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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU not taking him to A&E

43 replies

MummaHud · 19/08/2025 19:18

My little boy 18 months old, bashed the front of his head today and got a huge egg… he cried for about 2 minutes and then cracked on with his day, he’s eaten me out of house and home still, he’s giggling, laughing, completely his normal self.. it just looks horrible ( but it’s started to go down )

it’s been 5 hours and he’s been completely fine?

but my friend says it’s unreasonable I haven’t got him seen.

I was under the impression, as long as they’re ok, not sick, not drowsy, not inconsolable etc etc then it’s just a matter of monitoring?? I went by the NHS website…

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 19/08/2025 19:23

Nobody on here can advise without seeing it. Have you tried 111?

Maddy70 · 19/08/2025 19:23

He wil be fine. If he seems happy as usual then he is. Also eggs are good. It means the head is doing its protective job

Original poster
MummaHud · 19/08/2025 19:23

ToKittyornottoKitty · 19/08/2025 19:23

Nobody on here can advise without seeing it. Have you tried 111?

No I haven’t, but again.. he has acted like nothing ever happened, just his complete self so I’ve not been concerned

OP posts:
Bsmirched · 19/08/2025 19:26

How did he bash it? There's obviously a difference between face planting concrete and bumping heads with another child.

verycloakanddaggers · 19/08/2025 19:27

How did it happen?

Bearbookagainandagain · 19/08/2025 19:27

I would also go by the NHS recommendation. I would just keep an eye on him and call if any symptoms - which I'm sure you're doing already.

Glitterballofdreams · 19/08/2025 19:28

I’d say if it happened hours ago, and he’s been fine, there wouldn’t be much need of attending A&E. Has the bump gone down?

Original poster
MummaHud · 19/08/2025 19:29

Bsmirched · 19/08/2025 19:26

How did he bash it? There's obviously a difference between face planting concrete and bumping heads with another child.

He hit his head running in the garden, he fell against the umbrella post, which is close to concrete tbh.. but anything at impact is as bad as each other, head or concrete… I was always under the impression a head injury is more about symptoms

OP posts:
Gettingbysomehow · 19/08/2025 19:30

Please ring 111 for advise, I've seen the results of a slow bleed where a child has collapsed a couple of days later. I was a nurse for years. Better safe than sorry.

MiloMinderbinder925 · 19/08/2025 19:33

Take him to A&E, he may seem fine but there could be something else going on. Sometimes head injuries are slow to progress.

ConfusedSloth · 19/08/2025 19:35

I have a DS with dyspraxia and a DD who'll undoubtedly play international rugby. If I took them to A&E for every head-egg then I'd live there.

Nothing you've described would really concern me. Not drowsy, not sick, didn't cry for long, usual behaviour... Heads swell - sometimes worse bumps even swell less! I think you've made the right call but, if anything changes and you are worried, head on in (no pun intended).

BendingSpoons · 19/08/2025 19:35

Generally swelling that goes OUT is good because it's not gone in, towards the brain. I wouldn't go to A&E for this. In the absence of other symptoms, I doubt they would do much anyway.

thismumneedssun · 19/08/2025 19:42

I wouldn't go for that, they would likely just tell you to monitor for symptoms anyway. If he'd been sick, drowsy, unusually upset or quiet that would be different but you know your own child op, I'd probably just keep a close eye over the next couple of days.

Bsmirched · 19/08/2025 19:43

My son had an accident with his then childminder which resulted in a fractured skull that caused a huge bump. He was never sick or drowsy and was his usual smiley self throughout.

Fergie51 · 19/08/2025 19:47

At 18 months old I would definitely take your toddler to A&E. You will be seen quickly by the Paediatric team.

gamerchick · 19/08/2025 19:50

I wouldn't go to A&E going on what you're saying tbh OP. You know your own bairn. I'd monitor as you have been doing.

Overthebow · 19/08/2025 19:52

I’m torn because I know someone whose dd had a head bump which led to her rapidly deteriorating after being fine, and she almost died. She looked fine until she wasn’t. At that age I’d now always be more cautious now just in case.

Original poster
MummaHud · 19/08/2025 20:01

Bsmirched · 19/08/2025 19:43

My son had an accident with his then childminder which resulted in a fractured skull that caused a huge bump. He was never sick or drowsy and was his usual smiley self throughout.

Can I ask how you knew? I’m under the impression they wouldn’t even scan with a CAT scan with no other symptoms due to the radiation risk. The nhs website says they just observe for 4-6 hours to see if any symptoms occur and then send home for home observation for 24-48 hours and then clear?

we’ve been 6.5 hours, with no other symptoms? So what would a&e do? Put a child unnecessarily through radiation risk when his ‘egg’ is already going down?

OP posts:
Decembersunset · 19/08/2025 20:20

Every time I took my kids for the head bump/injury the outcome was a leaflet with recommendations to observe and avoid intensive activities for few days, no scans or anything. Including the time the child was sleepy and vomited twice after minor head bump. So now in case of minor bumps I check their pupils, check if they can follow an object/respond to questions and check on them at night but dont go to a&e. Having said that, I think head injury can cause symptoms even 12-24 hours later

SleepyRic · 19/08/2025 20:45

If well, happy and playing/normal self then personally I wouldn't call 111 let alone goto A&E. They certainly won't scan him as described - would probably need sedation to perform so would need to be a real concern.

Symptoms can develop over many hours though so things can change - there's good advice on when to be concerned/seek assessment here:
https://www.healthiertogether.nhs.uk/child-under-5-years/head-injury

I wouldn't be concerned with what others say they would do. Head injuries are only really concerning if theres a loss of consciousness, change in behaviour, persistent vomiting post injury. If you think he's normal/fine then that's great. If that changes take him to be seen. Loads turn up in A&E to be "checked out", when ever I've worked in A&E the check out is simply keep them in the waiting room for 3-4hrs, then ask if there's any change/concern, if not they can be discharged with worsening advice.

Head Injury | Accidents and Injuries | Healthier Together

Advice and guidance on Head Injury for Accidents and Injuries .

https://www.healthiertogether.nhs.uk/child-under-5-years/head-injury

Original poster
MummaHud · 19/08/2025 20:45

Decembersunset · 19/08/2025 20:20

Every time I took my kids for the head bump/injury the outcome was a leaflet with recommendations to observe and avoid intensive activities for few days, no scans or anything. Including the time the child was sleepy and vomited twice after minor head bump. So now in case of minor bumps I check their pupils, check if they can follow an object/respond to questions and check on them at night but dont go to a&e. Having said that, I think head injury can cause symptoms even 12-24 hours later

Yes, I’m aware head injuries can show symptoms any time up to 48 hours, that’s the watch and wait period I’m being told the NHS would tell you to follow.

the egg has gone down quite a lot all ready, it’s been 7 hours now and he’s been so fine in himself… he’s asleep and when I shine the torch to take a look he stirs and growls at me as if to say ‘go away mum’ - so he’s certainly not drowsy or non responsive even when asleep!

the time between injury and bed time ( 6 hours ) he was laughing, playing, interest in usual things, when asked what objects was like his ball, he would say ball, he was clapping and waving in the mirror, he ate a huge dinner followed by a M&S cookie 😂

he hasn’t been unusual & he’s not even touched his head like it’s bothering him…

so I just kept keeping an eye on him, but now I’m being made to feel bad for not getting him checked, although… I’m of understanding they’d keep him waiting for observation and send home with advice of ‘keep an eye on him for 48 hours’

OP posts:
SleepyRic · 19/08/2025 21:01

Don't be made to feel guilty, you the person who knows him best think he's fine/normal self and well. You goto A&E when you're concerned something could be very wrong and treatment could be required - so you seek assessment to either reassure that's not the case and its just something like a concussion and not needing decompressive surgery for example.

Bsmirched · 19/08/2025 21:22

@MummaHud we only knew because of the swelling. We took him to our local out of hours who referred us on to A & E who x-rayed him.

Original poster
MummaHud · 19/08/2025 21:23

Bsmirched · 19/08/2025 21:22

@MummaHud we only knew because of the swelling. We took him to our local out of hours who referred us on to A & E who x-rayed him.

Was the bump not going down hun? My boys is slowly going already… I’ve heard my nhs trust won’t scan for just a bump.. they’ll just make us watch and wait

OP posts:
TotHappy · 19/08/2025 21:30

I've only ever had the leaflet too. They check pupils, ask a few questions, send you home with leaflet.

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