Big forehead (frontal bossing)

[TooSmittle]

I took my daughter for a 4 month check up today and the doctor gave me a gentle grilling about if I was doing the vitamin d supplements because my daughter has 'mild frontal bossing'. She gave her a good check up and wasn't concerned about anything else, but now I'm home and have googled and I'm worrying. She's also grown massively, from almost the 1st centile for length up to I think 20th, the line was almost vertical.

To me she looks perfectly normal but of course she would, your own babies always do. And no, I haven't been consisten with the vitamin d drops. She's had them sometimes, I've had them too (exclusively breastfeeding) and we spend time in the sun everyday so I assumed we should be fine. Have I madr a terrible mistake? The doctor mentioned it but wasn't concerned about doing any follow up testing.

Has anyone else ever had this and what was the outcome? Also if your baby had a head this shape would you be going to the doctor??

Did the doctor measure and record her head circumference? I think I would want a second opinion or at least a follow up to do another measurement. Did the doctor plot the measurements on her growth chart?
The vitamin D drops are very important especially at this time of year, so you can start to give those regularly going forward.
Do see your health visitor?
It is much harder to see on a photo than in person, and nobody can really tell online. But for peace of mind I would ask for a follow up.

The other thing worth doing is to look around the family and all the family baby photos. You might spot a really obvious family resemblance.

Thanks for your reply!

I live abroad (Middle East) so I'm not in the normal NHS system - I don't have a health visitor or even access to the growth charts aside from being quickly shown it on the screen. Her head was 40cm which puts her on 60th centile but everything else is less than 25. My eldest had a massive head so perhaps it runs in the family. Great idea about the old photos thank you, I'll have a look.

We're in bright sunshine everyday without fail, only for a few minutes but I assumed it would add up to the 30ish minutes needed for adequate vitamin d. I've already given her a double dose of the drops and will continue religiously. I've got to go back to the hospital this week anyway so I'll ask for a second opinion.

The possible issue with vitamin D is whether you use a high factor sunscreen, or otherwise cover most of the skin. It is a difficult one because you don't want your child sunburned.

I think this is convincing frontal bossing (doctor). You need to see a paediatrician. They may do investigations including checking vit d levels but also X-rays as there are some radiological features that will confirm if it is frontal bossing and if there are any other issues ( sometimes ) these things are associated with other problems .

Hi @TooSmittle may I ask how things are going for your daughter please? Thank you.

She's 15 months now and doing great. Levels all checked and everything was normal. We looked back at photos of our elder daughter and also my mother as a baby... turns out we're just a family of big heads!,

Thank you so much, outcomes like yours give me hope!

Did the head shape normalize ? Currently going through same thing

I didn't do vitamin D till 6 months with my oldest as that was the advice back then, she was exclusively breastfed. No ill effects; I was taking it but that was for me, I didn't think much went into the milk. I did give it to my second as advice had changed but I don't think everyone does.

@Rccolacan you give a bit more detail? I may be able to help

My daughter looks like she had slight frontal bossing. Dad and I have big heads , lol. The doctor said we could potentially do an ultrasound if we’re worried but she’s hitting all her markers and almost trying to walk at 9 months. I’m just wondering if as she get older she grows more into her head.

I’ve learned that a prominent forehead is not uncommon in infants. As the face grows outward, and it does so through teen years, the forehead grows very little. Over time, any bossing becomes significantly less so.

My little one was checked out by paediatricians and all is okay. I can see even since I posted my comment that his features are evening out.

Especially as in your case it’s familial, I wouldn’t be at all worried!

@Rccolaif its usual for your family then I’d not panic but if you are worried certainly ask for a referral