What do I do

[user194850]

Feel awful - ds was climbing on one of his toys but fell and hit his head on the corner of a nearby table. He instantly screamed and I scooped him up and wrapped an ice pack in an tea towel and tried to put it on.

He has a lump and what looks like a bruise already but calmed down really quickly after a cuddle and reassurance. It's just above his eyebrow slightly to the side. He now seems completely normal behaving as usual etc but I'm scared to put him to bed as it was quite a hefty bump and it's to his head with a lump! Help!!

My youngest is the clumsiest child I ever knew and I’ve spent countless evenings at a&e as a result of head injuries!

The advice I’ve always been given by a&e docs was that the only reason I need to bring him in was if he lost consciousness or vomited (if we’re talking head bump, obvs not if a cut). However, I still went to a&e if I was at all worried.

To add ... I’m no doctor, so can only tell you what I’d be looking for. Is he breathing ok, eyes ok? Any liquid coming out of nose or ears? Does he feel sick? Have a headache?

If it was my child then I might not go to A&E - at least not if it was my second child and I felt more confident. However that's just me and I'm not a doctor. I have had my children sleeping in my bed after a bumped head but obviously that's something you need to decide is right for you as there are issues with co-sleeping.

If a child had bumped their head and been sick or lost consciousness then A&E every time. Thankfully this didn't happen to mine but that was luck not judgement I suspect.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/minor-head-injury/

He's 21 months so not able to tell me about headaches etc. There was no loss of consciousness, he screamed straight away but calmed down really quickly - wasn't sick hasn't been sick, acting normally. I tried to put ice pack on it (wrapped in a tea towel) but he wouldn't really let me for too long. It just looks nasty!!!

Your call. And I don’t envy you. This sort of thing, especially a nasty bump, really shakes me, which is why I ended up in A&e so often 😬. But my son never had a serious head injury from a bump (except once when he split his head open and that did need glueing). The doctors always checked him over and sent us home. I’m pretty sure the advice these days isn’t to keep them awake at bedtime. My guess is it’s shook you up more than him? Having him in bed with you like a PP said might reassure you? I’ve certainly done that in the past too. Kid’s heads are pretty hardy, but no one else here has seen your son’s injury. X

Personally

If no bump but bruising I'd be off to A&E

As others have said
Vomiting
Headache
Bruising behind ears
Bleeding from ears or clear fluid
Loss of consciousness

Again off to A&E

If he seems fine and there's no alarming symptoms he will be fine. Kids do this all the time. Yes you should be aware of what others have said but if he's himself and seems happy enough then don't worry.

I am not qualified to answer but from what I know 24 hours observation. And a lump is a good sign. Hope he's ok

Thanks everyone. I put him to bed in the end and just checked him religiously! Also put the baby monitor on to listen out for him he hasn't had that for ages! He has a nasty bruise this morning but the lump has gone and he seems fine!

God they do like us to worry don't they!!!