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Original poster

Urgent advice - Baby fell onto tiled floor

159 replies

Temphelp · 04/09/2019 09:07

I don’t know if I’m supposed to ring 111 or my GP or anyone, I’ve just been calming my child down and I’m so scared she’s hurt herself but trying to think straight and thought maybe someone could just direct me here

My 1.5 year old fell onto a tiled floor from a kitchen countertop (I had my back turned for literally a few seconds in which she managed to climb a sofa and onto the kitchen top and slipped, it wasn’t too high but at least 3 feet I think) it is not our house so it’s not exactly baby safe

She fell on one arm and one side of her face, instantly cried, I picked her up and calmed her down and she’s stopped crying. I checked for bumps, bruises, everything but she looks okay but I don’t know what to do now

Should I go get her checked immediately in case she broke her arm or something (praying this is not the case but I’m just so scared and In shock right now I can’t forget the image of her just lying on the floor in front of me)

I feel like a terrible mother for not catching her in time and my heart is stuck in my throat. Please advise me on my next steps what should I do????

OP posts:
BeanBag7 · 04/09/2019 09:25

If you phone 111 they will tell you to go to A&E, they always do with potential head injuries with children.
Don't phone 999 - it's not an emergency is it.

NotExactlyHappyToHelp · 04/09/2019 09:25

This has happened to everybody at some point so please don’t beat yourself up about it. My DS faceplanted a tv table when he was about that age.

Best bet is nurse at the GP surgery or Minor Injuries clinic if there’s one close by.

If she’s calmed down and doesn’t appear to be in pain, is moving all her limbs properly and has no sign of concussion I wouldn’t bother with A&E.

LagunaBubbles · 04/09/2019 09:25

Get her to A and E. I can't understand why you would ask on MN rather than just going, I really don't, instant advice or not.

User344772734481882445 · 04/09/2019 09:26

OP, try not to worry or ablame yourself.

My two little ones got in plenty of scrapes when they were little. I always remember my best friend (who has no kids and is in fact a bit clueless!!! But her comments helped anyway!!) Said to me 'kid's bounce'. I always tell myself this whenever one of mine hurt themself and it reassured me a bit.

We've all been there. Perhaps not from work tops, but we've all seen our kids hurt themself and I'm sure at least a few mums or dads on here have experienced their child falling from that height.

Don't worry. I'm sure she's absolutely fine, but just to reassure yourself, a trip to a and e is probably a good idea as a precaution

FlowersFlowersFlowers

Waaaproblems · 04/09/2019 09:28

Don’t panic. 111. You’ll be asked to go to hospital though to check her over. Better safe than sorry. Good luck.

Don’t worry - accidents happen.

commanderdalgleish · 04/09/2019 09:28

Chances are she's absolutely fine, I also think 111 will tell you to go to A&E but if she seems ok in herself maybe close observation would be best for now rather than sitting in A&E for hours with potentially sick people. It's hard to tell without seeing the scenario if that makes sense!

IhaveALooBrush · 04/09/2019 09:28

A&E.
I had similar when dd was 2. I rang 111 and they sent an ambulance as standard, even when I said I could get a taxi.

GrannySquares · 04/09/2019 09:28

You're not a terrible Mum at all. My son fell off the arm of the sofa which was quite high and landed right on the side of his head! Was a very loud bang! All I did was turn my back to switch the light off (it was daylight and was left on). Definitely call 111 for advice! Please don't feel guilty about this.

AnyFucker · 04/09/2019 09:29

Calm down and get her checked at A+E

commanderdalgleish · 04/09/2019 09:31

@IhaveALooBrush obviously that's not in any way your fault but that's madness when old people are lying round with injuries for hours waiting for 🚑

TroysMammy · 04/09/2019 09:31

GP/ Receptionist would tell you A&E (Accident & Emergency) to get her checked out. MN is not the place to ask.

coconutpie · 04/09/2019 09:32

Baby needs to be seen by a doctor. Falling from a height and onto a hard surface means baby needs to be checked out.

Happyspud · 04/09/2019 09:33

Just what exactly does everyone think A&E are going to do other than a surface check over you could do yourself and give a leaflet on what to keep an eye on for a head injury? If the child started acting drowsy or vomiting or anything weird then I’d be at A&E like a shot but if child never lost consciousness, pupils are fine, and they are moving, eating and playing normally without excessive crying all you will be told to do is monitor.

