Quick, urgent please, how can you tell if a child's finger is broken

[Caligula]

DD has had an accident at nursery, where she got her finger caught and it's all swelled up. I'm hoping I don't have to go to A&E (my car is broken and I would have to get the train or bus with both kids and it's dinner time, homework etc.) but I know I won't be able to see my doctor because the receptionist is a lunatic. But if it's broken I guess I'll have to go. Anyone know how you tell please?

Am off to collect her now, will be back later and hope to have some replies! Thanks

stick it in a bowl of cold water

can't bend it

also feel the same finger on other hand at the same time and feel if there is any difference to stucture.P.S she will scream when it goes in the water if it is broken ( horrible I know)

If it goes blue and she can't bend it, then I would think that it may just be broken.

DD1, a few years ago now, caught her little finger on a slide at a ball pool. I was pretty blase, and said unless she was broken or bleeding then I was sure she would be fine...and off she trotted.

On the way home, she said that she thought it was broken. I replied "you would know if it was broken" she..."how??"...me...."well, it would be blue, swollen and you would be able to bend it for a start!".

Got out of the car, and she put her finger up saying "what, like this you mean?"

One mortified mummy taking one sore DD to A&E!!

Fingers were strapped to each other, and she even had a sling for two days becuase of the swelling. (another bad mother alert there me thinks)

hope she doesn't tho....:)

Read 'wouldn't be able to bend it'

Thanks all, did the test and it's not broken.

Phew.

Sorry to throw a spanner in the works but a child still may be able to bend/move a limb even if it is broken. We found this out when DD fractured the upper part of her arm- she was able to lift her arm up to shoulder level and move it from side to side...it was a mothers instict that told me it was fractured. Sorry!