Dropped my baby

[namechanger12345678]

I dropped my beautiful baby today. How it happened would probably be outing as I've told so many people in my panic. She cried for a few minutes then had a feed and then started smiling and happily squealing and playing normally (she's just started sort of crawling which she immediately got on with!) I was absolutely besides myself and still feel sick

She had (still has) a red mark on the side of her forehead so I took her to A&E to be safe. She had a great time there smiling at everyone and Dr checked us over and said we could go but just follow usual guidance for head injuries

I feel absolutely awful, we were just about to go upstairs for her nap and she was so happy and this happened. The dr was lovely but explained they have to make a safeguarding referral because she's under 1 and had a head injury,

Does anyone know what happens now? The nurse also mentioned sharing of information with health visitor. I'm irrationally worried although I know they won't take my baby away over an accident. She's seen various health professionals lately for a condition she was born with so it'll be clear she's never had any bruises or anything before.

I'm still worried about her too even though she seems absolutely fine!

Welcome to the club! Most of us have done it at some point!

You poor thing!! Everyone has a story like this, welcome to the club likely the health visitor will call and ask what happened. But nothing else. Try not to worry!

Don't worry OP, we've all done it. Poor DC1 rolled off a table at 7 months and lived to tell the tale! Unmumsnetty hugs, it's a shock though isn't it?

It's a parenting right of passage unfortunately. I let dd roll off the bed, god knows what I was thinking, I literally turned my back to grab a nappy. But I felt awful, not helped by DH kind of having a go about it. She did it to him the next day she was fine both times! She rolled off the sofa with DH, he was sat next to her. Luckily she landed in a half full washing basket.

We have all done it. You will get a phone call from your HV just to check in and that will be that, really nothing to worry about.

OP we've all been there. One of mine rolled down a long flight of wooden stairs, and I managed to turn round with a shopping trolley too fast and banged the other one's head on a display unit.

The reporting is all routine, nobody will be thinking you're a bad mum. Honestly, I know you won't believe this now, but when she's 20 you'll be having a giggle together about it.

My DDs are teens now but when DD1 was under 1 we had her in a kids swing in the playground and she somehow fell out. I too was beside myself but she was ok. I'm sure everything will be ok and the referrals are just procedural.

Oh you poor thing, it's the worst feeling in the world. I dropped DD on her face at 5 days. Only two inches into a changing mat, but I aged a year in the time it took her to yell.

This is where I tell my story yet again of DD crawling out of the window on to the extension roof. She's now 11, and right now watching YouTube videos.

Yep - dropped ds1 out of his Moses basket swinging it past the Christmas tree when he was about 2 weeks old... . Just the worst feeling in the world. 16 years later he survived to tell the tale!

Try not to feel too guilty- even though you will! It happens- hopefully not too many times..!

Oh OP it’s horrible isn’t it? I fell holding DD on the path and the sound of her head hitting the concrete still makes me feel sick almost 5 years later! I also dropped a full 9oz bottle (in a sleep deprived haze) on 6 month old DS2s face in his cot, I was horrified! (I’m not a shit mum I promise!)

It’s the first time, it’ll not be the last, and it’s totally understandable that you’re in bits. But go easy on yourself, accidents happen, and you did exactly the right thing.

Oh op don't worry you've done the right thing having her looked at. She sounds fine.
The most that will happen is that a HV or SW will come out and have a chat about safety. Really don't panic.

Hello OP, please please don’t worry. I was a HV for a long time and you’d be amazed how often this happens.

And....I am Mum to a strapping 15 yr old who rolled off the sofa not once but TWICE as a baby.

Accidents happen and she will be fine....it’s you that will suffer from guilt over something that happens to lots of people and babies. Forgive yourself right now....it was an accident. Nothing to feel guilty about.

Aww, poor thing OP, you must have had a shock too.

With the referral just work with whoever you see and make sure they understand it was an accident, that you know how things went wrong to lead you to drop your dd and that you are making steps to ensure it doesn't happen again. They basically want to check you didn't do it on purpose.

We have all had accidents with our children. Watch out for when your dd is on your shoulders for the first time - if you go through a doorway make sure to duck, but don't tip forwards as she can fall forwards, dip straight down! (Banged ds1s head doing this.

Later on, if you take her to Burger King, don't let her reach out for a chip and slide off her chair and land on her arm. Ds2 did just that and broke his arm in two places. He started pre-school with his arm in plaster.

Don't let your dd run into a chair at church and split her eyebrow open enough to need it glued together, just like ds3.

It happens to us all, accidents tend to be a part of life.

I dropped my phone on my daughter's head when she was about four hours old. I think I win worst mother 😀

Thank you all for your lovely replies. DD her usual self this evening and none the worse for the ordeal, just a bit tired after missing her proper nap.

@DeathlyMcDeathStarface thank you for the warnings - it feels like the world is such a hazard. Sorry these things happened to you but glad your DCs are just fine! I know rationally it happens to most people somehow or other but DD is only six months old!

I'm so worried about accidents, the stairs terrify me and when she was two days old I sent DH out in the evening to buy a fluffy rug because I was so scared her basket would somehow be knocked from the sofa when we were downstairs with her. I also worry sick about choking and her finding something I didn't know about and putting it in her mouth.

There were several babies and toddlers in A&E, I don't know why most were there but one parent told me their's had got into a cupboard and licked a cleaning product so I imagine they do see lots of accidents in A&E.

@Fairylightsandwine I'm so sorry this happened to you, it's horrible isn't it. I keep replaying it in my head. Do you mind if I asked how you dropped your DS and what the letter said? Sounds like it was about 3 weeks before it arrived? I keep reading about babies being taken from their parents but again, rationally, I know it doesn't just happen like that. We have some friends whose baby fell out of their cot at a similar age and went to A&E and I think their health visitor just called.

DD just woken for a feed and cuddle and I think her red mark is fading. I wish I'd just taken her straight to bed for her nap earlier instead of playing with her, I just can't believe it happened

My eldest got hold of a bottle of white spirit, luckily my dad and I saw him and he just got a bit on his lips.
Took him to A&E anyway, the HV called the next day, asked what happened and then regaled me with story of how her sister had managed to chug white spirit.

I kicked my 3 yr old DD in the head today (accident obviously)
Honestly don't worry and try not to feel guilty. It really does happen to everyone.

Yep, I don't think there is a parent who hasn't done this. The health visitor very casually mentioned it on her next routine visit and that was it. Please don't worry or feel guilty.