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Original poster

I dropped my baby on the floor

121 replies

samebutdifferent1 · 19/06/2023 21:45

Name changed, regular MN user.

Please somebody help me feel less guilty about this, I've beat myself up all day, I've cried on and off, I've cuddled her all day thinking I must of terrified her.

She's 4 weeks old and the past week been suffering with reflux, I've been getting 30 mins of sleep before she wakes up screaming again because of the pain. I had a drs appt for this morning and in between DH and I have been giving her the drops and massaging tummy, bicycle legs, keeping her upright for 30 mins after bottle, we've changed bottles, teats. Tried everything.

DH has been working a 2 hour drive away for the past couple of days meaning he leaves at 4:30am to get on site for 7am. I've done the last two nights in the living room with the Moses basket.

I am absolutely dead on my feet. I picked DD up from another bout of crying and pain from her Moses basket about 4am and sat on the sofa watching tv whilst she was on my shoulder and I was rubbing her back. DH came in at half 4 with a bottle prepared for her.

I gave her the bottle and the next thing I know, she was screaming on the floor and it was 7am. She must have rolled from my lap and I just have just passed out from tiredness.

Luckily our sofas are very low and we have soft carpet, I immediately picked her up and was so upset I called 111. They asked if she was awake and responsive, she was. They asked me to check her head or body for any obvious bruising or swelling/redness, there wasn't any. They asked me what position she was in and I told them she was on her back. They asked if she could follow her rattle toys with her eyes which she could and then they stayed on the phone whilst I gave her another bottle and she sucked away happily until the pain of reflux kicked in again. I told them I had a GP appt in a couple of hours with her and they said she sounds fine, it happens all the time and to mention it to GP.

GP gave prescription for baby gaviscon and I told her about the sofa incident, she checked her over, felt her head and stripped her off, checked her reflexes etc and said she's absolutely fine and it happens more often than we think.

I still can't stop feeling awful. DH has called site and told them he will be in at lunch tomorrow so that I can go to bed tonight and have a full night sleep. He's tried to reassure me and said it could have just as easily been him on the nights that he does (we share nights or do shifts depending on where he's working etc).

I keep looking at her and crying. Please tell me others have done this and all was okay. I keep thinking I should take her to hospital in case her skull is fractured or something 😢

OP posts:
BakedTattie · 19/06/2023 22:42

I’ve done that, she’s not a healthy non stop talking, amazing 10 year old who I’m best pals with.

but yea, she was a newborn, we left her on a bed to throw a nappy away and somehow she ended up on the floor. She had a huge bruise on her head but was absolutely fine.

I know how terrifying it is and guilty you’ll be feeling. But trust me, one day it’ll be a funny ‘8 dropped you on your head’ story. 💐

BakedTattie · 19/06/2023 22:43

Ha, good typo.

she’s NOW a healthy 10 year old

BakedTattie · 19/06/2023 22:44

And I didn’t leave her. I just turned to the side for a second to throw the nappy away. Before the MN mafia come at me

EvilElsa · 19/06/2023 22:46

Oh OP, please don't beat yourself up. She is absolutely fine. As other posters have said, we've all done it in some way, shape or form. My lovely friend fell over and landed on her DS breaking his leg. I remember DD rolling off the bed before and I also fell over when heavily pregnant and carrying 2 year old DD (luckily landed on my back with her on the front!) I've had a friend accidentally lock her newborn in the car with the keys and another's baby bounced themselves out of their bouncy chair like a catapult.
Those first few weeks can be horrifying. With DD I actually had hallucinations through lack of sleep. It does eventually get better. Lots of useful advice here on safe co-sleeping etc. Look after yourself, get sleep whenever you can and remember this is temporary ❤️

elenacampana · 19/06/2023 22:52

My baby must have been about 5 months old when she kicked on her changing mat, shot off it and ended up upside down between the cot and the changing table. My husband had turned around to get her a fresh vest and then it happened. He was beside himself, felt like the worst father in the world.

