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Original poster

Baby scratched & scarred face

52 replies

rach1stbaby · 30/07/2022 18:12

My baby scratched herself at 4 weeks old and it's scarred, I'm beyond devastated, never did I think this would be possible. It's right under her eye so quite visible to me, others say it's not.
You hear about babies scratching themselves all the time and none scar, none that I've heard of anyway. I blame myself as I left a sharp bit on her nail and she did it when she was put down.
Please tell me someone has experienced similar and the scar has eventually faded?
We are 6 weeks later now and it looks like this, not sure how I'm supposed to accept I've done this to her face 😭😭😭 it kills me every time I see it. I know there's worst things to happen but this is how I feel.

Baby scratched & scarred face
OP posts:
FictionalCharacter · 01/08/2022 21:38

You haven’t done this to her! Stop saying that! She scratched herself by accident. Babies do that, and worse. Everyone is telling you it will fade and you’re still beating yourself up.

And for heaven’s sake stop “researching” on the internet and putting stuff on her face. It’s fuelling your anxiety. Coconut oil is unlikely to do anything.

It’s really good to hear that you’re getting help for the anxiety. You have years of baby/toddler/child mishaps to come, they are part of normal life and if you get this wound up over every tiny injury, and blame yourself, life will be miserable for you and your overreactions will affect your child.

I know it’s easier said than done but please stop obsessing over this one little scratch. Small babies heal incredibly quickly.

Original poster
rach1stbaby · 02/08/2022 22:00

@LilacPoppy thanks for your comment. Yes I had mittens on her early on and put the mitten folds down on the baby grows. It must have been about 4 weeks that I thought she should be getting sight of her hands and learning about them and I would keep on top of her nails, I obviously regret that massively now.

@SpaceJamtart thank you! That's reassuring. I live in hope that it will fade. It doesn't seem too deep but it is noticeable, to me anyway (probably cos I can't stop looking at it). I must admit, I remember the negative comments over the positive ones, saying that their little ones marks didn't disappear. I really need to stop this. Did you put anything on the mark or massage it? I'm thinking I'll just leave it now as I set my anxiety off everytime I put whatever on it as it reminds me about it all over again.

@FictionalCharacter thank you, I really needed to hear all of that. I think the scratch has just been the cherry on the top of a long road of anxiety issues. I'm really trying to get myself out of this for the sake of my baby, my very special girl who deserves the best but I haven't been able to give her this for the past couple of days 💔 x

OP posts:
SpaceJamtart · 02/08/2022 22:33

@rach1stbaby
I think I put a dot of antiseptic cream on it at the time but i think it just got wiped off, then totally nothing.
Skin heals on its own it will be okay.

The pair of them have scratches and scrapes all the time from falling over and climbing in the park and none of them have scarred so far.
I was a clumsy child and all the photos of me as a kid have some minor scrape on me and I am not covered in scars either

Valhalla17 · 02/08/2022 22:34

Yes @rach1stbaby very deep scars from my eye down my cheek as far as my chin. I was attacked by a female who dug her nails in my face as I accidently bumped into her. It was awful, my mum cried when she saw me....but about 3yrs later I realised they had finally gone. Hope you and your little one are doing OK xx

Valhalla17 · 02/08/2022 22:35

I didn't really do anything, or try specific things...Youth helped and just keeping things moisturised I guess.

Augend23 · 02/08/2022 22:42

I have had various scars - I had a bruise on my back which took THREE YEARS to heal - but it did heal. 6 weeks really isn't a long time, and it's hardly visible as it is - I bet it's a lot lighter than it was 5 weeks ago.

happygolucky42 · 02/08/2022 22:45

My son scratched himself with his newborn cannula, he still has a mark on his nose and he's 6. I kind of like it though. Only I see it and it reminds of when he was a newborn cherub.it's blended in but the skin is pitted.

MrsMokka · 05/01/2023 17:19

Dear rach1stbaby, it’s already January 2023. Did the scar disappear? My baby has a similar one 😞.
greetings!

firsttimemama1994 · 06/01/2023 20:04

@MrsMokka unfortunately not. It's faded a lot but it's still there and indented in her skin. Most people can't see it very well and wouldn't notice unless I pointed it out to them though. How long has it been for your baby?

MrsMokka · 10/01/2023 19:51

@rach1stbaby, oh, what a pitty :(. My baby did the scratch 6 weeks ago. It’s still little red, when she gets flush. And it’s also indented… I’m sad and feel guilty :(.

Baby scratched & scarred face
firsttimemama1994 · 10/01/2023 19:58

@MrsMokka that one looks tiny compared to my girls. I'm sorry it happened. You'll probably find it'll fade to nothing colour wise in time and no one will notice. I just wish the indent would heal but I don't think it will, it breaks my heart every day still to be honest.

wildmoon · 10/01/2023 20:39

I scratched myself the day I was born and you can still see a very faint scar... I love it tbh!! It's part of me and I think it's a cool story.

