DS fell down stairs, what should I do?

[DontTouchTheMoustache]

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?

Hope he is ok. You too op

Get him checked out - the awkward questions from medical staff (and quite possibly Social Services) will be nothing compared to the guilt you will have if there is something wrong that you didn't notice. Chances are there is nothing wrong, children "bounce" quite well - certainly better than adults.

I don't think this even needs saying, but obviously you have learnt the lesson that you must always ensure the gate is locked and/or the child is appropriately restrained before leaving him in future.

Hope your DS is okay. DD3 tumbled all the way downstairs when she was about 15 months old - I was horrified. She was unharmed, just a bit shocked, nothing that a few medicinal chocolate buttons couldn't put right. Don't feel too bad - accidents happen to all kids.

Hi thanks for everyone's comments. I took him down and they said he seems OK but to keep an eye on him and bring him back if he starts vomiting or seems to be in pain when he puts weight on his arms or legs. He has been very clingy and crying but he had been like that this morning because he is so poorly so it's hard to tell if he has hurt himself. I'm going to keep a very close eye on him and take him back to a doctor if he gets any worse. I will be so careful from now on. Thankfully haven't put the bottom gate on yet as I needed an extension for it so he didn't collide with that

Glad allis ok

Don't pleased he's ok, it might not improve over the years mind you.

DD after attending fracture clinic this morning for broken fingers has now sprained her bloody knee. She's 12

Bloody hell unicorn I bet you are constantly worried SS are going to knock asking questions!!
I'm set for a very long night I think as the poor little things has had a horrible cough for a few days and it's really peaked tonight, he has been crying non stop and won't let me leave his side (not that I'd want to after his fall). I've resigned myself to a night on the beanbag in his room holding his hand. Sleep is overrated anywya

That cough going around is brutal it's why I'm up. I always think tixilix works but I don't think it's recommended these days.

Luckily she's extra sporty (3 different football teams) so there is plenty witnesses.

Hopefully he will improve sharpish and you can both get some rest. Bet your more shook up then he was bless you

Sorry unborn I called you unicorn before...I blame the tiredness!!! Yes it is brutal, his poor throat sounds red raw. I can tell it is hurting more when he cries but he just doesn't understand. It is heartbreaking when you can't help them. If I had some tixiliks I'd probably try, he is a big lad (98th percentile) so he is about the size of a two year old anyway!

I accidentally let my 18 month old eat a dog shit.

I win the "Crap Mother" award. Falling down stairs is a right of passage. If anyone says their kid hasn't done that on their watch they are a liar. Hope you have a good night and get some kip.

I knew what you meant.

If you think he's in pain your allowed to give both the children's paracetamol and ibrufen together (id double check the age on the bottle) I still do it if mine are really unsettled.

Stealth

I've just had that recently. Keep getting him to take sips of water - or snythungbhevwill take. It hurts to swallow, but it hurts more when it's dry. If you have radiators put a wet towel on then to get some humidity into the air. The whole Vicks on the feet thing, derided by some, does seem to help.

Can you not take him into your bed instead of sitting on the bean bag?

Jibberish on first line was meant to read 'or anything he'll take'

stealth I'm really sorry but I actually burst out laughing at that! Dreadful for your DC though
I've had him on the ibuprofen as well, I hadn't thought about the towel for moisture thing but I will try it now. I daren't put him in bed with me because he gets up and crawls around (and clearly has lemming tendencies) and after his fall early I don't want to take any chances with him falling off.

Well, to be fair on me, I thought it was a pinecone...nope, just a particularly large and firm dog jobbie. That he gnawed on.

I only had one, dried out baby wipe, to boot.

Checked his wee bum for worms for weeks.

See? You're nowhere near being a terrible mum. I win. And, that's not the worst I've done!

Be kind to yourself. Accidents happen. Were you doing your best? Course you were. Shit happens. A lot, in my house.

stealth stop, I have the same sore throat as DS and it hurts to laugh, you're killing me here 😂 you poor thing you must have been traumatised! Excellent story to tell his first girl/boyfriend when he is older though.
I feel much less like the worst mum in the world after the comments on this thread. It feels like from the moment they start to crawl they are on a one person mission to injure themselves and all we can do is try and stop.them

I love the word lemming to describe a fall prone child.

Stealth is right. Show me a prefect parent and il show you a liar.

DD (the one mentioned) grabbed the grill age 2, I've accidentally banged DD2 on a wall frame.

I can think of more.

Babies grow.

We know that. We're not idiots.

So, how I have clobbered all three of my kids' heads on the top of the door jam by carrying them on my shoulders in a hilarious horsey ride by forgetting that they will, one day, have grown to fill the space between my shoulders dn the top of the door frame?

Embarrassing.

Pushed DD so hard in the swing she swung upside down and fell off.

Brakes failed on the buggy on my friend's steep driveway. 1 year old sailed across rush hour traffic. Unscathed. Phew.

Broke DS2's fingers in the car door last year.

I could go on. You get the idea.

We're all doing our best, and all grateful for the near misses. These things are normal and you just have to rationalise, "shit happens, got away with it, phew".

But, I win Crap Mum, right?

Now, get off MN and get to sleep. x

Just after i turned 2 my mum put me down next to the sofa to go heat me up a bottle. I had toys, but instead i crawled across the room over to the fireplace, managed to squeeze my fingers through the fire guard, and stood there with my left hand fingers in the fire. My screaming made her come running in, snatch me away and run my hand under a tap and call my dad and an ambulance. The nerve endings in my fingertips were dead, and the only option was amputation. My dad had to hold me on his lap whilst the tips were trimmed off with surgical scissors whilst i screamed the place down. No anesthetic. They said the nerve damage went further down my fingers and i'd never have feeling in my tips, so i didn't need pain releif as i wouldn't feel a thing. But i have perfect feeling in them, i even turned out left handed, so tbh i think they were wrong and i screamed as i felt the amputation they were so sure i'd not feel a thing of.
Point is, any parent is only human, mistakes, misjudgements, and accidents happen, you're doing your best like everyone else, and there's nothing to feel guilty about.