Kids with large heads

DS head at his checkup 6 weeks ago was 19.25" which puts him in 95%tile. I went for a follow up yesterday b/c at his checkup he had ear infections. So 6 weeks later its now 19.5" so the dr. wants us to go for a head ultrasound before his first bday in oct b/c of the closing fontanelle (otherwise the test is more invasive/more radiation.)

DS has always had a big head even in my belly. It took 2 hours of pushing to get him out b/c of his head. My husband was born with a large head and their skulls..i swear they're the same shape..LOL.

the dr. script says "Macrocephaly" r/o Hyrdocephalus

anyone have a kid with a large head and have to have this probe/ultrasound done?

Thanks!

Re: Kids with large heads

Both of my kids have big heads but I haven't had to get any special testing done. They are probably just being overcautious! Good Luck!

Re: Kids with large heads

DD has a big head, just like her daddy. Her head has always been about 75% but her height/weight haven't even been on the charts

She had plagiocephaly too so they did a CT scan to rule out the bones fusing together.

If he's always had a big head I wouldn't be too worried sounds like they're being overcautious.

Message edited 9/16/2010 11:09:58 AM.

Re: Kids with large heads

me. Liam heads is massive (still is). He has a bigger head than some 4-5year olds. That's why he was measuring sooo large in utero and why I needed a c-section.

Once he was born, at 12 weeks, I had to take him for a sono of his skull to make sure there is no fluid as his head growth was off the charts.

He's fine and I hope there is a ton of knowledge up there.

Re: Kids with large heads

Both of my boys have large heads just like daddy. Ever since birth thier head circumfrence has been well off the charts. My Ped. mentioned that sono to us with the first, but suggested we watch how it grows by the next appt. Well, it grew proportionately to how it's been growing so it's just normal for my kids. Had the same thing with the 2nd baby and didn't need the sono either.

Re: Kids with large heads

One of my twins, Nicholas, has a head circumference that is wayyyy off the charts. He had a CAT scan a few months ago to rule out anything...he is fine, just a big boy!

Re: Kids with large heads

DS had the same procedure done - but at 6 months.

All was fine - just a Herman Munster head.

Re: Kids with large heads

my son has been off the chart for head size since day one. He did not have this.

My cousin also had this, he had to have this procedure done bc of this concern. He had no issues, just a large head!!! Do not worry!!!

Re: Kids with large heads

my ds has 97% head LOL been like that since in the womb never needed any testing done

Re: Kids with large heads

DD's head has always been in the 95% and her little body only about the 25th.

The Dr. was never concerned. The first thing he asked was if any family members have large heads, which some do.

Also I feel like 1/4 is so small that maybe the way they measured on the 2 separate days was slightly off. One nurse measured dd's and I knew she was way off. The Dr. remeasured that day.

Re: Kids with large heads

Macrocephaly just means big head vs microcephaly which is a small head. They just want to rule out hydrocephalus which is a build up of the cerebral spinal fluid in the skull. If there is too much CSF building up, the head can become enlarged and the worry is that the excess fluid will put pressure on the brain. But if your DH has a big head, maybe it's just a genetic thing. Besides, .25 inch is pretty small and a measuring error could have resulted in them finding a difference in the circumference then vs 6 weeks later. If he's just having an ultrasound that's better bc there is no exposure to radiation (vs a CT scan).

Re: Kids with large heads

DS is in the 80% with his head...never had any testing done.

Re: Kids with large heads

DD is in the 75% for head (her dad has a big head too!). Doctor never said anything...well except for that one comment that she has a "considerable noggin".

Re: Kids with large heads

DS has a big head which is actually off the chart. Dr doesn't see it to be a problem since his head size has been been consistent his while life.

Re: Kids with large heads

Glad you posted this.
Since DD's second visit they have been mentioning her head is a little large.
At her 2 month visit it was in the 64th percentile I think.
The Dr said she wouldn't be too concerned at this point but they are going to keep a watch on it and if it continues to jump percentiles they will do an ultrasound.
It freaks me out.
My DH has large heads in his family and the Dr. said the large majority of the time it's just a genetically large head- but they would rather be safe...which is good I guess.

I thnk the concern is not how high the percentile is, but if it keeps jumping up in percentiles each visit.

Either way it worries me- I get freaked out easily and I don't like ANY causes for concerns.

Keep me posted on how it goes!

Re: Kids with large heads

Re: Kids with large heads

We went through this with DD#2 - I was terrified - my ped mentioned she had a large head several times since about 4 months BUT just said it in passing never seemed concerned. Then at about 9 months he panic us and told us we had to rush her to a ped Neurologist. She was about 19.5 inches at 9 or 10 months (my DD#1 at almost 3 was 20 inches to give you an idea). DD#2 was WAY off the charts (if you looked at the charts she was about .5- 1 inch off the chart - not even close to 95%. At least your DC is still on the charts if they put him at 95%. The neurologist said he would do the sono but that he wasn't too concerned b.c DH is in the 95% (I'm 75% and DD#1 is 50%) - so since he said she was advanced on her milestones and DH has a large head that was probably the issue - but until he had the sonogram he couldn't say. He said she would need an MRI (which requires sedation at that age) IF the sono wasn't good. Well we rushed her in for the sono and they said they saw some water(?) but that it was normal if a child had a sudden growth spurt. The Neurologist concluded that DH gave her his genes and that it was hereditary and not a problem. The poor thing just has a HUGE head (she wears hats at 15 months for 3-5T.

The sono is no big deal - the other tests are more of a pain. At the time I had so many parents tell me that their DC had been through the same issue and their Doctor's scared them and it turned out to be nothing.

FM me if you need a shoulder or an ear.

Etd to add DD#2 is about 50% for height and weight.

Message edited 9/16/2010 5:16:15 PM.

Re: Kids with large heads

My son has a huge head too-we were sent to a pediatric neurosurgeon to have it checked out. He didn't have to have an ultrasound done, the doctor took one look at the baby and then he looked at us and said I think this is just heriditary. He measured all of our heads and we are all in the 98%tile! I never knew I had a big head!

By the way, my son was in the 98% for head circumference but only 10% for weight and 50% for height-he was a walking head!

Re: Kids with large heads

My little boy who is now 16 was always in the 90 percentile. He still has a big head and has to get his big hats from specialty stores like Lamood Big Hats cause the ones at stores don't fit him.