When to REALLY worry about sunken fontanelle?

[Shananaaah]

Hi all,

My 11wo DD has had a slightly sunken anterior fontanelle for the past 3 days. It's only a little sunken, and does go back to normal every so often. But it's enough for me to notice and worry.

She is taking her normal fluids, although being a little fussy over them sometimes, sleeping, weeing, pooing etc as normal. She has been a little crankier than normal, but she is usually happy 95% of the time, so its not like she is crying constantly - just a bit more than usual, and she is a little clingier than normal (again, its not common so its not like its all the time now).

I have checked her skin and it seems ok (to the untrained eye), she is still bright eyed and happy, talking, smiling most of the time.

She has sneezed a few times a day, and had a little stuffiness, plus its consistently been over 30 degrees here for the past few weeks so its possible she is just a bit under the weather. I just worry because it HAS been so hot, and the fontanelle still hasn't returned to normal.

Should I worry? I have made a GP appt this afternoon just in case.

Any advice? Thanks in advance.

ETA: I googled symptoms and checked off the list - she still has a moist mouth and eyes also.

[KatiesMum]

If she is feeding normally, still has bright eyes and is behaving normally, having regular wet nappies etc then I wouldnt worry too much.

It does sink a little from time to time .... only worry if it is really pronounced, if bubs is really out of sorts, not feeding, no wet nappies, has a rash or convulsions etc.

[SuperGranny]

hi, Im not trained in anything, but I understand the fontenelle if sunken is a indication of dehydration. In the hot weather it is possible for babies to dehydrate quickly. If you are concerned and you cant give more fluids, pop the baby in a bath, or wash bub with a facewasher and cool water. Try to keep cool and keep your fluids up too if you are breastfeeding. Take care, Marie.

[bada]

I would do exactly what you're doing, keep a close eye, and take her to the doctor.
I always kept an eye on it as an indicator of hydration, and tried to feed DD more on days when it was a little sunken. The one time she had a cold around 6 weeks old, it was particularly sunken so I fed and fed and fed! Good luck.

[c38]

A sunken fontenelle due to dehydraton is actually quite a late sign. There would be plently of other things you'd notice. You've actually described most of them..
In some bubs it just feels lower at times, but without other things seeming not right, then it's normal.
Are you feeling it when shes upright?... lie her down for a while..you will probably find it comes back up.. This is very normal

Better signs of dehydration
Weight loss
Pallor
no "spark in the eyes"
"not normal self"
irritability
lethargy
thirst
dry mouth
no tears
fast deep breathing
less wet nappies
less pooy nappies in young breast fed bub
poor skin turgor
slow capillary return (test in middle of chest...press lighty with a finger for a few seconds then watch as you take it away..skin will be white then go pink should take less then 1-2sec)

Your bubs actually sounds fine. You noticed all the important things were fine..

[Shananaaah]

Thanks everyone.

JUst wanted to point out that we are in NSW so we aren't experiencing the horror heatwave, however we're in outer western Sydney and its been consistently over 32/33 degrees for the past few weeks so I was just worried maybe it had caught up with her.

Thanks again.