Re: when does head stop growing?

[Guest guest]

:

Thanks so much for your insight. I'll have to share this information with my

brother and sister in law.

[Guest guest]

Hi :

Actually both are right, in a way... some of the sutures don't actually fuse

until young adulthood, and the head continues to grow a bit, or else our

brains wouldn't have anywhere to go as our bodies got bigger...-- however,

as I understand it, the maliability of the skull (i.e. softness) becomes

much less after 18 months -- which means that any kind of treatments after

then really would take a LONG time ... and as well -- after correction with

a orthotic device such as a helmet or band, there should be no more dramatic

changes (i.e. going back to 'the way it was') because, again, the maliabilty

of the skull will be less by virtue of time...

Don't know if that helps you at all...

good luck.

H.

-----Original Message-----

From: JenMetrose@... [mailto:JenMetrose@...]

Sent: Friday, June 23, 2000 10:50 AM

Plagiocephalyegroups

Subject: when does head stop growing?

General question:

I was told by doctors that a childs head stops growing at about 18 months,

is

that an accurate statement? Or is it that the brain stops growing and the

head is fused together at 18 months?

I'm debating this with my brother and sister in law (child care providers)

who insist the head may keep growing which in their opinion makes getting

the

helmet a mistake.

Any input, I'd be really appreciative.

in Fountain Valley, CA

[Guest guest]

, the head does keep growing, but it may continue to grow in the

" wrong " areas. The band can be used all the way up to 2 years. The

fusing of the skull takes place throughout life-it may not ever

completely fuse in all areas is my understanding.

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[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Well, common sense to me says that of course a child's head keeps growing.

As adults, their heads aren't the same size as when they were 18 months

old..haha!! And I can't imagine that the brain stays the same size as well.

A small brain in a big head doesn't make sense to me. At any rate, it takes

a child's head longer to reshape when they are older, because the rate of

growth is slower. However, I have heard that between 18 & 24 months is when

the child's skull will finally fuse together. In that case, I'm not sure if

a helmet or band would still work. The best time for a helmet and band to

work as I've understood it is before the skull fuses together. I hope this

kinda makes sense.

(Spencer's Mom)

-----Original Message-----

From: JenMetrose@... [mailto:JenMetrose@...]

Sent: Friday, June 23, 2000 10:50 AM

Plagiocephalyegroups

Subject: when does head stop growing?

General question:

I was told by doctors that a childs head stops growing at about 18 months,

is

that an accurate statement? Or is it that the brain stops growing and the

head is fused together at 18 months?

I'm debating this with my brother and sister in law (child care providers)

who insist the head may keep growing which in their opinion makes getting

the

helmet a mistake.

Any input, I'd be really appreciative.

in Fountain Valley, CA

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[Guest guest]

,

In doing a bit of research, this is what I found.....

"................The anterior fontanelle

closes at 12-18 months of age while the posterior fontanelle closes

either 2 months

prenatally or 2 months postnatally. The coronal, lambdoid and sagittal

sutures persist

throughout childhood and generally do not begin to close until 30 years

of age."

http://vch.vh.org/

Go here for the "Virtual Children's Hospital" where I found this info.

Kendra

Thrall wrote:

Dear ,

Well, common sense to me says that of course a child's head keeps

growing.

As adults, their heads aren't the same size as when they were 18

months

old..haha!! And I can't imagine that the brain stays the

same size as well.

A small brain in a big head doesn't make sense to me. At

any rate, it takes

a child's head longer to reshape when they are older, because the

rate of

growth is slower. However, I have heard that between 18 &

24 months is when

the child's skull will finally fuse together. In that case,

I'm not sure if

a helmet or band would still work. The best time for a helmet

and band to

work as I've understood it is before the skull fuses together.

I hope this

kinda makes sense.

(Spencer's Mom)

-----Original Message-----

From: JenMetrose@... [mailto:JenMetrose@...]

Sent: Friday, June 23, 2000 10:50 AM

Plagiocephalyegroups

Subject: when does head stop growing?

General question:

I was told by doctors that a childs head stops growing at about

18 months,

is

that an accurate statement? Or is it that the brain stops

growing and the

head is fused together at 18 months?

I'm debating this with my brother and sister in law (child care

providers)

who insist the head may keep growing which in their opinion makes

getting

the

helmet a mistake.

Any input, I'd be really appreciative.

in Fountain Valley, CA

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Want to win airfare to Vegas for you and 20 friends, $15,000 and

a

suite at Bellagio for New Year's? Or 2 roundtrip tickets anywhere

in

the U.S. given away daily? Go to Expedia.com for your chance to

win...

1/5292/5/_/689409/_/961771809/

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Kendra,

Excellent research! Definitley goes further than common sense!

:-)

-----Original Message-----From: & Kendra [mailto:kbgarv@...]Sent: Friday, June 23, 2000 11:44 AMPlagiocephalyegroupsSubject: Re: when does head stop growing?, In doing a bit of research, this is what I found..... "................The anterior fontanelle closes at 12-18 months of age while the posterior fontanelle closes either 2 months prenatally or 2 months postnatally. The coronal, lambdoid and sagittal sutures persist throughout childhood and generally do not begin to close until 30 years of age." http://vch.vh.org/ Go here for the "Virtual Children's Hospital" where I found this info. Kendra Thrall wrote: Dear , Well, common sense to me says that of course a child's head keeps growing. As adults, their heads aren't the same size as when they were 18 months old..haha!! And I can't imagine that the brain stays the same size as well. A small brain in a big head doesn't make sense to me. At any rate, it takes a child's head longer to reshape when they are older, because the rate of growth is slower. However, I have heard that between 18 & 24 months is when the child's skull will finally fuse together. In that case, I'm not sure if a helmet or band would still work. The best time for a helmet and band to work as I've understood it is before the skull fuses together. I hope this kinda makes sense. (Spencer's Mom) -----Original Message----- From: JenMetrose@... [mailto:JenMetrose@...] Sent: Friday, June 23, 2000 10:50 AM Plagiocephalyegroups Subject: when does head stop growing? General question: I was told by doctors that a childs head stops growing at about 18 months, is that an accurate statement? Or is it that the brain stops growing and the head is fused together at 18 months? I'm debating this with my brother and sister in law (child care providers) who insist the head may keep growing which in their opinion makes getting the helmet a mistake. Any input, I'd be really appreciative. in Fountain Valley, CA ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Want to win airfare to Vegas for you and 20 friends, $15,000 and a suite at Bellagio for New Year's? Or 2 roundtrip tickets anywhere in the U.S. given away daily? Go to Expedia.com for your chance to win... 1/5292/5/_/689409/_/961771809/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

,

I just seen a neurosurgeon a couple of days ago for my daughter, Kamryn. From

the info that he gave me, the majority of head growth happens within the first

12 month. After 12 mo. the growth slows down a lot. He said that the head is

at 95% growth at age 5 yrs old. I also heard at one time the the sutures are

closed by 18 mo. But he told me they are somewhat less movable but they are not

all the way closed at 18 mo. Hope that helps a little.. Evette

[Guest guest]

:

Thanks for your reply. Any input I can get is helpful as I debate with some

of my family members about why a helmet is not a mistake.

[Guest guest]

Kendra:

Thank you so much for your " medical " explanation. As mentioned to other

people in this group, my brother and sister in law were concerned that helmet

therapy may be a bad idea since the head continues to grow. I was confused

on the information given to me by the physicians, so clarification has been

beneficial to me.

Thanks,

Jen