DS fell down the stairs

[traceyturnblatt]

My lo (16 months ) fell down the stairs this morning, we were just about to go down and he sat down at the top and tumbled down ten of the wooden stairs.
I managed to stop him and he was screaming, his nose was bleeding. I raced to the docs who checked him over and declared him ok and to keep a close eye on him. I know all the things to look for in a head injury ( I'm a nurse) but I'm sitting here feeling like the worse mum in the world.
Literally think I could vomit, keep seeing it in my minds eye and thinking I should have grabbed him quicker.
What a crappy mum

[octoberfarm]

I'm sure the doctor's said this to you already but these things happen all the time, and the last thing you are is a bad Mum. Firstly, even though that must have been a horrible shock, he's okay, and you did what you could as soon as you realized what was happening. My friend's Dad accidentally dropped her on the head not once, but twice (two years apart) whilst joking about and flinging her in the air, and she's now an adult who doesn't remotely consider her Dad a bad Dad. Clumsy, yes, but not bad Accidents happen all the time. Just cuddle him lots and have a lazy day together, but please don't beat yourself up, these things happen so easily

[Seeline]

They all fall down the stairs at least once.
It's a shock when it happens, but it sounds as though your LO is fine.
We had stair gates top and bottom of the stairs for quite a while, but both DC still managed to fall down.

[MrsA2015]

You're not a bad mum, similar thing happened to my DD 11mo (falling off sofa) and fainting and I felt terrible for ages about it. Once the shocks worn off you'll be ok

[lazymongoose]

My toddler once fell from the top to the bottom of the stairs, picked himself up and walked away without a scratch. I however was emotionally scared. Kids are more durable that given credit for, your ds will be fine it happens. Don't beat yourself up about it

[doobyboobydo]

I'm sorry. You aren't crappy. The fact you are upset shows you aren't crappy.

I dropped my iPhone on to ds's head when he was a week old. Big bruise, bad bad Mum, lots of tears from us both for about a week for me.

[traceyturnblatt]

Thank you all- he's now sporting a couple of great eggs on his head and a red area around his eye. He doesn't even seem fazed about it all!
I, on the other hand, am despairing that I can't have a gin because I'm pregnant so lots of chocolate instead. He won't even remember it when he's older will he??
God my heart was in my mouth though!

[YorkieDorkie]

My 7 month DD fell off the bed because (D)H put here there the floor was laminate and I cannot unsee that sight of her tumbling before I could get to her. I'm still cross about it two months later!

[Caterina99]

My 16 month old fell down the stairs the other day. Fortunately I was right there and managed to catch him after 2 steps, but it was terrifying what could have happened! I am working on teaching him how to go down stairs safely but he definitely can't be trusted

[BertrandRussell]

I remember sitting in the doctor's waiting room when a distraught mother came rushing in with a baby that had fallen downstairs. One of the doctors came out to her, and I remember her calm voice saying "They're built to last, you know!"

I've often said that to myself........

[stclair]

My dd fell down our wooden stairs from the top to the bottom when she was 13 months old. She knocked her two bottom front teeth right forward (there was a lot of blood!) which had to be removed by a dentist. It still sends a shiver down my spine when I think about it 3 years later! But she definitely doesn't remember.

[intravenouscoffee]

My DD did this at the same age. I cried for about 3 hours, she cried for about a minute. It's a parenting right of passage.

And fwiw my friend works in the ED and says in her 10 years of experience she's never seen any child who has fallen down stairs with anything more serious than a handful of bruises.

He'll be fine, you're a great mum.

[PirateFairy45]

Oh hun :(. It's not your fault.

Kids bounce!

Bloody hell you managed to stop him! You must be quick!.

It's understandable though. My daughter was playing with me and my father and she fell head first onto the edge of a glass table, making a deep cut near her eye. Bleeding like crazy and had to be glued shut at A&E :(.

Felt guilty for ages and it kept replaying in my head. My dad convinced himself it was his fault and was so upset!.

Just hold your boy tight and look for the signs something is wrong. My bet is that it'll affect you more than it will him!.

[traceyturnblatt]

BertrandRussell I'll remember that phrase and definitely pass it on to other mums!

[traceyturnblatt]

PirateFairy45 looking back on it, I can believe how fast I ran down the stairs- I'm pretty sure I would have left Usain Bolt and Mo Farah in the dust!

LO has been OK since, had a wee vomit but checked with the docs who said that was ok and to keep an eye on him. He's been lovely and cuddly and keeps giving me kisses so I think I'm forgiven.

Still going to sleep in his room tonight to make sure he's ok though

[FTFOAFOSM]

Crikey, I think that you're certainly NOT a crappy mum - a crappy mum wouldn't be a) so worried, b) have taken him to the doctor's, so really don't beat yourself up about it!
Over the years, we've had several similar events - DD nearly ran into the road at 3 or 4 yo, DS2 fell down the stairs on NYE and knocked all his front teeth out, DS3 managed to find and eat a dead wasp, and we discovered that DS1 had eaten a watch battery when he went for a kidney x-ray, so you're doing very well in comparison!

[strawberrypenguin]

Horrible isn't it. My DS did this too, didn't have a mark on him and checked out fine by the doctors. Watching him tumble and being unable to catch him was awful. Don't be too hard on yourself. My ds is now 5 and I still remind him to careful on the stairs!

[user1471453601]

My Daughter fell out of her high chair because I had put it together all wrong. I was physically sick and can still see it in my minds eye.

She's 46 now, I still feel sick.

It's ok, you didn't cause this accident. Hugs

[traceyturnblatt]

Thank you all so much, I was feeling absolutely horrific today and you have all reassured me that these things can happen and not too worry.

As someone who is struggling her way through pregnancy and ongoing PND, it really makes me feel less alone.

I love MN.

[FourToTheFloor]

Dd1 did this around the same age, maybe a bit older. After I checked her over and I kept saying you OK you OK I burst into tears and she said to me are you OK 💔

She was then messing a few months ago and fell half way down at age 5. Another heart in mouth moment!

Hate our bloody stairs, they're really steep and as I found out also a few moths ago once you slip you don't stop until you get to the bottom. ..

[PirateFairy45]

How is he feeling? How are you feeling? Little less guilty I hope?

[TigerLily666]

Oh it's awful when something like this happens isn't it. I was wracked with guilt when DC fell down our main stairs and ended up with a massive bruise on his cheek/red mark that took weeks to go. Every time I looked at it I felt so rubbish.

[traceyturnblatt]

He is snoring (and pumping!) away like usual next to me. I'm feeling a lot more calm and less like I want to vomit so going to curl up next to him and hopefully catch some sleep.
Bit worried I'll have nightmares about it though!

[PirateFairy45]

I'm glad he's ok :)

[Scrumptiousbears]

Our 2 year old fell down the stairs in summer. She's happily bummed down them before but she dropped a toy this time and her natural instinct was to reach out for it. She bounced down them and got a carpet burn on her forehead poor little thing.

Things happen, don't punish yourself OP.

[StarryIllusion]

DD once turned round in her highchair and slipped through the back getting her head stuck. Could have broken her neck. All my fault as I did the strap up with the clip backwards and it came undone without my realising. I've never moved so fast, she didn't even cry. I bloody did

DS fell backwards off the bus in his buggy one time too. It must have been quite precariously balanced with shopping etc because when when I took DD out of the front seat (we had to fold it down) the whole thing just went backwards out the door with DS still in the rear seat and DP wasn't quite quick enough to grab it.