Craniotabes is softening or thinning of the skull in infants and children, which may be normally present in newborns.

[citation needed] Other conditions which can cause craniotabes include hypervitaminosis A, osteogenesis imperfecta, hydrocephalus, and congenital syphilis.

However, recent evidence indicates that vitamin D deficiency in infants can increase the risk of asthma, lower respiratory tract infections, type 1 diabetes, schizophrenia, and decreased bone mass later in life.

Commonly, craniotabes results from the position of the head inside the uterus weeks prior to delivery.

Calcium and Vitamin D levels should be obtained to rule out rickets, and in mothers who have prenatal labs concerning for T. pallidum infection, neonates should be evaluated for congenital syphilis.