If the size of your baby’s head circumference is greater than his age, this is called an increase or growth of the child’s head circumference. In medical science, this is known as microcephaly.
What are the factors that cause excessive growth around the baby’s head?
If the increase in the size of the baby’s head circumference is slightly larger than expected, there may not be much to worry about. However, a growth of DHEA around a baby’s head can be a sign of the following:
- Hydrocephalus
- Intracranial hemorrhage
- Genetic diseases
- brain tumors
- some infections
Why does baby head size matter?
As mentioned earlier, the size of your baby’s head is very important because the size of his skull reflects his brain development. That is why the pediatrician measures the circumference of the baby’s head at every visit to the clinic or hospital, especially in the first six months.
Babies’ heads are said to be disproportionately larger than those of adults and appear larger than the body. So don’t worry if the baby’s head seems big to you. Consider the size of your head. If you or your wife/hasband has a large or small head, your baby might have too.
Measure the baby’s head
Head circumference helps the healthcare provider learn about a child’s general health. They can also measure the circumference of a baby’s head using metric units such as centimeters (cm) and inches (in other countries).
The average head circumference or the largest area of a child’s head is as follows:
The average head circumference of a newborn is about 35 cm.
In general, a normal baby’s head circumference is roughly half the baby’s body length (in centimeters) plus 10 centimeters. Therefore, a child with a length of 45.7 cm has a head circumference of about 32.9 cm.
Newborn boys have a larger head circumference than newborn girls because boys are born larger and grow faster than girls.
Newborn baby with a big head
Some babies may have a large head due to genetics, but in some cases, a large head may mean a brain problem that may require surgery. One of the reasons why your baby may have a large head is hydrocephalus, which means excess fluid buildup in the brain.
Read about: What makes a child smart? (8 tricks during pregnancy and after childbirth)
In addition to this large head, it may also be due to the large head (“big head”). This is provided that the child’s head circumference is more than 38 cm and the head volume is above the 97th percentile.
In the following cases, the baby’s head circumference may be larger than normal:
- The baby’s head is larger than average
- The child is born
- The mother had gestational diabetes during pregnancy
- delayed delivery
As you can see, many factors affect the size of the baby’s head. Therefore, from head size at birth, head size during childhood or adulthood cannot be predicted. A small child will not necessarily become a small adult, and a large child will not necessarily become a big person in the future.
Association between baby’s head size and risk of autism
Early studies claimed a link between large head size and autism risk. Now there seems to be conflicting information about it. A new study shows that there is no relationship between having a large head circumference at birth and the future development of children with autism.
Another new study shows mixed results for the relationship between fetal head development and autistic traits and autism spectrum disorder and suggests that more research is needed in this area. Read more about autism!
The relationship between head size and intelligence
If a child has a larger head, it is likely that he will have a larger brain. However, a bigger brain does not necessarily mean that a child is smarter. It is essential for your child to receive different types of repetition and repeated and continuous training for learning.
This is what will ultimately help in the development of the child’s intelligence. Another sign of a child’s intelligence is that he has shown many milestones during his childhood.
How to treat excessive growth around the baby’s head ?
If it is determined that the baby’s head circumference is larger than normal and this is a benign event, no action is usually required.
- Baby head circumference size: small, large and all the important points you need to know
- Standard weight and length of a child from one month to a year, according to the latest research
When should you see a doctor?
When a baby is born, doctors measure the circumference of its head and examine it for signs related to various diseases. If the baby’s head circumference is larger than normal or is growing at an unusual rate, you should consult a medical professional.
