DD just fell down stairs and hit her head, don't know what to do

[LucyEllensmummy]

I didn't see it, just heard it - she was coming down for a toy - she is 3.5. She cried straight away, obviously really hurt herself - was difficult to console initially (scared?). Doesn't seem to be a bump (worried) but don't know if it was just bonking the wall as she came down - was the side of her head she hurt. She was/is bright and alert.

DP has taken her up to bed, she is V tired after a busy day. I can still here her chatting away to DP and giving him a hard time over bedtime!

I'm not overly concerned and tbh if it were the daytime i wouldnt be worried at all as i could obviously keep an eye on her. I don't think she fell anymore than 3-4 steps. Just worried about her going to sleep - she will be OK wont she?

I feel in my gut that we shouldn't bother taking her to A+E or minor injuries - its a long car journey, she WILL fall asleep in the car, we WILL have a long wait probably just to be told to take her home.

DP has had a couple of glasses of wine and we don't have anyone else locally to ask to run us in anyway (but DP says he feels OK to drive). I can now hear her shouting and giving DP a REALLY hard time and seems OK.

Looked in her eyes, they seemed right for a very light room. No dilation, equal pupil size

Tell me she'll be ok?? Please

she will be ok. three and a half year olds have tough heads ime

just keep a eye on her

The signs are all good I think and what you could do is go up in a couple of hours and just see if you can slightly rouse her.

The signs are all good I think and what you could do is go up in a couple of hours and just see if you can slightly rouse her.

I would phone NHS Direct

She'll be OK but as emkana says, nip up in an hour and try to rouse her a smidge.

It's when they don't cry that you really have a problem, IME!

Elf, i would yes, but i know i will have to wait AGES to actually talk to someone - and she is really tired (had to keep poking her to keep her awake to have her dinner!) so i really don't want to keep her awake until they call back. My instinct is saying she is OK, in fact she really IS giving DP a hard time, the little bugger, so im hoping my instinct is true.

well, they dont talk to the children on the phone, so she can go to sleep while you phone.
The only reason I would phone is to get a professional telling me that its okay not to drag her to hospital against my instincts to stay home, otherwise I'd be worrying all night iyswim!

If you google for nhs direct go to the self-help guide and select head injury for children, it gives you the questions the nurse would ask you on the phone

agree with emkana - just try and rouse her after a few hours

Agree with trying to rouse her in a few hours and maybe in the night but they do tend to bounce quite well. DD did the same at similar age and I think I was in a worse state than she was.

is she alert,orientated,responsive.can she move head,spine/limbs.had she vomited?any bleeding

do keep close eye on her,try rouse in few hours check she can awaken and is orienated

any deterioration go to A&E eg disorientated,poor speech,not moving well
monitor over next 3-4 days

a worry for you

looked at the NHS website, but advice only for under fives - did the questionaire anyway and said that can manage at home - still worried though, i think she is asleep now - will definately check later that we can rouse her.

She sounded fine - oh fuckity fuck this is doing my head in. I thought i only had to worry for tonight, but it would seem i have to worry for a few days

you dont need to necessarily worry you just need to be vigilant.as mums are

but bottom line,if you really worried go to A&E

thanks for all the replies, DP says he thinks she is fine

DP just checked on DD, she didn't rouse when he nuged her, but flapped her arms when he tickled her stayed asleep thats good isnt it?

Yes - NHS Direct told me any response movement wise is ok when asleep. My ds fell down full flight of stairs last year and was fine - think toddlers must come bouce proof as he's always jumping on/off/into something or other! Hope she's ok.

Just keep an eye on her for a good 24hrs. My dd fell out of my bed and bumped her head when she had just turned two and seemed fine afterwards, about 7 hours later though she started to severely vomit and we took her to A&E. They checked her over for concussion and kept her in overnight for obs.

Luckily they couldn't find anything really wrong and she went home the next day. The doctor told me it was probably an "aftershock" of bumping her head that caused the vomiting.

Don't want to scare you but just keep her watched.

My poor DD!!! She's fine but has she ever been in the wars

• last night she fell down the stairs, this morning she bashed her head on something she left on the sofa. After playschool she came running out and tripped over my foot - now she has a bump on the front of her head. Then she trapped her finger in the door of a cake shop! Bless

a week after dd rolled off the bed, she rolled off the changing table...
luckily dh managed to catch her by the leg, she had a nasty bruise but it was better than her bumping her head!

then she had a run as well, firstly she tripped and split her lip, then she was walking with the cm and walked into a tailgail of a lorry... argh!