Feel I have been stupid over safety

[Moop]

I have tried to be careful with DD who is now 1 and indeed used to berate DH for his more relaxed attitude.

Since DD has been moving around and can cruise furniture well I have for the best of reasons tried to give her every opportunity to stretch her legs and it has resulted in 2 nasty falls - not hurt but I shudder to even think about them and feel stupid for having let her cruise on those occasions. One was in the bathroom - so hard tiled floor and she banged her head and other was at the swimming pool on sunday and hard, tiled floor.

We don't have carpets in rented house so I am watching stuff anyway but could kick myself for not sticking to the wooden floor areas which are hard enough without exposing her to the bloomin tiled floors which are even harder!

[Simplysally]

Children will fall over - I nearly cried myself when dd cut her knee the first time and another time she ran into a sturdy oak table which was against a wall (so no 'give' in it). Had a lump the size of an egg on here head.

Please don't worry - a kiss and cuddle takes away most of the indignity of the fall.

[kif]

calculated risks educate them

[nailpolish]

you cant wrap them in cotton wool
they have to experience life - and life is not carpeted
dotn worry! they are tougher than yo u think

[Songbird]

You said she wasn't hurt - what's the problem?

[Songbird]

Sorry, when that appeared on the thread it sounded arsey - wasn't meant to! A genuine question, promise!

[Moop]

I know - but I worry about their head and it is such a knock and you just don't want it to happen - the one at the pool just keeps flashing into my mind and it's making me nervous and I need not to transmit that to her.

I just want to minimise the unnecessary stuff.

[MmeLindt]

It is completely normal for a 1 year old to fall and have bumps and bruises, however much it hurts us parents to see them.

My paediatrician said that at the check ups they are more worried when a 1 - 2 year old has no bruises as it is a sign that they are not active enough.

[Moop]

No she hasn't appeared to suffer any ill effects and I have watched her for several hours each time - I guess it's like a boxer taking blows to the head - you just don't like the damage it could be doing. I know the skull is soft at that age and the fontanelle hasn't fused but the sound is awful when their head hits the floor!

[Songbird]

Read up on concussion, and only get worried if you recognise the symptoms (or if there's a nasty cut obv). DD rolled off the bed onto a wooden floor when she was about 5 months, and she had the biggest broadest bump ever on her head. Took her to the doc the next day day as it was just getting bigger and bigger. He said take her to a&e just in case (an hour away!!). They just looked at her eyes, asked if she was 'normal', ie eating, drinking, seemed happy etc, which she was, then sent us home. I felt a bit daft, but better to be safe than sorry.

[coochicoo]

Oh my goodness, the amount of times I (needlessly) had ds at a&e because of bumps to his head! I feel very silly looking back. I got myself educated on the danger signs to look out for (did a St John's Ambulance course) which made me feel slightly better.

Ime You can cover just about every corner up and they'll always fall one the exposed one

[nailpolish]

you need to try and relax

[cornflakegirl]

You haven't been stupid - and the bumps will probably get worse as she gets bigger. DS (3) got a huge bump on his head recently from going down a hill too fast on his scooter. No permanent damage, and he's been much more sensible on the hill since then. You have to let them take some risks for themselves so they can learn to make good decisions.

[Smithagain]

"I just want to minimise the unnecessary stuff."

To be honest, I am pretty sure falling over on hard surfaces is necessary - it's part of how they learn to balance better! Falling over from standing up is unlikely to result in an actual head injury, even on a hard floor - they are designed to bounce otherwise no child would ever make it to age 5!