CameraTime · 04/09/2019 09:33

If she's settled down and not crying, she's probably not broken her arm, but I'd be worried about a head injury - she's probably ok, but I'd take her to A&E just in case.

Take entertainment and snacks though!

NiceAnd · 04/09/2019 09:34

One of my kids the same thing and 111 were super helpful. They gave me advice as to what to look for and said I didn’t need to go to A & E based on what I told them.

FuriousVexation · 04/09/2019 09:35

111 follow a flow chart script. The call handlers aren't trained medical professionals. So if you're worried she is concussed then get to her A&E.

111 has been going in various guises for the last 20 years. I know a few people who have worked for them and it's ALL about the targets. Get calls done in under 5 minutes. Dissuade X people from going to the GP.

Save yourself the phone time and just look up her symptoms on the nhs website and follow the advice.

Literally the only thing 111 can do is get a doctor to phone you back and then they may call an ambulance or just advise you to see your GP.

One good thing they can do is get a Dr to phone you back and prescribe you emergency medication... but they won't do that if you're not already on repeat prescription, IME. They will send a small amount to a local pharmacist. I ended up driving to the 24hr pharmacy in our city when my H had excruciating knee pain, fighting my way through dealers and addicts to pick up his grand total of 4 tabs of fucking valium.

TL;DR - go to A&E.

TroysMammy · 04/09/2019 09:36

I despair. "Ask a Pharmacist for advice". "Ring 111 for advice". "Ring your GP for advice". I can bet all 3 will tell you A&E as they are the only people who have the facilities to x-ray, if anything, to put your mind at rest. Please use some common sense and take her to A&E.

Lulualla · 04/09/2019 09:36

All they do at A&E when a child has banged their head is check their pupils are normal, check for dizziness and ask about loss of consciousness, vomiting, strange behaviour and then they give you a leaflet for what to look out for. And then they send you home.

If the baby is fine and not snowing any signs of a head injury then they won’t do anything. You’ve checked her over, now you just keep an eye on her behaviour and look out for signs of a head injury.

HamsterHolder · 04/09/2019 09:37

Definitely not 111 as there's absolutely no assessment over the phone that will lead a clinician to tell you the child they can't see is absolutely fine and doesn't need to see anyone face to face.

Now it's a few hours after the fall and presumable they're not appearing very unwell/sick as you'd have called 999 if that were the case 'd say you have two options - take yourselves to a local childrens A&E to have a check up with a doctor. 1.5yrs is younger than minor injuries will typically be happy to see - this is essential if you feel they're avoiding using a limb, seem particularly sore/tender, or they seem unusually tired/lethargic or have vomited.

Option 2: They're now happily playing, using all 4 limbs and seem their normal selves to you and you feel completely happy that they're fine - just keep an eye on them for any worsening over the rest of the day and chalk it upto experience. This is essentially what would be factoring into the decision at hospital on whether to expose the child to radiation or not for an x-ray.

Trooperslaneagain · 04/09/2019 09:38

Ring 111 and TELL them you’re going to x a&e.

They’ll always be happy to see wee one.

It’s a bit of a right of passage op. Bet my house she’ll be fine but think of it this way - you need the reassurance. X

TinklyLittleLaugh · 04/09/2019 09:38

A and E, get her checked and would be much easier and quicker to be seen if she has further complications down the line.

AMidsummersNightsNightmare · 04/09/2019 09:38

Go to A&E but don’t beat yourself up about it, accidents happen

BendyLikeBeckham · 04/09/2019 09:40

I agree with PP. A head injury should be checked out just in case. A quick trip to A&E or the local minor injuries unit pronto. They absolutely won't think you are wasting their time if she is perfectly fine, and I hope she is.

@KUGA a pharmacy? ffs. What is a pharmacist going to do, sell you some calpol? Stop with your stupidly dangerous advice.

InsertFunnyUsername · 04/09/2019 09:42

I would probably go to minor injuries for reassurance. My DD has done similar the first time we went to MIU and they checked her over and told me what to look out for. The next time it happened I was a lot calmer.

Dont worry OP. Accidents happen. I'm sure my DDs main job is to test me on how quick I can stop her killing herself Hmm

category12 · 04/09/2019 09:43

Go to the Minor injuries unit, get her checked out.

Why would you faff around with phoning up about it?

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