A baby is born with around 300 bones. As they grow, some of these bones fuse together, eventually forming the 206 bones that adults have. This is because a baby's skeleton is made up of many small, separate bones that are still developing. As they age, these bones grow and join together to form larger, stronger bones.
This process of bone fusion helps to give the body its final shape and strength. It also allows the bones to grow and adapt to the changing demands of the body. For example, the skull is made up of many separate bones at birth, but these bones eventually fuse together to form a strong, protective shell for the brain.
This is why a baby's skeleton is so flexible and why it can bend and move in ways that an adult's skeleton cannot. The flexible nature of a baby's bones also allows them to pass through the birth canal without breaking.
Here are some of the reasons why a baby's skeleton has more bones than an adult's skeleton:
- Growth and Development: Babies have more bones because their skeletons are still developing and growing.
- Flexibility: The extra bones allow the baby's skeleton to be more flexible, which is important for birth and movement.
- Strength: Over time, the bones fuse together to form stronger, larger bones that can better support the body's weight and movement.