Your baby is perfect and you have nothing to feel guilty for xx

firsttimemama1994 · 11/01/2023 11:11

@wildmoon thanks for commenting , that's nice that you like your scar ❤️

Did it get bigger or smaller as you got older? I've read about them getting bigger or longer as they get older 😞 was it on your cheek? X

firsttimemama1994 · 11/01/2023 11:17

Thought I'd post this in case anyone is interested. It's still there but a lot less noticeable. It's just me that hates myself for it every day as I know where it is x

Baby scratched & scarred face
firsttimemama1994 · 11/01/2023 11:18

It looks different in every light. If she gets flushed cheeks aswell it always looks worse 😞 I'm hoping that the next 6 months of healing it will look better still and the skin will grow x

Lindtcat · 11/01/2023 11:21

Honestly don't worry about it. My DD scratched herself when she was about 2 days old. She's now 6 and you can barely see it. I only notice it because I know it's there. No one else would. It happens!

firsttimemama1994 · 11/01/2023 11:23

@Lindtcat thanks for commenting, it's nice to know I'm not on my own.
Has it got bigger or smaller as she's grown? Do you have any photos? Xx

sheeplikessleep · 11/01/2023 11:28

I can empathise as I am also quite an anxious person, but after three very active boys, I promise you, how you feel about this will lessen, as will any ‘scar’ (I also don’t think it will be a visible scar, genuinely, it is tiny and colour difference is already minimal).

DS3 has cut his head on a corner of a dining table as well as needed stitches under his chin and also broke his leg completely at 4 years old. Scars do happen, it’s part of life and I think it’s good you’re seeing a GP about your anxiety as you will drive yourself barmy.

I know babies are perfect when they’re born, but a bit like getting a new kitchen that you obsess about when you first get it, you will worry less with time and scars / marks do fade … the body is amazing at healing itself. (I’ve just compared a newborn to a new kitchen so I’m sure will get slated 😂)

Lindtcat · 11/01/2023 11:31

Yep. First pic was when she was about 2 days old. Other pic, was last year. Felt awful but it happens ! Don't even think she's ever noticed it to be honest, nor has anyone else.

Rowen32 · 11/01/2023 13:23

rach1stbaby · 02/08/2022 22:00

@LilacPoppy thanks for your comment. Yes I had mittens on her early on and put the mitten folds down on the baby grows. It must have been about 4 weeks that I thought she should be getting sight of her hands and learning about them and I would keep on top of her nails, I obviously regret that massively now.

@SpaceJamtart thank you! That's reassuring. I live in hope that it will fade. It doesn't seem too deep but it is noticeable, to me anyway (probably cos I can't stop looking at it). I must admit, I remember the negative comments over the positive ones, saying that their little ones marks didn't disappear. I really need to stop this. Did you put anything on the mark or massage it? I'm thinking I'll just leave it now as I set my anxiety off everytime I put whatever on it as it reminds me about it all over again.

@FictionalCharacter thank you, I really needed to hear all of that. I think the scratch has just been the cherry on the top of a long road of anxiety issues. I'm really trying to get myself out of this for the sake of my baby, my very special girl who deserves the best but I haven't been able to give her this for the past couple of days 💔 x

OP, you need to look at the bigger picture here. Imagine she's older and falls right in front of you, cuts her face and ends up with what might become a lasting scar. You won't be able to beat yourself up over it (she'll blame herself for making Mama feel bad) and you won't be able to constantly look at it and put oils on it (you'll give her issues of all sorts). You'll need to be able to tell her everybody falls, accidents happens, sometimes we get scars, that it doesn't change her beauty and it doesn't matter etc.. This is just a lesson for you in what matters and where the focus needs to be..
Much worse could happen right in front of you despite your best efforts and it won't do her any good for you to wind up in this state you're in..
You need to let her live, even at a few weeks or you'll end up afraid to let her take any risk and that will have serious consequences..
She scratched herself, it wasn't your fault. Even if you'd been the one to scratch her it would have been an accident, she could have done it when you were looking at her. She needs to be able to explore with her hands (I didn't use mitts for this reason) - you have to let her develop even if it comes with scratches..

firsttimemama1994 · 11/01/2023 20:08

@Lindtcat the pictures aren't great but it looks like it's stayed the same size/got smaller as she's grown? It looks like it took up a good portion of her cheek now not much at all. That's what I'm hoping for. That's great that she hasn't noticed it.

Thank you @Rowen32 what you've said makes perfect sense. "She needs to be able to explore her hands" that was exactly my reasoning for taking the mitts off when I did, obviously I wish I kept them on longer now though, hindsight is a terrible thing.

Jellycats4life · 11/01/2023 20:11

I promise you, babies grow so rapidly, that little scar will disappear as the skin stretches and grows.

firsttimemama1994 · 04/11/2023 09:38

Update of scar to anyone who may look at this in future, it's basically disappeared 😊 thanks so much everyone. I now realise there's so many more accidents to worry about now I have a toddler on the loose 🫣

xKAx · 04/11/2023 10:48

This brings me so much joy and relief as I too have been worrying religiously about a scar on my newborns face! Thank you so much they update ❤️

FloweryPumpkin1 · 04/11/2023 10:52

I reckon that's still healing and it won't leave a permanent mark. My DS cut his face so severely by falling over that he needed surgery when he was three or so- the cut was down to the bone. The scar was really noticeable for a year or so but is now only visible if you look for it, I would have thought a scratch would heal even better.