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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to ask what you would do?

12 replies

ForBluntTaupeGuide · 16/03/2025 21:58

DS suddenly became very mottled and not himself, he felt cold to touch and whilst waiting for 111 to answer he suddenly started to turn blue, I called 999 and they sent out paramedics. my DS was in his ballpit and although he was awake and responsive he didn’t seem 100% alert. paramedics did their tests etc and decided to blue light him. thankfully everything seems okay but I was told a referral to social services has been sent out due to my DS being in a dog bed??? whilst the paramedics arrived. we do not own a dog let alone a dog bed. I understand referrals are made as a duty of care but a simple “ is this a dog bed DS is laying in “ would have stopped this, this ball pit did also have its balls. the ward doctors and nurses told me they have 0 concerns and not to panic but I’m just really upset. I feel as a mother I’m always doubting if I’m doing enough and i can’t help but feel really sad,frustrated,confused. I’m also sleep deprived which doesn’t help. I’m basically wondering if anyone has had a referral before, what should I expect? I’m not worried if they want to come round but just want to know protocol etc. I’ve taken a screenshot of the website said ballpit is from, just to sort of say “ here you go “. My partner is trying to see the funny side of it but I just can’t find it funny yet, probably never will.

OP posts:
FuckssakeMulder · 17/03/2025 02:07

It’s a bit odd to leave a child that’s turning blue, in a ball pit.

Exasperated24 · 17/03/2025 04:08

FuckssakeMulder · 17/03/2025 02:07

It’s a bit odd to leave a child that’s turning blue, in a ball pit.

This.

why didn’t you take him out of his ball pit??

BoomBoom70 · 17/03/2025 04:13

Ball pit…. Pit bull? Maybe here’s the confusion? Hope he’s ok.

FacingTheWall · 17/03/2025 04:21

Well he clearly wasn’t in a dog bed, so you have nothing to worry about from that point of view, but I can’t imagine why you would leave him lying there when he looked so unwell. Surely your first instinct would be to pick him up?

FarmGirl78 · 17/03/2025 04:51

Could have been a transcription error from the paramedic notes. Ball pit maybe looked like dogbed in bad handwriting somehow.

The hospital have said they have no concerns so I wouldn't worry. Could the initial referal have been made because you'd left a child who wasn't alert, and was turning blue in a ball pit? That itself worried me reading it. I understand you're upset and feeling stressed so maybe you explained it to us wrongly?

RogersOrganismicProcess · 17/03/2025 04:59

He wasn’t in a dog bed so you are fine, but I would also find it odd to find a very sick child in a ball pool and not with the parents being comforted (unless they had sensory issues with touch).

Overthebow · 17/03/2025 05:11

A child turning blue and wasn’t alert was in a ball pit? Why didn’t you get him out?

Tilda86 · 17/03/2025 05:21

I agree with others on the thread. It's probably to do with him still being in the ball pit when they arrived. How old is he?

oakl79 · 17/03/2025 05:56

Why was your child still in the ball pit if so unwell? I don't understand. Surely you'd get him out?

Chuchoter · 17/03/2025 10:12

I can't understand why your child wasn't in your arms when the paramedics arrived or at least on the sofa where they could examine him.

In a ball pit surrounded by the balls could have hampered their involvement not to mention a ball being a trip hazard.

Also why are you worrying about the social services more than what was actually wrong with your child seeing as they couldn't find anything?

Children don't fall unwell like that for no reason and it could happen again.

ForBluntTaupeGuide · 17/03/2025 10:20

it’s not a plastic ball pit it’s one of the suede material ones, he was wrapped in his duvet due to being blue and freezing cold. jumping to the conclusion that I care more about social services then my own son from a quick post is insane! you have no idea how hard I advocate and continuously push for help to figure out what’s causing these heath issues.
For everyone asking why he was in the ballpit, it’s sort of a soft bed like material, he usually falls asleep in it and it’s a comfort to him. we have cold wood flooring and it didn’t gross my mind to lay my freezing cold child on them. he wasn’t in my arms due to them needing him layed down, also I had to run about getting together a bad with nappies, wipes etc. I also have a toddler who was in distress during the whole thing. my sons 13 months if that helps.

OP posts:
AppleBlossomMay · 17/03/2025 11:25

ForBluntTaupeGuide · 17/03/2025 10:20

it’s not a plastic ball pit it’s one of the suede material ones, he was wrapped in his duvet due to being blue and freezing cold. jumping to the conclusion that I care more about social services then my own son from a quick post is insane! you have no idea how hard I advocate and continuously push for help to figure out what’s causing these heath issues.
For everyone asking why he was in the ballpit, it’s sort of a soft bed like material, he usually falls asleep in it and it’s a comfort to him. we have cold wood flooring and it didn’t gross my mind to lay my freezing cold child on them. he wasn’t in my arms due to them needing him layed down, also I had to run about getting together a bad with nappies, wipes etc. I also have a toddler who was in distress during the whole thing. my sons 13 months if that helps.

I was struggling to imagine what you're describing so I googled and came across soft, suede ball pits for babies, that are filled with soft foam balls. Is that what you have?

I'm guessing the referral to social services has something to do with the fact that he was still lying in the ball pit when the paramedics arrived. It does seem odd that he was left in this. I would want to have my child in my arms, if my child was the way you described, and then leave them down on a bed or sofa for the paramedics to examine.

It's possible that regularly lying in this ball pit / falling asleep in it impedes his breathing in some way, as it likely doesn't offer enough support to his neck etc. He could also be inhaling chemicals from the foam balls. To me, this is not a safe or suitable place for a young child/baby to fall asleep or spend a lengthy amount of time in.

I'm glad he's ok now.

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