CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

Do Babies Have Kneecaps?

It’s a common question to wonder as you’re looking at your little one. Here’s the lowdown.
save article
profile picture of Wyndi Kappes
By Wyndi Kappes, Associate Editor
Published
mom kissing baby's feet
Image: Olga Murzaeva | Stocksy United

When your little one arrives, there are a million questions that pop up, but here’s one you might not have thought of—do babies have kneecaps? This surprising query recently took the internet by storm thanks to a viral video, sparking curiosity among parents everywhere. Naturally, we had to get to the bottom of it. We consulted experts to find out the truth on how kneecaps develop in babies—and when to reach out to your pediatrician with concerns. Here’s what to know.

Are Babies Born With Kneecaps?

This is a bit of a tricky question, but if you ask the experts, they’ll say yes—babies are technically born with kneecaps. “Babies are indeed born with kneecaps, but because they’re made entirely of cartilage, it looks like they don’t have any,” says Dipesh Navsaria, MPH, MSLIS, MD, a professor of pediatrics and human development and family studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

You probably know cartilage as the rubbery tissue that makes up most of your earlobes and the tip of your nose, but it’s also what forms the building blocks of what develops into the hard, bony structure we know as kneecaps. “This isn’t unique to kneecaps,” Navsaria adds, “but is found in a number of places throughout the body, which have many more cartilaginous elements but become bone as children develop. This extra flexibility afforded by cartilage is helpful in the process of being born, or the crawling and learning how to walk that involves many falls and collisions as children grow.”

When Do Babies Get Kneecaps?

While babies are born with the building blocks of kneecaps, the development of the hard, bony structure we know comes later in life. Christine Greves, MD, FACOG, an ob-gyn at the Orlando Health Women’s Institute, says the process of ossification or the hardening of the kneecap, starts with small bits of bone centers that congregate together and expand. While X-rays can pick up on this gradual process at 2 or 3 years old, the kneecap doesn’t reach “primary ossification” or the development of a bony, hard structure until 5 or 6 years old. The knee itself can take up until puberty to fully fuse together.

Related Video

When to Reach Out to Your Pediatrician

The process of baby’s kneecap development may be interesting, but Navsaria says that it’s hardly ever a topic of concern. “No pediatrician I know has ever spent any time worrying about issues with kneecap development in typical children,” he notes. The kneecap is only one part of the knee, and it’s usually not the one we spend time considering if there is an issue. Many things that are identified as ‘knee pain’ are related to the knee joint itself, or the various ligaments and tendons in the area and so forth. The kneecap is part of that whole structure, but it’s rarely the main issue, Navsaria adds.

That said, both Greves and Navsaria note that you shouldn’t hesitate to contact your pediatrician if you notice any issues such as swelling, redness or difficulty walking. “It’s very important you regularly attend scheduled pediatric visits to make sure that if there are concerns, they can be found earlier,” says Greves. No ifs, ands or kneecaps about it!

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Sources

Christine Greves, MD, FACOG, is an ob-gyn at the Orlando Health Women’s Institute. She received her medical degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine.

Dipesh Navsaria, MPH, MSLIS, MD, is a professor of Pediatrics and of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is the current chair of the Council on Early Childhood at the American Academy of Pediatrics and continues to practice primary care pediatrics in outpatient settings.

Learn how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process.

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

dad helping baby walk at home
Viral Hack Could Save Your Back as Baby Gains Confidence Walking
By Wyndi Kappes
baby on weight scale in doctor's office
Average Baby Weight in the First Year
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
Dad's Hilarious Video About Baby 'Not Having Kneecaps' Goes Viral
Dad's Hilarious Video About Baby 'Not Having Kneecaps' Goes Viral
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
doctor measuring baby's head circumference
Infant Growth Charts: Tracking Baby’s Development
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
Why Baby Hates Tummy Time (and What You Can Do to Help)
Why Baby Hates Tummy Time (and What You Can Do to Help)
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
baby doing tummy time while holding head up
When Do Babies Hold Their Head Up?
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
sad beige parenting and neutral baby decor
How Colors Play a Role in Baby’s Development
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
baby using the pincer grasp while playing with block toys
What Is the Pincer Grasp?
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
mother playing with baby during tummy time
What Are Gross and Fine Motor Skills?
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
baby grabbing toy while lying down
When Do Babies Start Grabbing Things?
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
baby grasping mom's finger, palmar grasp
What Is the Palmar Grasp Reflex in Babies?
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
teaching baby to walk
Baby’s First Steps: When Do Babies Start Walking?
Medically Reviewed by Loretta Cody, MD
baby and mom clapping and smiling on couch together at home
When Do Babies Wave, Clap and Point?
Medically Reviewed by Loretta Cody, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
Baby with ball
Babies Develop Self-Awareness as Young as 4 Months Old, Study Suggests
By Wyndi Kappes
mother looking at baby in bassinet
When Can Babies See Clearly?
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
top view of baby drawing with crayons
This Simple Hack Will Help Your Child Get the Right Grip on a Pencil
By Wyndi Kappes
Baby practicing tummy time.
Introducing Tummy Time to Baby
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
baby doing tummy time while playing with toy
Viral TikTok About the Need for Tummy Time Sparks Conversation
By Wyndi Kappes
baby standing on bed with smiling mother
When Can You Expect Baby to Stand?
By Colleen De Bellefonds
mother holding toddler during covid lockdown quarantine
Toddlers Learned More Words During Lockdown Than Expected, Study Says
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List