Fontanelle - should it be closed by now?

[backintraining]

Hi, DS is 18mo today - he was 7 weeks early though, but 18m is his actual age.
Anyway, should his fontanelle (the main one at the top of his head) be closed by now?

It's just something that occurred to me this morning when I brushed his hair and noticed it was still quite soft, not overly massive but definitely not closed! I have had a quick look on the net and whilst a couple of sites have indicated that it can stay open until 2 years, the majority say between 12-14 months but generally by 18m.

Just wondered.......? Thanks.

Is he walking?

I read/heard somewhere (so this is completely anecdotal and unsubstantiated) that they don't close until the child is walking confidently. Something to do with needing the flexibility when they are likely to be banging their heads a lot when learning to walk.

Someone will come along in a minute and tell me to shut up

Hi I think the range for when they close is big. My dds was closed at 12 months but sure I read it closes between 12-18 months. I only knew it was closed when she was poorly at 12 months and the dr went to feel her fontanelle and it was closed over. He wasn't concerned.

Yes he is walking and has been since he was 14mo, so is quite confident now.

Thanks for replies. I don't generally correct things now with DS given that he is that bit older, but maybe I should think of him as more of a 16mo where this is concerned given that he was nearly 2m early, so maybe if it closes around 20m then that would sound about right.

My niece's fontanelle was very late to close, she was about 3 IIRC. She's 9 now and fine.