No, a baby’s soft spot should look flat or slightly dipped; a clearly sunken fontanelle often signals dehydration and needs prompt care.
The soft area on an infant’s head is a normal gap where bones haven’t fused yet. A shallow dip can look scary on first glance, yet that gentle contour is usually fine. A deep, bowl-like indentation often pairs with fewer wet diapers, dry mouth, or low energy. That pattern points to low fluids. This page explains what a sunken soft spot may mean, how to check it, what to do at home, and when to call a clinician fast.
Quick Checks Parents Can Do
Use good lighting and a calm moment. Hold your baby upright. Look from the side. A normal fontanelle looks level with the skull or just a touch inward. Now add context by checking diapers, tears, mouth moisture, and mood. One sign alone is hard to read; a cluster tells the story better.
| What You See | What It May Mean | First Steps At Home |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or slight dip, baby feeds well | Normal anatomy | Keep regular feeds; recheck later |
| Noticeable inward dip with dry lips | Mild fluid loss | Offer breast or formula more often |
| Sunken spot with fewer wet diapers | Dehydration risk | Increase feeds; observe closely |
| Very sunken spot plus sleepiness | Moderate to severe dehydration | Seek urgent medical care |
| Bulging spot with fever or vomiting | Raised pressure or illness | Emergency care now |
Is A Sunken Soft Spot Normal In Newborns? Signs And Checks
A slight inward curve can be normal. The larger front soft spot (anterior fontanelle) opens wide to allow brain growth and often looks level to gently concave. The smaller rear soft spot closes early and is harder to find. A clear hollow paired with low output or dry mouth leans toward dehydration.
How To Tell Normal From Concerning
Use three anchors: look, feel, and behavior. Look straight on, then from the profile. Gently touch with clean fingers; a light tap should meet a firm, springy membrane. Then read behavior: feeding drive, alertness, and diaper count. If the soft spot looks deeply indented and your baby acts listless or takes tiny sips, that needs care.
Common Causes Of A Sunken Soft Spot
The most common driver is fluid loss. Short feeds during a cold, vomiting, or loose stools can drain reserves. Hot days and overdressing can add up. Rarely, weight loss from feeding issues lowers body water. Bulging, not sinking, ties to other problems and calls for urgent evaluation.
Dehydration Signs You Can Track
Parents often spot patterns first. Pay attention to wet diaper counts, tears with crying, saliva, and overall spark. A baby who goes three hours without a wet diaper, cries with few or no tears, and has a parched tongue is likely low on fluids. A sunken soft spot adds weight to that picture, as leading pediatric sources describe.
Diaper And Fluid Clues
Counts help. In the first weeks, six or more wet diapers a day is common once milk is in. Fewer, darker pees can mean less intake. Track feeds and diaper logs for a day when you’re unsure. If diapers drop and the soft spot dips, act early.
When To Call Right Away
Ring your child’s clinician or urgent care now if you see a deep indentation with any of these: no wet diaper in three hours, limp body tone, fast breathing, cool hands and feet, or a new fever in a baby under three months. Trust your gut. If your baby looks unwell, get help.
What Normal Looks And Feels Like
The front soft spot often measures about an inch across early on and can look bigger before it starts to close. See the AAP overview of soft spots for diagrams and plain-language tips. You may see a light pulse with each heartbeat. Touch is safe with a light hand. The membrane guards the brain. Baths, gentle brushing, or cap care will not hurt it.
How To Check Safely At Home
Wash hands, use daylight, and keep your baby calm and upright. Part the hair and glance from the profile. You can also feel with two fingers and a soft press. Avoid judging right after a nap when your baby lay face down; position can change the look for a short time. Recheck after a feed and a few minutes upright.
Practical Feeding Steps That Help
Offer breast or formula in smaller, frequent sessions. If your baby is spitting up or has loose stools, tiny sips every five to ten minutes can go down better than a large feed. Keep your baby cool and remove extra layers. Never thin formula. For breastfed babies, offer both sides and switch more often.
About Oral Rehydration Solutions
Oral rehydration works well for mild fluid loss from tummy bugs in older babies under a clinician’s guidance. Use products sold for children and follow the label. Do not give homemade mixes to infants. If vomiting is nonstop or stools are frequent, call your pediatric office first.
