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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think you don't always have to take a toddler to A&E after a head bump?

54 replies

Theladypatience · 07/05/2021 17:45

DS was in the park today and toddled into a wobbly pony thing, bumped his forehead on it, lost his balance and fell over backwards. He fell onto a relatively hard ish textured floor and a bit of the floor of the moving roundabout and grazed the back of his head slightly (it's tiny and actually hard to find it when you're looking for it) but being a park it had a bit of bounce to it.

I nearly had a heart attack (I'm a worrier), but aside from a very short less than a minute cry (seemed more shocked than anything), he immediately cheered up when I gave him some melty puffs and chattered all the way home, eating his lunch.
Checked him over and no bumps, no bruises yet (I think the sound was worse that the actual bump), no dents, no sickness, no drowsiness, no vomiting. Seems completely normal.
I was going to ring 111 but checked NHS online first and he didn't fit any of the criteria for seeking medical assistance at all, and didn't fall from a height or at speed, so we have watched and waited and checked on him when he napped.

But now I'm wondering if I've been slapdash and I should have got him checked? As you can probably tell he's my PFB and I'm worrying that I've done the wrong thing.

My dad was with me and even though he didn't see the initial bump he saw him immediately afterwards and reassured me he seemed fine, as did DH.

But I just wondered if people would have done the same? I'm probably going to be flamed, but he seems really really 100% normal just the same amount grumpy about the teeth that are coming through as he was this morning.

OP posts:
TheGoogleMum · 07/05/2021 17:47

DD always seems to he bumping her head poor thing. It doesn't sound like a serious bump I think a&e would be ott

Original poster
Theladypatience · 07/05/2021 17:48

Thank you, it's the first time he's hurt himself while being out and about and I think it's scarred me more than him! He's currently singing to his cuddly dinosaur while trying to get away from DH who is trying to wrestle him into pjs.

OP posts:
WickedQueen · 07/05/2021 17:49

About ten thousand times.

I’ve been to a&e with a head bump once (when I first became the parent of the worlds most accident prone toddler) and the doctor was kind but like “look, she is happy and bouncing. I don’t need to examine her to tell you she’s fine. If she’s unhappy or sick later then come back if it puts your mind at rest but she’s fine”

Fieldings15 · 07/05/2021 17:49

I'd have done the same as you. Even nursery just monitor for minor head bumps, and they have to be more cautious about things.

dementedpixie · 07/05/2021 17:50

Neither of mine have been to A&E with that sort of accident.

Original poster
Theladypatience · 07/05/2021 17:50

The horse thing is really quite hard, and the floor of the roundabout is that silver bumpy metallic stuff but it had a bit of bounce, I suppose because it's in a kids' playground!

I was not prepared for that awful sicky feeling you get when you think they've hurt themselves. He was merrily chatting and I was shaky with a throbbing headache even though I didn't whack my head!

OP posts:
Original poster
Theladypatience · 07/05/2021 17:51

Thank you thank you thank you. I know nobody on mumsnet can diagnose but I've been panicking that I've been really slapdash and that if he started being sick or something and I had to take him in, they'd have me flagged for neglect!

Yes, I am a bit of an anxious personality Blush

OP posts:
Onceuponatime1818 · 07/05/2021 17:52

If he screamed straight away he wasn’t unconscious and he hasn’t been sick so I think he’ll be fine. I once read if you shine a torch in their eyes and the pupils go small it means they don’t have concussion!! I’ve done that a few times!

If he throws up I would take him to be checked

Original poster
Theladypatience · 07/05/2021 17:53

Thank you, he went up into a bright room when we got home and his pupils behaved normally. No sick, eaten plenty, been his normal self.

OP posts:
Original poster
Theladypatience · 07/05/2021 17:53

I was a little perturbed that he doesn't seem to have a bruise or a bump (yet) but nothing was listed as that being a concern on the NHS website.

I will try to relax and stick with the plan but keep a close eye on him still.

OP posts:
Embroideredstars · 07/05/2021 17:54

Keep an eye on him but I should think he'll be fine. Plenty of head bumps here and no A&E visits for them. If he is sick or different in himself seek a Dr advice.

ParisEncore · 07/05/2021 17:54

No, I wouldn't have taken him to A&E for that I don't think. But if it's going to put your mind at rest, then go if you like. Maybe minor injuries if you have one, instead of A&E though.

bunglebee · 07/05/2021 17:55

Christ, if I'd taken my little kamikaze 2nd to a&e every time he whacked his head or ran headfirst into something, we might as well have moved into the waiting room.

