Building Strong Bones: A Guide to Infant Skeletal Development

Did you know that a newborn baby is born with about 300 bones, while an adult has about 206? In this blog, we will learn about the skeletal development of human infants, from their teeny-small toes to their pumpkin-shaped heads, and the importance of nutrition and weight-bearing workouts for their bone growth.

Infant Skeleton: Extra Bones and Development

• Newborns have nearly 100 extra bones compared to adults
• Bones gradually merge and fuse to form the 206-213 bones, like in adults
• Cartilage growth plates at the ends of bones merge between ages 13-17

Skeletal Changes in Children

• Cartilage in skeletons hardens and fuses as children develop
• "Soft spot" on newborn's head fuses to form a single cranium
• A person usually has 206 bones by early adulthood (ages 20-25)

Fetal Bone Development during Pregnancy

• During the first trimester, the entire skeleton comprises cartilage.
• Month 1: Mesoderm gives rise to bones, heart muscles, kidneys, and genitalia.
• Month 2: Clavicle and parts of the backbone are formed, arm and leg buds appear, and the tail vanishes.
• Month 3: Skeleton is fully formed, fingers and toes are made, and joints can move.
• Month 4: Placenta carries calcium from the mother to the fetus to build strong bones.
• Month 5-6: Active time for bone formation and fetal development.
• Month 7-8: Calcium from dairy sources is transported to ossify cartilage, grow muscles, and construct fat.