When A Clinic Visit Is Needed
Seek care the same day if the soft spot looks clearly caved in and your baby drinks poorly, has fewer wet diapers, or acts floppy. Call emergency services if the soft spot is bulging with fever, or if your baby is hard to wake, has a stiff neck, or cries with a sharp, high-pitched sound. Those signs need hands-on care.
How Long Soft Spots Stay Open
The back soft spot often closes in the first two months. The front one closes later, often between seven and nineteen months. Wide ranges are normal. Your clinician checks head shape and growth at each visit and will flag any unusual pattern.
Care Tips While You Watch And Recheck
Keep feeds steady. Log wet diapers. Offer cool air and shade on hot days. Watch for tears, saliva, and mood. Use this list as a quick loop: feed, comfort, change, reassess the spot, and repeat. If the dip looks deeper or you worry about intake, call.
Common Myths That Cause Worry
“Touching The Soft Spot Is Dangerous”
Gentle touch is safe. That tissue is tough. Light washing or brushing is fine.
“A Dip Always Means Trouble”
A mild inward curve can be normal, especially in bright light or when your baby is calm. Context rules: diapers, tears, mouth moisture, and energy tell more.
“Only Sick Babies Have A Sunken Spot”
Mild dips can appear during warm weather or after a long nap. The red flags rise when dips pair with low output or low energy.
Trusted Sources To Learn More
Read the American Academy of Pediatrics guidance on heads and soft spots on HealthyChildren.org and the NHS page on dehydration signs in babies for vetted checklists and action steps. These pages explain normal shape and when a sunken fontanelle signals low fluids.
| Situation | What To Do | When To Seek Care |
|---|---|---|
| Mild dip, feeding well | Offer usual feeds; recheck in an hour | Call if dip deepens or output falls |
| Dip with fewer wet diapers | Increase feeds; keep baby cool | Same-day clinic visit |
| Deep dip plus dry mouth | Small, frequent breast or formula feeds | Urgent care today |
| Bulge with fever or vomiting | Do not wait at home | Emergency care now |
Step-By-Step: A One-Minute Check
- Upright position, good light.
- Look from the profile; note level or dip.
- Touch gently; feel springy tension.
- Count wet diapers; peek for tears and saliva.
- Offer a feed; watch swallow and interest.
- Recheck the spot ten minutes later.
When To Relax
If the soft spot looks flat to slightly concave, your baby feeds well, pees often, makes tears, and wakes easily, you can relax and keep normal care. Keep routine visits so your clinician can follow head growth and fontanelle closure over time.
Bottom Line For Parents
A soft spot that sits level or only a touch inward is usually fine. A clear hollow paired with low output, dry mouth, or low energy suggests fluid loss. Feed more often, keep cool, and get medical advice without delay when dips look deep or your baby seems unwell.
Learn more from the NHS dehydration signs page.
What Clinicians Check During Evaluation
In clinic, the provider reviews feeding history, diaper counts, and illness. They examine the soft spot and look for sunken eyes, dry tongue, skin recoil, heart rate. Weight is checked against last visit. Mild dehydration may need feeding support and follow up at home. Moderate loss may call for oral rehydration under supervision. Severe cases can need IV fluids.
What To Bring And Track
- A 24-hour log of feeds, ounces or minutes per side, and diaper counts.
- Notes on vomiting, loose stools, or fever readings.
- Questions for the visit, written down.
- The bottle or nipple you use, if latch or flow seems off.
Smart Prevention Habits
Offer feeds on cue rather than by a clock. During colds or tummy bugs, switch to smaller, more frequent feeds. Keep rooms cool and avoid overdressing. On warm days, take breaks in shade and pause play. For formula, follow label mixing directions exactly. For breastfed infants, watch for rhythmic swallows and relaxed hands near the end of a session. If latch hurts or transfer seems low, see a lactation counselor or your pediatric office.
Summer And Hot-Weather Tips
Plan outdoor time early or late, seek shade, and skip thick hats in still air. Offer more frequent feeds safely. Never leave a baby in a parked car. If your baby looks flushed, take a cool break and offer milk sooner. Recheck the soft spot after cooling and feeding.