He sounds fine. Everything is fine. It's OK to use common sense. Kids are always bashing their heads on things.

flashylamp · 07/05/2021 17:55

I actually never took mine to A&E because of something that happened. I took them if they displayed any signs of needing to be seen. I always find it odd that people race to A&E when their baby has a fall or whatever. I always monitor and see if they actually have any symptoms

ParisEncore · 07/05/2021 17:56

The only times we have had to take ours to A&E so far have been when one out something up their nose and another ate something they shouldn't have.

I've also phoned 111 about head bumps before when they were teeny and they've never told me to take them to A&E.

mynameiscalypso · 07/05/2021 17:56

I have a toddler who is very prone to falling into things (including at home and at nursery). I've never felt the need to get him checked out - he's currently sporting two bumps/grazes on his forehead and a slightly black eye from various injuries over the last couple of weeks. None of them did anything than give him a shock at the time!

Original poster
Theladypatience · 07/05/2021 17:57

There's nothing about his behaviour that's worrying me, he's grumpy and whiny but he was before we went out - it's why I took him to the park!

He's been a little bit tearful this afternoon on and off but didn't nap for as long as usual, and is going through a cry-whenever-you-see-mummy-or-if-she-leaves-the-room phase at the moment so this isn't unusual in itself.

I was more worried that I'd made the wrong call IYSWIM as there's nothing in his demeanour or behaviour that's worrying.

OP posts:
Original poster
Theladypatience · 07/05/2021 17:58

Thank you all. I think it's because he managed to bash the back and the front of his head in one milisecond that I just had the wobble that I have been too laid back (which is clearly a lie, because I am far from laid back but you know what I mean).

That's what I figured with bumps and things, if he hadn't cried or been sick or weirdly sleepy I would have called 111 or taken him in straight away

OP posts:
ALevelhelp · 07/05/2021 17:59

I wouldn't be too worried, he cried which is a good sign. Keep an eye on him and any concern get him checked out, no one will mind checking him over!

Original poster
Theladypatience · 07/05/2021 18:01

Thanks. It probably sounds odd, but with lockdown and whatnot we've not been out as much and he's not really had many scrapes and bumps so I just suddenly doubted myself.

OP posts:
Thesearmsofmine · 07/05/2021 18:01

I would go to A&E if it was a fall from a height(relative to their size), a fall onto something very solid(marble floor for example) or they didn’t seem right afterwards.

One of my dc fell from a slide at the park when he was 2, it was about 6ft high and onto tarmac and he didn’t cry, just went very quiet and of course we went straight to A&E. Probably the most sickening moment of my life. He was absolutely fine and once in the hospital he was playing with the toys and we were just given a leaflet for head bumps after a 2 minute examination.

ParisEncore · 07/05/2021 18:02

There's something I was told by 111 nurse to do after head bumps, which is to check on them when they go to sleep by nudging them to see if they stir in their sleep. I used to do it through the night and still do actually when they bump their head at school two days in a row. It's probably unecessary, but it made me feel a bit better if I did something proactive!

Original poster
Theladypatience · 07/05/2021 18:04

Thank you, that's useful @parisencore I'll do that tonight. He stirred a lot himself in his nap and woke up and tried to get back to sleep before coming downstairs so I didn't poke him about too much.

The fall was just from his own height as he bounced off the pony and lost his backwards and fell backwards. The floor was solid-ish but not like concrete and I think the only reason he grazed is because it has little raised bit on the roundabout for grip, and he just landed on a bit of that. Definitely not like a marble floor.

OP posts:
NeedCoffeeToSurvive · 07/05/2021 18:05

If I took mine to A&E every time he bumped his head we'd practically live there, especially since he decided it's hilarious to run full speed into the living room door on a daily basis. We just use common sense, if he's at all drowsy, bleeding, has a clear bump or laceration to the skin, change in pupils, or vomits we take him straight to get medical attention. If he bumps himself close to bedtime we keep him awake for a couple of hours longer and I'll go into his room a couple of times during the night to check he can be easily roused.

GintyMcGinty · 07/05/2021 18:07

Unless there was loss of consciousness I wouldn't seek medical attention at all.

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