How many bones do babies have?

Babies are born with approximately 300 bones, but as they grow, some of these bones fuse together, resulting in the standard count of 206 bones that adults typically have. The higher bone count in infants is primarily due to the presence of certain cartilage areas and small bones that are not yet fused. As development progresses, particularly during the early childhood years, many of these bones gradually merge. This fusion process is a normal part of human development and is essential for growth and the proper formation of the skeletal structure. Understanding this process helps illustrate the dynamic nature of the human body during its formative stages.