Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Son cut his lip, need medical help? (Pic)

28 replies

greensleeves101 · 31/12/2019 19:55

DS 6 slipped at the park and cut his lip about 3pm

It was bleeding a lot at the time and is swollen now. He's eating ok and drinking ok and is happy... he thinks he looks like Halloween costume!

But I'm worried as it's still slightly bleeding as you can see in the pic. About to put him to bed but should I be worried about this or doing something more?

OP posts:
Original poster
greensleeves101 · 31/12/2019 19:56

Posted here for traffic

OP posts:
HappyHammy · 31/12/2019 19:58

That looks sore and swallowing blood might make him feel pretty sick. I would call 111 and see what they suggest.

Fouroutoffour · 31/12/2019 19:58

I'd say if he doesn't have a headache and his teeth aren't wobbly he's probably fine. My disclaimer being that I have no medical knowledge whatsoever and my own DS is only 15 months (but has had a split lip!). You could call 111 for advice if you're worried?

Tattooedmama · 31/12/2019 19:59

Bless him thats a nasty cut, but i think he should be okay and i dont think doctors can do anything about it on the lip.
My boy had similar and it healed well without needing looked at

iklboo · 31/12/2019 20:01

I split my bottom lip badly in a fall earlier this year and A&E (I had other injuries too) said they don't stitch unless it's clean through. They recommended salt bathing and gave me precautionary ABs. Hope he heals soon.

NannyR · 31/12/2019 20:04

I once looked after a toddler who almost bit right through his bottom lip, loads of blood and swelling. I took him to minor injuries and they said that they very rarely stitch kids lips as it's quite traumatic and they heal so quickly anyway. I was told to give him lots of ice lollies to help with the swelling.

Daisypearl · 31/12/2019 20:08

I would keep it clean, give calpol etc if needed but should be fine. Mouths are the fastest healing part of the body.

Plsnomorepeppapig · 31/12/2019 20:13

My 8 year old dd had an almost identical injury a few weeks ago - she slipped and landed on her face - cut the inside of her top lip badly - there was a big deep hole. I wanted to take her to minor injuries but it was night time so closed. I decided to let her sleep on it and see how it was the next morning - miraculously it was almost healed the next morning. Completely healed within days. Mouth injuries heal so quickly apparently.

CathyorClaire · 31/12/2019 20:16

DS fell flat on his face at school when he was 6. Basically landed on his top lip. It looked horrendous at the time but within a couple of days the swelling had gone down and you would barely have known he'd done it.

Worth calling 111 for advice as it's still bleeding and you're worried though. Has he broken the flap of skin between his lip and gum (frenulum) do you know? That bleeds quite a bit (all of mine have done it Hmm so could be that?

katielilly · 31/12/2019 20:19

Are you able to lift his lip up and take a photo of that area? His lip in your photo , doesn't look like it needs any intervention other than a good clean up but a front tooth looks as if it could be traumatised.

Flyingdaisy · 31/12/2019 20:20

Ice pops or lolly if you have them will bring the swelling down.

Original poster
greensleeves101 · 31/12/2019 20:24

Thanks so much for the reassurance. Hopefully it will heal quickly, The bit between his gum and lip is cut yes. But his teeth aren't wobbly or painful but I'll check again in the morning. He's just drifting off to sleep now and I'll stock up on ice lollies in the morning

OP posts:
TomorrowsPrincess · 31/12/2019 20:25

I second the ice lolly. Mouth injuries always tend to look like they bleed more because it won't dry out and it's mixed with saliva. I'd say as long as it's not gushing blood and he doesn't seem concussed he should be fine. If your worried, call 111 and I'm sure they will advise you professionally.

andyjusthangingaround · 31/12/2019 20:28

Poor boy!
Clean the wound with dettol or alike
Ice or ice lolly to bring down the swollen bit
Regular fluid intake through a straw

If you are worried call 111, however as other PP said, mouth wounds heal very quickly (if they kept clean)

andyjusthangingaround · 31/12/2019 20:31

@greensleeves101 please do clean the wound before he falls asleep (if you haven’t already)

iklboo · 31/12/2019 20:31

Dettol is toxic. Please don't use it in his mouth.

katielilly · 31/12/2019 20:32

Just clean it with warm water & cotton wool balls

CanIHaveADrink · 31/12/2019 20:34

Ds2 was very good at doing that sort of stuff when he was about 2~3yo. He scared many people like this (he has always managed to fall on his face in front of an audience - think in the middle of a cafe, just before boarding a plane etc....)

It look awful, lots of blood but there is little you can do about it. I would keep an eye on it so it doesn’t get infected but that’s it.

FWIW one thing that helped dc2 was a lollipop. Sucking on it reduced the swelling massively.
Oh and him not falling over again on his face helps too Hmm

Original poster
greensleeves101 · 31/12/2019 20:35

@andyjusthangingaround we did clean it out straight away with cooled boiled water and he's also had a bath this everting and cleaned it up some more.

Didn't use dettol or anything like that. I should have used salt but the first rinse out he was hysterical and in such distress we didn't want it to sting so we just used water. I was meant to clean with salty water but I totally forgot. Will rinse first thing and if he wakes ups in the night

OP posts:
CanIHaveADrink · 31/12/2019 20:36

And please DO NOT USE DETTOL (sorry for shouting...).
It’s toxic and really it doesn’t need to be disinfected as such. A bit of warm water is plenty (as advised by the paramedics the one time dc2 fell over just before boarding a plane....)

Original poster
greensleeves101 · 31/12/2019 20:38

@CanIHaveADrink oh no 🤦‍♀️

I feel so sorry for all your little ones too. It's reassuring to hear it might not take long to heal.

OP posts:
Tombliwho · 31/12/2019 20:39

I think you'll be surprised at how quickly that will heal. My little girl fell on her face when she was 3, similar looking injury plus she pushed her front two teeth up so they were wobbly. Dentist checked her teeth over (luckily they stayed put!) and her mouth healed very quickly.

Original poster
greensleeves101 · 31/12/2019 20:39

@CanIHaveADrink don't worry I won't use dettol and wouldn't consider it anyway

OP posts:
Original poster
greensleeves101 · 31/12/2019 20:40

@Tombliwho that was a good result!

I know a couple of kids who have fallen and lost teeth :/

OP posts:
Justaboy · 31/12/2019 20:41

The lips have a very good blood flow and usually heal very quickly so check with 111 if you want but somethimg to stem the swelling isnt a bad idea!.