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AIBU?

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Original poster

What to do - toddler fell head first off couch

38 replies

PandaAtTheZoo · 10/08/2019 20:59

Turned my back for a second and my 20 month old toddler fell over the arm of the couch head first onto a wooden floor. He cried alot but calmed down after a minute. He has a red mark at the top of his forhead. What should I do? Do I take him to a and e? It says to keep them awake for possible head injuries but it is his bedtime now. Really worried

OP posts:
comedycentral · 10/08/2019 21:02

What a scary experience for you. Don't panic. Have a read of the info on here www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/injuries/head-and-neck-injuries/minor-head-injury

Usually toddler head bumps don't need any more care than a cold compress and a cuddle. But if you are concerned give the NHS a call for advice.

Kinkybutkind · 10/08/2019 21:04

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

Recent advice is you don’t need to keep them awake. Hope the link helps, it’s awful when they hurt themselves - hope your DC makes a swift recovery. Flowers

Original poster
PandaAtTheZoo · 10/08/2019 21:07

He doesn't seem irratable, just tired because it's bed time. He wasn't unconscious and didn't vomit. No fluid from ears, cant tell about nose because he has a cold at the moment.

OP posts:
Original poster
PandaAtTheZoo · 10/08/2019 21:09

Thanks for replies and the links. Is it 111 I would call for advice. Dh doesn't think we should call and only do something if he vomits

OP posts:
Deemail · 10/08/2019 21:12

Keep a very close watch on him, don't put him to sleep alone tonight. I would get him checked though as the same thing happened to a colleagues child, they were fine for a few hours but at bed time time they grew concerned as the child was less alert than usual. Turned out there was a clot in the head.

TuckMyWin · 10/08/2019 21:14

111 will tell you to go to A&E. They have to with all head bumps in children. Once advised to do so, you will feel obliged to go. So only call A&E if you fancy taking your son their now! Honestly, if he's anything like my children, this will be the first of many many time. Today, my 4 year old trod on my 2 year old's head whilst 'dancing' in wellies, and tripped over and accidentally fell into his brother whilst wielding a wooden sword. For a time, at the age of 2, he sported a permanent egg on his head. Personally, I'd keep an eye on him and only take him if you see any worrying symptoms.

comedycentral · 10/08/2019 21:17

I agree with the advice to let baby sleep but with you if you have space in bed? My toddler has had two nasty quite bumps so far, we went to A&E with one and the other was treated at the docs surgery...so I feel your pain! If symptoms change or if you are worried about changes in behavior, contact someone that can help.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 10/08/2019 21:18

Personally i think if he isn't disorientated, confused, unusually sleepy or being sick I would think he is fine. 111 wont be able to diagnose anything or not over the phone, the only way to rule out anything is to get them seen by a doctor. Your call obviously but I would think a Saturday night will be busy in a and e or urgent care etc.

My daughter had concussion last year. Hit the side of her head falling off the baby's safety gate she was climbing (the irony). She immediately became unusually sleepy and was disinterested in everything, even the offer of tablet time. Then she was sick for a few hours.

I took my younger toddler in as she managed to climb out her high chair and not sure where she fell and wanted her checked out. The doctor looked at her babbling away and just said she was fine!

I'd say if you are concerned at all though still give 111 a call it wont hurt

pastabest · 10/08/2019 21:18

He will be fine.

You would know by now if he wasn't.

Part of being a toddler is falling off stuff head first unfortunately

Polkadotdelight · 10/08/2019 21:19

I think these sort of injuries are a rite of passage because however hard we try accidents happen. DS fell down the stairs just before his first birthday and we took him to A&E to he safe. We were lucky enough to see the Clinical Lead of A&E who wasn't concerned at all, of course he advised us of all the usual but was very much of the attitude that toddlers bounce!

Original poster
PandaAtTheZoo · 10/08/2019 21:21

I will put him to sleep in my bed tonight. Do I wake often to check on him and make sure he isn't unconscious?
Deemail that's really worrying, was there any other signs?

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FoxSake · 10/08/2019 21:22

If he wasn’t unconscious and isn’t vomiting and is rousable they’ll likely give you a head injury card with the same nhs info you were given in the link above and send you home. Follow the advice on nhs inform. Brain clots are not caused by bumps to the head

TuckMyWin · 10/08/2019 21:23

Protocol in our kids A&E seems to be to leave the head bumps in the waiting room for as long as possible- by the time you see a doctor they've effectively been 'monitored' for a time and, if there were anything wrong, it would by then be obvious. After the first time, my husband and I opted to carry out the 'monitoring' period at home.