You’re completely exhausted and your baby is fine. Get as much sleep as you can tonight and let time put this one behind you.

No lasting effects on our little girl btw, she’s 19 months now and couldn’t be better.

LittleMousewithcloggson · 19/06/2023 22:55

Mine was on my lap on the sofa at some stage in the middle of the night I woke up to find her not moving on the floor. Thought I had killed her before realising she was just fast asleep. Must have rolled off. Had her checked out and no problems at all. Most of us have done it!
Sadly there are many occasions when parents have fallen asleep and smothered their babies so that’s the one thing you need to be most mindful of. Is there a relative who will have your baby overnight so you can get a full nights sleep ? Or even during the day? My youngest had terrible colic and was up most of the night so twice a week my mum used to take her out for the morning with her and I slept the whole time she was gone. Made a big difference

Littlelovebug · 19/06/2023 22:56

I dropped my kitten and rang my MIL sobbing. She came round to our house.

Then told me when my fiance was a baby she had him strapped into his pram at the top of the stairs and took her eyes off him to see to her new baby. He then rolled down every single stair. He was fine like just bruised and crying.

Every parent has done something similar. And I want to smack anyone who says it gets better. But you are doing brilliant.

Don't give yourself hard time. Rest and start again tomorrow.

StillMedusa · 19/06/2023 22:56

I slipped down our wooden spiral stairs (deadly) with my 6 week old in my arms.. smacking her head on the wooden slats as we fell...

She's a grown up, a doctor and unscathed :)

I also launched ds2 out of his buggy, face first onto concrete (so tired I hadn't strapped him in!).. he's also fine.

Postpartum exhaustion is hell. You have done nothing wrong, baby will be fine, and there will be many mroe guilt inducing moments ahead ((hugs!!)

Littlelovebug · 19/06/2023 22:57

And it does get better.....

;)))))

Littlelovebug · 19/06/2023 22:57

StillMedusa · 19/06/2023 22:56

I slipped down our wooden spiral stairs (deadly) with my 6 week old in my arms.. smacking her head on the wooden slats as we fell...

She's a grown up, a doctor and unscathed :)

I also launched ds2 out of his buggy, face first onto concrete (so tired I hadn't strapped him in!).. he's also fine.

Postpartum exhaustion is hell. You have done nothing wrong, baby will be fine, and there will be many mroe guilt inducing moments ahead ((hugs!!)

See told you!!

Joeylove88 · 19/06/2023 22:58

You are definitely not alone. My LO fell off the bed at 3 months old iv donked her quite a few times by misjudging things and she's been absolutely fine. They really are strong little things! Please don't beat yourself up anymore the fact that your so upset shows what a caring mum you are.

EscapeRoomToTheSun · 19/06/2023 23:00

Happens all the time. I dropped my phone on dd when she was 2 weeks old. Clonked her on the head. & ds bit her, about a week later. On the face! They're tough things babies.

Purplebunnie · 19/06/2023 23:07

Both mine rolled off the bed - both adults now.

Have you tried the Tommee Tippee bottles they along with the baby gaviscon helped my grandchild who had silent reflux https://www.superdrug.com/baby/baby-feeding/bottles-teats/tommee-tippee-advanced-anti-colic-baby-bottle-1x-260ml/p/819435?gclid=CjwKCAjw-b-kBhB-EiwA4fvKrOoE4TxQzrUHXpp17fw89Q85ZahwiBi0j5RC2-IFAox7jNhQSctC5xoCwhUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Jxtina86 · 19/06/2023 23:12

DD rolled off the bed twice - you'd have thought I'd learnt after the first, nope. I also managed to cut her finger whilst cutting her nails when she was a month old - I was all ready to head to A&E as it wouldn’t stop bleeding (it did eventually and DD is about to turn 4 and seems unaffected by all of this - the problem is now she gets herself injured falling over her own feet or not watching where she's going 🙄)

LittleRedYarny · 19/06/2023 23:13

Anyone who hasn’t accidentally dropped/ bumped/ kicked/ tripped/ hit/ lost etc at least one of their kids put their hands up
in the air. Oh look no hands are up…

My mother fell of a moped at 22 weeks pregnant with me, dropped me twice in a hour, had the sharp end of an axe she was using fly off and hit me and lost/left me many places…. This just one in a long line of things that happen. Remember tomorrow is a new day!

