Large head circumference

[ann89]

My daughters head is large in the 94% percentile. Anyone else have a baby with a large head? Makes my husband and I worried. Is it just genetics or could it be something else ?

 

[ann89]

Bump

 

[EmzLouise]

Hello

The only experience I have to offer is with my daughters brain tumour. I'm not in ANYWAY saying anything about your daughters health, just information I've been told that you may find useful.

Quick version - Bubzy had a brain tumour with water on the brain, which made her head swell quite rapidly (literally a couple of days, maybe weeks) hinting that it either grew suddenly or was there since birth and grew slower, then speeded up.

Has your daughter had checks due to her head circumference? I'm going to guess she has. If there's nothing inherently wrong (soft spot is soft, balance is good, eating + drinking fine, showing no signs of illness such as tummy problems, headaches etc) then most likely she's got a big brain and has a lot of smarts lol what I mean is she'll more than likely grow into it.

I will, however leave you with this.

The one of many things I've learnt is if you're not happy about something, anything, take her to see the doctor. A part of me wishes I'd acted quicker with my daughter, it's something I have to live with, she's healthy and happy now but you always want to do what's best for your kids.

I really hope I haven't offended you in anyway, I've read this like 1000 times to make sure! If I have I'm truly sorry.

Your daughter is gorgeous, by the way

 

[likeaustralia]

Our ped sent us for a cranial ultrasound when my son's head circumference was measuring large. They wanted to rule out hydrocephaly. Has your doctor sent you for any follow ups? If not, and you're worried, you might want to request an ultrasound. The exam is quick (less than 5 mins) and my LO didn't mind at all. My LO ended up being fine, just has a big head like his dad, but it was good to be assured. Hope everything turns out ok for you.

 

[BabyBoyLove12]

My LOs head circumference has been in the ^99% since he was born. First thing doctors said when they pulled him out was "oh! He has a big head, just like his daddy!" I asked the doctor last visit if it was anything to worry about, and she told me as long as its staying in the same range and not getting any bigger, percentile wise, there isn't anything to worry about.

 

[ann89]

Thanks! We asked the Dr. about her head at her last appointment but she said she'll just check on it again at her next appointment. She has made all her milestones and is always very happy and smily. Hoping she just Has a big head from genetics. She looks just like her dad and he has to specialize order hats because the ones they sell in the stores are too small. Lol

 

[ann89]

My daughters head percentiles have always been a little larger then normal but this was the first it was in the 90s. I believe at her appointment before that she was in the 80s and a little lower before that. I can add them tomorrow at the moment I'm in bed and too lazy to grab them downstairs.

 

[BabyBoyLove12]

Eli has never been able to wear a hat in his size! Lol. It's weird though, the doctor never sent us to get it checked out...is that something that's normal to do?

 

[likeaustralia]

Eli has never been able to wear a hat in his size! Lol. It's weird though, the doctor never sent us to get it checked out...is that something that's normal to do?

I think it depends. My baby was born premature and his head size started out smaller than average and has gone up a lot in percentiles, so I think that's why our ped sent us for follow-up. I'm 90% sure it's because I have a small pelvis (so he was squished) and his dad is 6'3" and has a big head though.

 

[ann89]

On the sheet the dr. Gives us after the appointment it says something like if your child's head is over the 95% percentile then it could be a problem. I'm guessing that's when they'll check into it. My husband is mostly stressing about it. The other morning we found dried blood in our daughters ear. Called the dr. And they said they had no opening until Wednesday and asked them if we could get a referral to go downtown and they told us no since its not bleeding and it's just dried blood. (Husbands in the Air Force so we have to use the base hospital with out insurance unless they give us a referral). And then today my husband found dried blood in her nose. But we believe that may have happens today when my husband was holding her and they bumped heads. But we still worry. Hopefully we're just over worrying and will check her head at her next appointment to give us a peace of mind.

