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Original poster

How often does your toddler fall over

23 replies

Siablue · 21/08/2019 07:33

My little boy is 15 months old now and has been able to walk unaided for about 6 weeks now. However in that time he has fallen over a lot. He has had quite a few bumps on the head, which is really worrying.
My husband says that he is getting injured so often because I don’t look after him properly and I shouldn’t allow him to walk by himself. He thinks I should hold onto him all the time when he is walking about and take him out to practice walking everyday on grass so it is soft if he is falling over. I do try to do this but he gets very frustrated when I try to stop him walking.

I have just come back from my sister’s and DS has a bruise on his head. He fell over while walking. DH was so angry with me for letting him fall and said I should have taken him to hospital.

How do you help your toddler walk without injuring themselves?

OP posts:

meepmoop · 21/08/2019 07:40

I just let DS get on with it to be honest.
They'll have bumps and bruises.

He's 2 now and still falls over when he goes too fast or isn't paying attention

MustardScreams · 21/08/2019 07:44

They do get better at walking.

When they’re newly walking and still wobbly you do need to keep a closer eye on them. I used to follow dd round the room behind her so I could catch her if she fell. Also move sharp corners out of the way, or put foam edgers on them to stop bad head bumps.

But yes when little you do need to keep a close eye on them as they’re very gung-ho and have very little safety awareness. That’s what you’re for!

Original poster

Siablue · 21/08/2019 07:58

MustardScreams I do follow him around. I just didn’t catch him in time. I try to hol his hand but he doesn’t like it. We have the corner things and I have blocked off the fireplace.

I just feel really bad. He has had a few accidents at nursery so not just with me.

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TheBabyAteMyBrain · 21/08/2019 08:03

Your dh needs to back off. Toddlers wobble, they fall, they learn.

You can't spend your day shadowing them or holding onto them to stop them from falling. That's ridiculous.

starfishcoffee · 21/08/2019 08:06

It sounds like your husband is being really OTT. My DS is the same age as yours. He's been walking properly for a couple of months now, but is constantly bashing into things and tripping over.

I hate it when he hurts himself but honestly, he's a toddler and its what they do. It's normal.

gamerwidow · 21/08/2019 08:06

Toddlers learn to walk by falling over and getting back up again. As long as you’ve got hard corners covered on tables and you’re keeping an eye on them to make sure they’re not going to topple down stairs or fall into a fire or similar that’s ok. They’re not going to learn how to balance with you holding on to them all the time.

OrangeSwoosh · 21/08/2019 08:07

Get some reins, especially for out and about. Then if he trips you can break his fall somewhat. At home, foam play matting for the floor and pad out any corners and edges. I'm attacking the TV unit and chair legs with bubble wrap and sellotape at nap time today

Brittany2019 · 21/08/2019 08:08

Dd fell over all the time when she was younger. She’s getting better now she’s 3.5, but is still a klutz. Takes after her mother, unfortunately.

I think you just have to let them get on with it, really. They’ll learn, eventually.

IWouldPreferNotTo · 21/08/2019 08:15

From watching my nephew at the weekend who's about 13 months old I'd say the rate of falling over was about once for every 3 metres travelled and noticeably increased as he got tired.

However, he fell over; looked up; grinned at you and got back on his feet to wobble off on his own little mission. Over the weekend there were a few times he went down a bit harder and grizzled a little but that's just part of learning.

yellowbeard · 21/08/2019 08:51

Gawd my DH was like this, even when it was the two of us with DS it would be my fault DS fell over. I think it's guilt blaming. He'd tell me off, not pick up DS.
Anyway it's one of those things my DS fell over a lot, and still does at 3, but we walk a lot so it's life.

uppershopping · 21/08/2019 08:54

Your husband would probably change his mind if it were he doing the holding of a toddler's hand that didn't want to be held.

goose1964 · 21/08/2019 09:06

My grandson is 2 1/2 and still falls over, usually because he's tired but also because his brain and feet have a body in the way and don't always talk to each other.

It's just one of those things that toddlers do. If you mollycoddle him he will never learn.

Emily312 · 21/08/2019 11:33

My son is 15months and has been walking since 12months . He's only just started paying attention to what's under his feet and will step over things but he still falls over when going faster etc!
It's just what happens and I'm sure it gets better.
I do have reigns for him but he still wants to go his own way and will most definitely not hold my hand!
The only time I get upset with my other half / myself is when I can see something is dangerous (him standing up on the sofa and running ) and I don't get to him in time and he falls off.

PuffHuffle5 · 21/08/2019 11:42

My DS is the same age and has just started waking too - I haven’t kept count of how often he falls but I would estimate it at around 10 million times a day 🤷‍♀️ obviously be cautious in terms of head injuries, but really it’s just part of learning to walk - they’re bones are much less brittle than ours and proportionately they haven’t got far to fall onto the ground - serious injury from toddling about isn’t that likely.

Original poster

Siablue · 21/08/2019 12:27

yellowbeard my husband does the same. Even if he is there too it is still my fault.

I do feel better reading some of the responses. I felt terrible. At least I am not the only one.

OP posts:

strawbmilk · 21/08/2019 13:02

When my LO started to walk she fell over loads and more so when I was trying to help her so I let her get on with it. Falls over still now at 21m especially when tired and loses concentration. He'll get there xx

Bodicea · 21/08/2019 14:23

I don’t have a photo with my first born without and cut or bruise to the head for approx a year after he started walking. He was very gung ho.
My second born was more cautious and rarely hurt herself.
I wouldn’t be concerned.

KindergartenKop · 21/08/2019 16:43

Has he had sole charge of DS recently? Let him look after him for the day. What's the bet he'll fall over at some point!

SinkGirl · 21/08/2019 16:58

For the first six months DT1 was walking, he was like a drunk sailor on a rough sea. Fell down about 40 times a day.

When was the last time your perfect parent DH took care of your DS by himself? He needs to understand what it’s like. Just do what you can to make the house safe

ClemDanFango · 21/08/2019 17:05

Your husband is a bullying prick. How he could think so badly of the mother of his child is disgusting.
I’d be livid if my DH accused me of not looking after them properly! Toddlers fall, it’s par for the course. Your H is being an utter arse.

BertieBotts · 21/08/2019 17:25

It's totally normal! You're not supposed to stop them from taking over unless it looks like it will be a particularly bad fall.

Is your husband quite controlling? I can't imagine why he is getting so angry at you over things you can't be expected to control

BertieBotts · 21/08/2019 17:25

Falling over :o they do take over as well though tbf.

yellowbeard · 21/08/2019 18:36

@Siablue I just ignore him. I'm with DS most of the time, so of course he injures himself on my watch more. But to me it's old fashioned sexism thinking the mother should do everything for the child. My DH's not that bad when it comes to non child related stuff he's cooking dinner now for us all but he's certainly not a perfect father.

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