When to worry about unexplained bruises?

Can indicate iron deficiency.

@Whatsername7was everything ok with your child? My 3 year old is the same

What was the outcome of this

Hope it goes okay and blood test shows up nothing x

Have you been to the gp yet OP?

I lost a close family member to leukaemia. Unexplained bruises scare me. However we also saw extreme fatigue and bleeding gums.
Keep an eye and do consider a GP visit if you are still concerned

Following as my own 4 year old DS is like this. He is like a walking safeguarding alert. I am worried to take him to the GP but perhaps I should?

I think his bruises are explainable - he certainly bruises his arms and legs, but also his tummy and back as he trips and lands on toys when playing (or is pushed by his brother - big sibling rivalry here).

His brother used to have this level of bruising too, but if my memory serves me correctly, by 4 his bruising had lessened. He is almost 7 now and just has the odd leg bruise.

Both DS's do have hypermobile joints and have both been seen by physio at different stages.

Op if you’re concerned I would go to the GP. I bruise extremely easily! I’m just that pale it shows more! DS has the same pasty skin as me! We both get horrendous corn beef skin too and always look mottled and bruised! You can also see all of our veins too, is she a pale child?

Do they disappear after a few days?

Could they be from poking/prodding? My DD bruises like a peach (as do I) and when her DB (twins) pokes her when they play it can leave similar fingerprint bruises if that makes sense? DS doesn’t do it hard and she doesn’t register it as painful, but the bruises do come up.

She also has lots of little ones on her legs where she has crawled, knelt in a certain position long enough.

She’s had them low down on her forearms and near her ankles/shins too, she currently looks like I’ve horribly manhandled her because of how I had to hold her for her recent MMR vaccination (done at 2 due to her and DS being prem babies so we wanted them bigger/heavier before administering the jab - agreed with by doctors of course) it wasn’t especially hard just firm, but it’s so hard to see. She and her brother spent 4 months in NICU at the beginning of their lives and DD had bronchiolitis and a collapsed lung, was on oxygen at home for a long time too, so I do understand your feelings of protectiveness.

Obviously if you are concerned I’d go to the GP, better than worrying at home and they have never minded me taking my twins in whenever I’ve had worries, unfounded usually but they don’t view me as a nuisance (that I know of anyway )

My toddler is also always covered in bruises. Under knees mainly . I am the same, my legs have been full of bruises since I was a child. I’m very clumsy

The bruising from leukaemia is not necessarily strange/specific.

Mine were all on my legs, and I just thought I must have been banging myself more than I remembered.

As I posted before, it is very unlikely to be leukaemia. But once bruising has increased to the point you’ve noticed enough to wonder what’s up, see a GP, and expect a straightforward blood test (full blood count)

This is both of mine's normal

Bruises in a normal toddler is normal. My 2 year old is under the CDC and covered both on his legs and forearm. When examined by the MDT they were quite clear they would be more concerned by an absence of bruising on the legs.

A 2 yesr old who has never had a bruise is definitely not on the normal side

I was covered in bruises when I was growing up. In those days no one said anything even if it was noticed. I also suffered severe nose bleeds, was extremely thin and pale and in chronic pain. If it was now, I'm sure my parents would have been accused of abuse. Eventually I was diagnosed with Lupus. I regularly have unexplained bruises. Please get your child checked by the doctor.

The bruising from leukaemia is quite specific. When my friend's son had it they were in weird places like his tummy and he'd get them if you poked him.

My ds is three and covered in bruises, it's normal.

Try not to worry. Toddlers are clumsy little beings. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.

If in doubt, talk to the GP but... my daughter has always been covered in bruises, to the point where I felt I had to explain to the swimming teacher about them! He laughed and said most kids are like that if they are active.

Make an appointment with your GP straight away.

As soon as you start to think there isn’t an adequate explanation, it’s time to get checked.

There are other causes, but the one you need to get ruled out ASAP is leukaemia.

Do not panic! Chances are it isn’t that.

It’s Leukaemia Awareness Month, and knowing the symptoms and when to go to your GP is important.