Head bump, (small) nosebleed - would you go to ER?

[Fingerbobs]

My 1.2 y ds tripped this evening and bumped his head right between the eyes on the wooden siderail of our bed. He bellowed a bit but not too long and was perfectly cheerful, running about, stamping, handing things over etc etc. When we went to put him to bed we noticed a little blood around the bottom of his nostrils and there's a bit of an egg developing on his brow bone. He seems fine and I feel (so does DP) instinctively that he's fine, it was just a bump. What do you think? Trip to ER? Or just check him throughout the evening? Advice much appreciated....

[BlueSapphire77]

3 hours in A=E it is for you then

[Fingerbobs]

Oh god really would you? I'm just deciding he's fine - now I feel awful. Really would you? The blood wasn't actually coming out of his nose - certainly not oozing or dripping or anything. Argh.

[BlueSapphire77]

Sorry hun not trying to upset you just wanted to keep it short..yes i would, better safe than sorry, i know they say if the kids are active, blah blah..

Um, phone nhs direct and ask?
Would hate to send you there for no reason but i'm sure a nosebleed not a good sign.. unless he may have bumped his nose too?

[BlueSapphire77]

And no need to feel awful hun x
Just to be on the safe side, you know, but phone NHS Direct they will advise you better...

[advocateofthedevil]

I wouldn't. Did he lose consciousness or throw up? If not, I was told to rouse them when I went to bed and then at some point in the night to be sure they were asleep and not unconscious.

[Fingerbobs]

Thanks Blue - he did bump the top of his nose. I'll ring NHS direct and see what they say

[clayre]

to be honest, if it was my ds i wouldnt take him if he's been fine, if i took my ds to a&e everytime he fell and burst his nose i would spend my whole life there, you know your ds best thou sometimes its best to go with your gut instinct.

[Flightattendant7]

It is vaguely possible he has bled from a brain injury, if you google it - unless he just hit his lower nose as well.

I am guessing he is not in mortal danger if he seems fine, but concussion is not always immediate.

Is it both nostrils? Often a nose injury is just one. Higher up is both. But might just be higher up nose/brow iyswim and not hurt in his head.

Poor you and poor him!
I'm afraid I'd have to force myself to take him just in case.

[Fingerbobs]

No, he didn't lose consciousness at all - and dp's just been in to check that he hasn't been sick in his sleep. It's now about an hour since he did it and he's asleep perfectly normally so I think I'm going to leave it and just keep checking him now and again.

[Flightattendant7]

Ok, I hope he is Ok.

Just keep checking in the night and see how he is tomorrow. I don't think I could leave it without a Dr seeing him tbh.

[drivinmecrazy]

My DD2 (3yo) banged her head and split the inside of her lip a month ago, she seemed fine for a while, but then threw up and became very drowsy so took her to A&E, she threw up twice more while waiting. had to stay in all day so they could monitor her. when she finally saw consultant at 4 pm he said she was fine. He told me they would only want to take a scan if she had been sick MORE than three times.
So i think he will be fine.
I remember with DD1 keeping on waking her hourly through the night to check her, all the poor baby wanted to do was sleep. But now the advise is to let them sleep if they want to, just check on him regularly. I have learnt through a knife in the eye, chemical oven cleaner on the back, raisins wedged up her nose, falling on a toothbrush and gashing her cheeck that little ones really are quite robust. BTW, that's just the 3 yo, older daughter never had any big accidents. Quite emarrassing when they pull out her file in A&E now

[Fingerbobs]

OMFG drivin poor you! Thank you v. much but I'm sorry you'd had to go through so much to get the experience to pass on....

[SpacePuppy]

When you check on him, you do not need to wake him, touch him gently until he stirs, that is good enough. Also check the bump in the morning, see that it is not squishy, that could indicate something sinister. My ds has fallen into a sharp cornered coffee table hard enough for it to leave an imprint and all he had was a bruise!

They are robust and you being the only one that witnessed it will know the severity of the injury your instincts will also tell you immediately that he is not well. For example myself, if I wake in the night and can hear ds whimpering slightly in his sleep I immediately know he has a fever (he has made this sound since he had his first cold), your brain is set to pick up on these things. So yes, if you are in doubt then call NHS Direct. They have a list of questions they ask to eliminate any serious injury and you'll probably find he is alright.

[LucyEllensmummy]

Phone NHS direct, you'll worry if you don't. As space puppy said, they have a list of questions to go through and will probably put your mind at rest.