar flat patch at the back which I only noticed recently) but I thought the ridge thing was odd. HV kept telling me that the flat bit was because he was sleeping on his back all the time but he has slept on his side since about 1 week old so I think he has just inherited that from me.....

AME I would still get plagiocephaly ruled out.

My youngest DD had this ridge (but also had frontal bossing of her forehead - where one side of her forehead bulged slightly - sounds worse than it looked! and only noticeable when sitting on my lap and I was looking down onto her head) and we had to go through various scans and x-rays. One of the x-rays showed that her sutures may have fused too early (they thought she had unilateral cranial synostosis) and we were referred to Great Ormond Street for further investigation.

I first picked this up when she was about 4 months old, doctor told me it was nothing to worry about. She failed her 9 month development check, we were referred to the local hospital but they were more concerned about the shape of her head rather than the lack of developmental skills.

The consultant at Great Ormond Street ruled out synostosis but it later transpired that she has a genetic condition and this condition can cause her to have an 'odd' shaped head, although she is now 6 and her head is not 'odd' shaped at all.

Hmmm - seems there are lots of possible reasons. DS has 8 month check on Weds, so I'll try and get some more info. Developmentally I think all is ok but then I am a first time mum, so not sure what to look for . Bumblelion, did you have any treatment for DD's head or did things just resolve over time?

Calico1, once synostosis was ruled out, we were then back at square 1 trying to find out a reason for my DD's delayed development - obviously different situation to yours. Her head became more symmetrical as she got older and is now not noticeable at all, even when her hair is wet. My doctors did first try to tell me that the ridge was caused by her sleeping too much on one side (she used to sleep up to 20 hours a day at 9 months old) but I knew deep down there was something else going on.

I have not written this to scare you but only putting my perspective.

Having been to the cranio-facial department at GOSH (saw Richard Hayward - the consultant - lovely man - I can still remember his name 5 years on!) and seeing all the other children in there made me see that, although I felt my DD's head had this ridge (and she had frontal bossing at the right front and a flat bit at the back left), if it had been found to be something more onerous then there is so much treatment available to correct it.

To put your mind at rest, if you feel that your DS is developmentally on par (although all children develop at slightly different rates), I knew that my DD (youngest of 3) was not up to speed in that she could not sit unaided, could not use a pincher grip to pick up raisons, etc.

I am sure your doctor will put your mind at rest.

Thanks for the info Bumblelion, out of interest what was your DD finally diagnosed with (if you don't mind me asking) - you mentioned a genetic condition?

She was finally diagnosed with Sotos Syndrome, a genetic condition caused by a fault in one of the chromosones. She is the youngest of 3 and my elder 2 do not have the condition. It was a one off mutation.

It basically causes overgrowth (she is tall genetically, i.e. compared to my other two children at the same age) and delayed development in the first 5 years.

She is now 6, growth has slowed down (she is not the tallest in her class!, thank goodness) and her development is coming along nicely. Has a statement of special needs but goes to normal school and, invariably, she doesn't always need the help that is offered. Is very independent, sociable.

She looks more like other children with the same condition than she does her siblings.

She is doing just great though.

Gosh - never heard of that one.....so glad to hear she is doing well now and thanks so much for all your help.

Please I know it’s long time ago but can you tell me what you found with your baby? I have the same thing and i’m so worried. Thanks