Wheredoistart78 · 19/06/2023 23:17

I had three under two and was exhausted. I fed th baby in bed, next think I wake up, babies legs are in the crook of my elbow but she is dangling. My mum let one of them roll of her one night when she was feeding them and the other one was pulled off the couch by her ankles by her brother two mins after we got home from hospital. They are 16, 16 and 15 now!

You're doing a great job op and great that you and your husband are working as a team x

Vgtasd · 19/06/2023 23:20

When my daughter was two weeks old I accidentally bashed her head against the car frame when getting her out I was distraught! She was absolutely fine and is at Uni now, turns 21 next month, please don't worry, big hugs xxx

bonfirebash · 19/06/2023 23:34

I used to take emergency calls. I don't think there was a day that went past without someone ringing for baby dropped/rolled/fallen off bed or hitting their head off a doorframe
It's almost a rite of passage Flowers

BlackeyedSusan · 19/06/2023 23:42

DD was a bugger for feeding. Probably due to the hypermobility and dyspraxic tendencies. I nearly fell out of the rocking chair so fed her in bed after that. She rolled off the bed once as well.

As a toddler she plotted escape from the high chair and climbed after the chocolate put high up and fell off the computer desk pull out ledge when I went to the loo. Never ever had tried to get out before. Bloody hell that was embarrassing at the hospital.

I escaped and played in the rain as a two year old when mum fell asleep.

Kids roll, crawl and escape. And eat wax crayon. And other unmentionables.

Watch the nappy cream as well. Both my children's parents managed to eat it. Wink

ImSoShiney · 19/06/2023 23:46

Baby will be fine. Side note you may want to look in to cows milk protein allergy

SuperSleepyBaby · 19/06/2023 23:47

Due to my carelessness, my son, age 2, pulled a pot of boiled water all over himself. I was so upset for so long - I was breaking down in tears at work. I felt so ashamed and like i was not cut out to be a parent. He was bandaged up like a mummy and spent several weeks getting painful bandage changes. He was lucky there was no long term damage. He is 12 now and has become a funny family story.

When my second son was a newborn and i was feeding him - i dropped my phone on his head. and once I forgot to strap him in to his car seat and when I braked he hit the back of my seat - Luckily just a small bit hurt.

and there were many other incidents….!

bonfirebash · 19/06/2023 23:50

Oh and I was anaphylactic allergic to egg. My mum forgot, and gave me chicken breaded.. with egg. Twice
BlushGrin

xogossipgirlxo · 19/06/2023 23:53

I don’t have baby yet, but my mum said to me it’s common. I fell off the bed, so did my sister. My friend bumped her baby’s head on the wall. Tiredness takes its toll. Your baby is fine, try to forgive yourself and move on. I hope your baby’s reflux will go away.

IHateLegDay · 19/06/2023 23:54

Lovely, it happens to more people than you think. Please try not to beat yourself up.
When mine were little, they crawled off our bed, rolled off the sofa. I dropped my youngest on a tiled floor when she was a few months.
At the time it was all traumatic and each time we took a trip to the doctor and all was fine.

They're 4 and 5 now and spend their lives jumping off things and hitting each other in the face with toys. I just leave them to it! 😂

Blarn · 19/06/2023 23:54

I dropped dd1 when she was about 4 weeks. I picked up the handles of her moses basket but actually only had one and she fell out of it onto the foor. She is eight and a half now and it still upsets me to think about it!

Perhaps you need the bed and your partner needs to sleep on the sofa. Not ideal but might be better for you to be flat in bed with your dd.