Child Has Protruding Rib When Laying Down Or Sitting Awkwardly, No Pain, Child Eating Normally. What Is The Cause?

Posted on Wed, 20 Jun 2012

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 Answered on

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi..my 10 month old baby girls' bottom left rib feels bigger and protrudes a little when she's laying down or sitting awkwardly. I pressed on it a little bit to see if she reacted with pain or an otherwise uncomfortable motion, and she did not. She's eating and drinking and sleeping just fine...her normal self all around. What is the cause and treatment of this and will it go away?

Answered by Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T (1 hour later)

Hi,

Thanks for your query.

Babies of 10 month age have their ribs mostly made of cartilage, which ossify with calcium deposition in later age.

It is a normal phenomenon for the lower ribs to protrude out when in supine position.

Do not handle them more , as it can lead to inflammation frequently presenting with pain.

The lower most two ribs are floating ribs and do not have attachment to the sternum in front , they too tend to protrude on lying down.

Do wait for another 6 months , if you see the ribs abnormally protruding then you may have to get an Xray of the chest done to rule out deformities which are usually seen in Vit D or Vit C deficiency.

Wish you good health.

regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar