Page 2 | AIBU not taking him to A&E

MummaHud · 2025-08-19T18:18:45+00:00

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…

ShesTheAlbatross · 19/08/2025 21:31

I wouldn’t go to A&E for that personally. We once called 111 for advice after my 18 month old fell down the stairs. They sent an ambulance (overreaction on their part in my opinion, but you can’t argue with it too much without looking like a reckless parent), but all they did in the hospital was have her sit there for hours and observe. She also bashed her head when she was 5, and threw up a few hours later so we took her in (after speaking to 111) and again it was just observation and sent home a few hours later. And I mean basic observation, nothing technical that we couldn’t have done at home - they put her in a cubicle and popped in every half an hour. There was no suggestion at all of brain scans! I’m not criticising them, she was fine. But I wouldn’t go if it was a head bump with no other symptoms.

itsallabitofamystery · 19/08/2025 21:33

If you’re questioning yourself several hours later, best thing to do now is ring 111 rather than straight up to A&E. They will know from looking at him that it hasn’t just happened, and may actually question why you hadn’t taken him earlier if you thought it warranted an emergency attendance. You’ll be able to inform 111 of your observations, but note that you are just wondering if you have done the right thing. These notes will then be sent to A&E if that’s the advice they give.

Original poster

MummaHud · 19/08/2025 21:36

itsallabitofamystery · 19/08/2025 21:33

If you’re questioning yourself several hours later, best thing to do now is ring 111 rather than straight up to A&E. They will know from looking at him that it hasn’t just happened, and may actually question why you hadn’t taken him earlier if you thought it warranted an emergency attendance. You’ll be able to inform 111 of your observations, but note that you are just wondering if you have done the right thing. These notes will then be sent to A&E if that’s the advice they give.

I’m not questioning myself, people are questioning me and I just wanted to make sure I’m not being unreasonable to want to monitor my child at home when he seems perfectly fine in himself.

If I felt I needed to take him to a&e, you best believe I wouldn’t be posting on Mumsnet

he’s very happy, very alert and still being very cheeky with an appetite, I’ll keep him glued to my side for 48 hours. I’ve moved his bed into our room so will keep the closest eye. Any signs of change, or sickness- I’ll of course not hesitate to take him in and say ‘we kept an eye, but he’s started to show symptoms’

OP posts:

ChristmasMiracleBaby · 19/08/2025 21:44

I've never taken my ds in for a head bump, the NHS advice is observe at home but a and e for vomiting, loss of consciousness or any change in behaviour or appearance e.g pupils, bleeding out of ears and nose etc.
If they have a lump but are otherwise happy and playing after half an hour they are probably fine.
Yes there are cases where symptoms worsen but that's when you take them to a and e.. They won't do a scan if they are otherwise themselves only monitor in hospital which again you can do in the comfort of your home.

ColinVsCuthbert · 19/08/2025 21:47

Ours ran full force into a door at nursery around that age. Giant forehead lump. Completely ok. We considered taking him in, but it was 6 hours on, he wasn't in pain/complaining, he wasn't tired, pupils were tracking etc. It was a bit of a scare to look at for a day or two, but it went down very quickly tbh. I'd say by the next morning it had flattened substantially and was just a nasty colour. Don't want to put you off getting it checked out though.

ScaryM0nster · 19/08/2025 21:48

You mean your child got an injury. You looked at the medical advice on the NHS website. And followed it?

Wild.

Weirdly, they write it in a way that means anything of concern goes to A&E.

Well done for engaging brain.

user1496146479 · 19/08/2025 22:06

My 6 year old did this a month or so ago. Face planted the ground, huge egg on forehead, bruised really quick, but was in good spirits.

I did bring her to A&E as the size of the bump did give me fright. They assessed her as low risk, and observed for 2 hours & sent us home with some info on concussion etc Advised to monitor her over next 48 hours etc.

The bruise did travel and she ended up with two black eyes for a couple of weeks.

Zanatdy · 19/08/2025 22:09

I wouldn’t be rushing him to A&E. There’s no way they’d be doing any scans etc it he’s behaving normal and no sickness etc. Continue to monitor him for a day or so and any change go to A&E or the GP.

Edenmum2 · 19/08/2025 22:32

MummaHud · 19/08/2025 21:36

I’m not questioning myself, people are questioning me and I just wanted to make sure I’m not being unreasonable to want to monitor my child at home when he seems perfectly fine in himself.

If I felt I needed to take him to a&e, you best believe I wouldn’t be posting on Mumsnet

he’s very happy, very alert and still being very cheeky with an appetite, I’ll keep him glued to my side for 48 hours. I’ve moved his bed into our room so will keep the closest eye. Any signs of change, or sickness- I’ll of course not hesitate to take him in and say ‘we kept an eye, but he’s started to show symptoms’

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just wondering why you posted then? You are obviously extremely set in your intentions so not quite sure what the point was…

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 19/08/2025 22:43

MummaHud · 19/08/2025 19:29

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

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umbrella post is arguably not as bad as concrete depending on how it’s secured. If it’s just in a weighted base it will be able to move and give way on impact. You might not see it, but it will reduce the force of the blow. Concrete slab in the ground can’t move at all so all the force of will be taken by the child’s head.

My youngest had a similar sounding injury when she was one and a bit. I phoned 111 and the main thing they were interested in is how quickly the bump came up. Because it had happened very quickly they wanted me to take her in to hospital to be checked out. I can’t remember what they did when we got there but I don’t think they scanned her in any way. She was fine. If he’s shown no effect other than the bump for over seven hours I think she’s fine.

CLola24 · 19/08/2025 22:59

Edenmum2 · 19/08/2025 22:32

just wondering why you posted then? You are obviously extremely set in your intentions so not quite sure what the point was…

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Cus her main concern is what other people think of her and her "friend"

Original poster

MummaHud · 20/08/2025 07:10

Woken up this morning, 18 hours post accident to a very happy, energetic bubbly boy demanding toast at 6am as per always. Contently playing with his toys while I sit here drinking a tea with sigh of relief. Bump is pretty much gone, but his graze / bruise is still there to be expected.

spoke to my neighbour this morning she’s a paediatric nurse, she said if it’s already been 18 hours they’d turn us around with a leaflet anyway and I followed the advice correctly.

thanks to those who replied so kindly, I’m off to buy a scrum hat!

OP posts:

Wynter25 · 20/08/2025 07:36

MummaHud · 19/08/2025 19:29

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

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My daughter had a fall on concrete and had a fractured skull. However her bump didn't show for days. Was still her normal happy self. If it was to happen again I'd take her in.

Wynter25 · 20/08/2025 07:36

Glad they're okay x

Amba1998 · 20/08/2025 07:42

MummaHud · 19/08/2025 20:01

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?

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They would give you a leaflet on what to look out for! No busy a&e depart scans every child (of which there will be loads daily as kids bump all the time) if no concerning signs!

EmotionallyWeird · 20/08/2025 11:19

I don't think I would have gone either. My understanding is that sickness and/or unusual drowsiness is the thing to look out for after a bumped head.

blueskydays45 · 20/08/2025 12:43

We had similar when my ds was 2 and a half. We just put ice on it and monitored at home. He next morning he started vomiting very regularly and was not well at all. Phoned 111 who sent us to a&e. Went to a&e where he was monitored and they did a CT scan (took a few attempts as they didn't let me stay in the room and he was understandably terrified). Then told scan showed no concussion, he just has a sickness bug and sent home. Personally don't think he did have a sickness bug as nobody else was sick and no other signs so a bug. But either way, he was fine in the end, he's 7 now and absolutely fine.

Onmytod24 · 23/09/2025 18:11

Great news, he seems okay but you know you were lucky