 

[BabyBoyLove12]

Eli has never been able to wear a hat in his size! Lol. It's weird though, the doctor never sent us to get it checked out...is that something that's normal to do?

I think it depends. My baby was born premature and his head size started out smaller than average and has gone up a lot in percentiles, so I think that's why our ped sent us for follow-up. I'm 90% sure it's because I have a small pelvis (so he was squished) and his dad is 6'3" and has a big head though.

That must be it. Eli has remained in the same percentile since birth.

 

[BabyBoyLove12]

On the sheet the dr. Gives us after the appointment it says something like if your child's head is over the 95% percentile then it could be a problem. I'm guessing that's when they'll check into it. My husband is mostly stressing about it. The other morning we found dried blood in our daughters ear. Called the dr. And they said they had no opening until Wednesday and asked them if we could get a referral to go downtown and they told us no since its not bleeding and it's just dried blood. (Husbands in the Air Force so we have to use the base hospital with out insurance unless they give us a referral). And then today my husband found dried blood in her nose. But we believe that may have happens today when my husband was holding her and they bumped heads. But we still worry. Hopefully we're just over worrying and will check her head at her next appointment to give us a peace of mind.

The dried blood in her ear could be from her scratching it. Especially if she's teething, babies tend to mess with their ears since they don't understand where the pain is coming from. Eli has a few scratches in his ear from messing with them all the time. And the nose could be, like you said because she got bumped there, or even dry air.

Being parent is definitely worrisome! I've been the most paranoid about the most absurd things that I would never think twice about if he wasn't my baby!

 

[ann89]

That's what I'm hoping also. We wiped the dried blood out with a wipe hoping to find a scratch but we didn't. Hopefully it just wasn't visible. It may be teething. She doesn't have a tooth yet.

 

[likeaustralia]

On the sheet the dr. Gives us after the appointment it says something like if your child's head is over the 95% percentile then it could be a problem. I'm guessing that's when they'll check into it. My husband is mostly stressing about it. The other morning we found dried blood in our daughters ear. Called the dr. And they said they had no opening until Wednesday and asked them if we could get a referral to go downtown and they told us no since its not bleeding and it's just dried blood. (Husbands in the Air Force so we have to use the base hospital with out insurance unless they give us a referral). And then today my husband found dried blood in her nose. But we believe that may have happens today when my husband was holding her and they bumped heads. But we still worry. Hopefully we're just over worrying and will check her head at her next appointment to give us a peace of mind.

Our ped sent us for the u/s when LO's head was in the 70s I think. Like I said, though, it was increasing percentiles rather than the percentile itself. If you're really concerned and have no other option, you can always go to the ER.

 

[BabyBoyLove12]

Hopefully that's all it is

 

[svg_]

Tyler had a big head.. he evened out eventually haha. I wouldnt be worried

 

[StranjeGirl]

What percentile is her height? My dd head is over 100th percentile and it just rather quickly from like 4 months to 6 months, but so did her height. He wasn't worried as her height increased too and she had no symptom of there being a problem. If there are no symptoms then it's probably fine, but it never hurts to get a quick check. We did that with LO heart as she had a murmur. Dr figured it would be fine but better safe than sorry and it really put our minds at ease!

 

[candyem]

My little boy was on the 90th centile for head circumference when he was six weeks old. Looking back at photos it does look really big!

Now though, it is on the 75th (the same as his height) and he is in perfect proportion.

Is your LO quite tall?

I just say it is full of brains

 

[PitaKat]

My son has a big head. It's too big for hats in his age range. However, his father has a big head, as do many people on that side of his family. The Dr has never said anything about it.

 

[MrsButterfly]

My Lo's head is on the 91st centile but then so is his length and weight so I've never been worried. His head doesn't look particularly big as its in proportion with the rest of him. No one has ever raised it as an issue either. Like a pp said, think unless its jumping percentiles it isn't looked into.