My health visitor has been to measure my daughters head twice and is coming back again next month as its measuring small? What could a small head mean? Is it something I should be worried about?

A Thank you for your question. Babies’ heads vary in size and the size of head is usually hereditary e.g. do you or your baby’s dad have small heads? You have not mentioned where your baby’s head is on her growth chart but if it is between the normal ranges of centiles then there is nothing to worry about. Normal heads grow at about 0.5 cm a week and must be measured by the same person using the same tape. Your health visitor will be monitoring your baby’s head size to exclude a condition called microcephaly, meaning small head which could indicate developmental delay if it was not growing as expected. However a small head does not mean developmental delay. If your baby is alert, sucking and feeding well, is beginning to hold objects e.g. a rattle for a few seconds, smiling, fixing her gaze on your face and turning her head towards sounds and responding to you with pleasure she will be developing normally for her age. If you are concerned and your Health Visitor and Doctor have not given you an explanation about why your baby’s head is being measured it would be best to ask for an explanation.

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