Original poster
PandaAtTheZoo · 10/08/2019 21:26

Do I try to keep him awake or just sleep next to him making sure he doesn't vomit in the night and check him in the night to make sure he isn't unconscious by prodding him to monitor him?

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Deemail · 10/08/2019 21:29

They said the child was perfect after getting over the initial shock and for a couple of hours afterwards played away as would usually. It was when bedtime came they noticed unusual behaviour, groggy/wobbly I think.
They were very fortunate as it could have easily been attributed to tiredness.
The likelihood is all will be fine, my lot had bangs or falls when small without incident but I'd never assume anything and the advice always was from my Gp to watch closely for 48 hours.

zebrapig · 10/08/2019 21:33

I'd put him to bed with you and just check on him frequently through the night. DS (19mo) fell head first down half our stairs last week and after lots of cuddles he was fine. It never occurred to me to get him checked (second child, he bounces!).

danni0509 · 10/08/2019 21:34

He will be fine, honestly. I wouldn't say he needed a&e unless he is acting really out of character or being sick.

If it makes you feel any better, my ds is nearly 6 and has had shit loads of head injuries, I stopped counting when he was about 2 🙈 (He has autism and has no danger awareness what so ever and to add to that he is a complete and utter loon) which makes quite a combination!

Recently he pulled a massive heavy clock off my wall and it bounced off his head and smashed which he thought was funny Hmm

He once had to go to a&e twice in the same month with head injuries, one nasty gash that wouldn't stop bleeding and the other he nearly knocked himself out on the door frame running and falling and was acting disorientated and not himself ie sat still and making no noise for the first time in his life.

I'd just keep a closer eye on him, but I'm sure this is the start of many more to come.

Lemon27 · 10/08/2019 21:43

My toddler did the exact same thing not long ago. He puked immediately and I rang the health insurance nurse who told us only to bring him in if he got sick twice in an hour. Not long after he puked again so we went in with him, he was ok but very cranky as by then he was due his nap but I kept him awake. They checked him over said he was fine but to monitor him ourselves for 24 hours and come back if we noticed anything off.

If he seems fine and hasn’t been getting sick or acting off he’s most likely ok, just keep a close eye on him but if your gut tells you to get checked out bring him x

herculepoirot2 · 10/08/2019 22:03

I’d probably go to bed with him. I am sure he will be fine. I wouldn’t go to A&E without symptoms of something being wrong.

AGenericUsername · 10/08/2019 22:17

I would keep an eye on him and take him to A&E if his behaviour changed or vomits etc. As pp have said the NHS has some good advice on head injuries. Use your instincts...if you don't think he's quite right then just take him to A&E.

Original poster
PandaAtTheZoo · 10/08/2019 22:24

Thanks for the replies, it's such a shock when it happens. He is asleep now, ill sleep next to him. I have set my alarm to wake me every few hours to check on him in the night. Do I prod him and if he figgits/ moves he is okay?

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FurnitureAndBackgammon · 10/08/2019 22:35

Yes, prod him and if you can't rouse him then get him to a&e. I'm sure he'll be fine. My niece fell head first onto the concrete ground at that age, she was fine 🤭

crispysausagerolls · 10/08/2019 22:40

DS once fell over and hit his head and was sick afterwards. Naturally I rushed to a and e - 3 hours later a very bemused doctor was basically asking wtf I was doing there as it’s only concerning when they vomit 3 times after a head injury! Apparently for an adult once is worrying but for a child less than 3 is nothing. If he’s behaving normally and hasn’t been sick id assume all fine x

AlexaAmbidextra · 10/08/2019 22:43

Brain clots are not caused by bumps to the head

Wrong. Sub-dural haematomas are caused by blows to the head.

Minimamame · 10/08/2019 22:46

Ds2 fell off onto concrete when he was 2 and banged his head pretty hard. I rang the out of hours doctor and they said to watch for fluid from the ears and to check him hourly throughout the night. He didn’t vomit at all. I did all that and he did stir each time i roused him. The next day he was really out of sorts and I really regretted not bringing him to a&e. But he was absolutely fine after that. It took me a lot longer to recover!