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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DS fell down stairs, what should I do?

52 replies

DontTouchTheMoustache · 09/01/2017 16:24

I'm absolutely distraught that I let this happen but DS (11 months) was playing in his room after waking up and having nappy change, I went to get calpol from my room as he has a cold and was due a dose. I had closed the safety gate on stairs but it must not have clicked fully into place. I'm so angry at myself for not closing it properly. He crawled out and I heard the twang of metal so went running out but wasn't fast enough and I could already hear him falling and couldn't stop him. He seemed to mostly slide down on his tummy. He started crying immediately and I picked him up to check him. I burst into tears which made himcry more but we both calmed down and he is playing as normal and seemsfine. I don't know if I should get him checked out and I'm shaking I think I'm in shock and not thinking clearly, should I take him?

OP posts:
cheekyfunkymonkey · 09/01/2017 16:25

At 11 months if it was a full flight of stairs I would take him to the walk in.

Soubriquet · 09/01/2017 16:26

He should be ok as he cried immediately and he's alert but if you have a MIU or a walk in nearby it won't hurt you to check it out.
Will give you peace of mind more than anything else

JennyOnAPlate · 09/01/2017 16:27

I would take him just to put your mind at rest Flowers

MollyHuaCha · 09/01/2017 16:28

I'd take him for a check up.

StarryIllusion · 09/01/2017 16:28

If he seems fine and didn't bang his head then I wouldn't worry op. Shit happens, especially with kids. We've all dropped them/had them fall off beds etc.

girlelephant · 09/01/2017 16:32

Bless you both as you'll have both gotten a fright and mistakes happen.

Get him checked our just incase of any injury and also for peace of mind. Hope he's ok

Spring2016 · 09/01/2017 16:32

I would take him in. He is probably fine, but best to let a doctor check him all over.

UnbornMortificado · 09/01/2017 16:34

Please don't beat yourself up accidents happen. At 11 months I'd suggest walk in, probably not necessary but I doubt you'll relax till he's checked.

DD2 did this at about 18 months she bounced in slow motion. I got her checked out and no damage. The GP was sympathetic and said it was quite comment.

If you don't have a local urgent care your usual doctors might check him over.

EuropeanSwallow · 09/01/2017 16:37

Get him checked out just to put your mind at rest, he'll probably be fine though if he's playing happily now. You're probably more shaken up than he is so don't beat yourself up about bursting into tears or the gate, accidents can happen no matter how careful you are. Ignore any --practically perfect in every way sanctimummies- parents who come along to tell you accidents do NOT just happen and that you are a terrible mother. You're not.

SquedgieBeckenheim · 09/01/2017 16:41

He's probably fine, but take him to get checked just to be sure and put your mind at rest.
DD did this at 18 months. Exactly the same - thought I'd closed the gate but it hadn't clicked all the way in. She was fine!

RougeSeas · 09/01/2017 16:43

I would go and get him checked out.

If it makes you feel any better my dd fell off the sofa, fell off the bed, got stuck under the sofa and i forgot her in the trolley at tesco... Seperate occasions

Blush
Original poster
DontTouchTheMoustache · 09/01/2017 16:43

Thank you everyone, for your advice and for your kind comments. I've checked on Google and there is a walk in centre at my local hospital so I'm going to run him down there to be on the safe side. Might have to get a taxi as I think I'm too skakey to drive safely (agree with the comment that I'm probably more shaken up than he is)

OP posts:
londonrach · 09/01/2017 16:47

Accidents happens. just take him to walk in to make sure. Then when back pour yourself a glass of wine tonight x

BlackIsTheNewBlack · 09/01/2017 16:49

I'm glad you're getting him checked op.
My ds fell down the stairs when he was 2 and I thought he was ok, stopped crying and seemed absolutely fine. It wasn't until the next morning that I realised he wasn't putting any weight on one of his arms/hand.
His wrist was fractured.
I felt so awful and had a good cry in the hospital.
I hope your ds is ok. Flowers

JackLottiesMum · 09/01/2017 16:50

Hi - my son fell down the stairs as a toddler - I was with him and his twin sister but he slipped. Unfort he did hit his head on the skirting board and I took him to the dr who was unconcerned as he had not vomited. They gave me a head injury brochure that said if a child vomits more than once after a head injury seek a doctor. They weren't so worried about vomiting only once as they could be shock the brochure said. But regardless - if you are worried you should seek reassurance from the dr. Hope he is ok.

oldbirdy · 09/01/2017 16:53

My DD fell down stairs at about 9 months, similar scenario. DH took her to be checked and she was admitted to the day ward for observation for a couple of hours. She was absolutely fine, because they are crawling they often kind of slide down. However best to get him checked. I will warn you, we had a health visitor visit afterwards to make sure we had a proper set up for a baby. This may happen to you. In our case, there was no further action.

UnbornMortificado · 09/01/2017 16:55

They do say you only know your baby can roll over when they fall off the bed/couch.

Hope he's ok Flowers

LunaLoveg00d · 09/01/2017 17:02

Would suggest minor injuries too - my eldest did the same thing at a similar age, still don't know how it happened as it was all so quick. He had a massive egg lump on his head, he was fine, but I'm glad I had him checked over.

Brankolium · 09/01/2017 17:15

Oh gosh, this happened to my DD and I had flashbacks for months after - she bounced down the stairs like a rag-doll, tumbling and spinning as she rebounded off each step. I rang 999 in a panic and was told that an ambulance is pretty standard for a full flight when under 1 year. That said, she was totally fine other than a few bruises (rather ironically caused by colliding with the stair gate at the bottom).

I'd definitely go in. In unlikely the event that you have to go in later for any injuries that don't show themselves straight away, they'd want to know why you didn't bring her in straight after it happened. Nobody will think you are overreacting by being there.

Hope all is ok Flowers

SILfoundmyusername · 09/01/2017 17:17

Sounds like a good plan to get him checked and they will only see you as a caring concerned mother

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 09/01/2017 17:45

DS fell down the stairs age 2. I was distraught. We took him for a check up and the dr said it's always better to get them seen, especially if there was a chance they might have bumped their head. He was totally fine, but I was glad to have him checked over.

insancerre · 09/01/2017 17:56

Dd did the same thing at 13 months
I took her straight to a and a
They x rayed her
She was fine, not a mark on her
Hope your Ds is ok

Frazzled2207 · 09/01/2017 17:56

Good plan to be on the safe side but if he's conscious and alert he is almost certainly fine.
I've also got a baby fell down the stairs story. My hv admitted she had one too.

insancerre · 09/01/2017 17:57

Oh and I removed the gate from the stairs and put it on his bedroom door

GlitteryFluff · 09/01/2017 17:58

Oh bless you both
I'm sure he's fine but I'd get him checked at the walk in.

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