8 month old with a large head

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Hi guys,

Bit of a strange one.

People have commented on my 8 month old baby's head size. They have said it is very large, so I measured it and on the percentiles was just above the top percentile 99.6? At 48cm.

He is on the 50th percentile for his weight and has followed that beautifully. Not concerned on his development but now I'm so so worried.

I've booked a doctors appointment because doctor google has scared me.

Has anyone else had a baby with a big head?

Thanks in advance :)

My baby's head is a funnyish shape and slightly bigger than most but that's because he has daddy's head never thought it anything to worry about.

@whereishappyat tbh with you I felt the same until my mum and others kept mentioning it.
Then I obviously googled it.....:(

I would imagine the health visitor picking up on something wrong, they do the head measurement etc don't they. Try not to worry, and if you can't help it get an app with hv and see what they think.

Some people have noticeably big heads. It doesn't mean there's a health condition. Google is a mother's worst enemy when it comes these things.

My friends DS had a noticeably large head as a baby but her GP told her he would grow into it which he has. As he got older it became much less noticeable and now you wouldn't notice it at all.
I have a larger than average head as do my DC and other than not finding hats to fit it's fine.
See your GP and as long as he's otherwise developing normally it will be fine.

Both of mine have big heads, I was sent to see consultant when pregnant cause of it. He looked at husband and me and said 'I'd be surprised if it didn't!'
One in particular was just off the end of the percentile chart. Only problem is buying hats for them. At age 7, they were both in adult hats. Taking them to do ropes courses, I ask for adult helmets and am never believed. Then I give them an 'I told you so' look when the kids ones don't fit.
Both kids are absolutely fine, thankfully I had a sensible consultant.

My dd is 7 months and is monitored for having a large head. It was picked up at the the 6 week GP check and she was referred to the paediatrician. For weight she's on about the 21st centile and her head is on the 95th!
She's had one hospital appointment where a consultant met with us and checked on her development - it was all very relaxed. He had no concerns at all based on the fact that she was meeting milestones and generally happy, and said that it was likely that me or her dad also had large heads 😂
They're reviewing her again in a couple of months just to make sure but they anticipate she'll be discharged and I think so too - she's doing really well.
One thing they did say is that it can delay some things like sitting up as they literally have a heavier weight to carry, but that it all evens out in the end. My dd hasn't been delayed though and is doing fine.
The impression that I got from the hospital is that if there is anything pathological going on they would expect you to probably notice some signs, of baby's happy and you're happy everything is probably fine!

Not me, but my sister!
Her DS had a really big head. Like off the growth chart big! She took him to the dr because she was worried about how big his head was in comparison to his body - and to be fair he was a big boy weight-wise too: 9lb 12oz at birth. Dr thought he could have fluid on the brain, but it turned out to be absolutely nothing: he just had a big head!!

He’s grown into it! He’s 9 now and his head looks pretty normal in proportion to his body

My 7 month old measures on the 95th C. The HV said it’s not a concern as he’s been growing along that (despite a length only on 9th). She said she’d only refer to paediatrician if it was going up the centiles. Like a previous poster said - it’s usuallt genetic - DH has a hefty head himself!

Thank you everyone for the responses. I really appreciate it.

So I had a video call conference with my doctor and she wasn't concerned as he is developing normally etc

It's only ever been measured at 8 weeks and never again. She didn't seem concerned it went from 91st to the top one.

His dad was the same as a baby apparently 🤷🏻‍♀️

Thank you :)

My DS is 50% centile for weight, 91st for height and 98th for head! My head is tiny. People have commented on him having a big head but it’s just the way he is. He’ll grow into it I hope!

My boy was exactly the same at that age, I thought there was something wrong but hes now grown into his head and absolutely nothing to worry about as hes now 3

My dd is 2nd percentile for height but 98th for head circumference. She's super bright and hit every milestone early.

DS had a big head until he was about 2 then it just got gradually more in proportion to the rest of him. He's now 10 and it is totally normal size.

Another one who's DD was on the 99.6th centile for head circumference. She is fine, and has developed normally. As a toddler I had to look for tops with an opening; there was a fair range of clothing she couldn't get on. She was a bit slow to crawl (12 months) and walk (17 months) but not exceptionally slow. Her head is only just smaller than mine now (she's 7), but looks less out of proportion.

The only significant medical issue I'm aware of associated with a large head is fluid on the brain, but that will have a significant impact on development - you'd have spotted it by now, I think.

My DS had a large head, he used to hit it a lot as I’m sure it tipped his balance. He’s 8 now and has grown into it so it’s all good.

My step son has a very large head (and step daughter is a bit big too). He was wearing adult size hats from about age 5. Step daughter is 9 and can wear large children’s hats or adult ones. Really the only issue has been clothes with a small neck hole, he prefers hoodies with a zip rather than ones that pull on over the head. And when he was younger buying hats was harder as the kids hats he liked were too small and most adult men’s hats are quite dull/boring/sensible.