Head/Chin Injury, and Sleep

[NotQuiteCockney]

I'm probably freaking out about nothing, really, but here goes.

DS2 (2.75) has had a bit of a bad week, health-wise. He's been tired, and had a tummy bug of some sort.

Today, while out riding his bike, he went over the handlebars. I am pretty sure that his chin hit the pavement, but not his head per se. He had a scrape on his cheek and a cut on his chin.

He did not throw up. He did not pass out (not even briefly). He was not sleepy, he was quite upset, with high pitched crying. He seemed normal, for a child who'd had a fall.

We came home, he was calm and happy while fussing over the cat, but otherwise, miserable. He wanted a feed, he had one, he fell asleep.

It's an early bedtime for him, but he did this on Tuesday this week, so it's not that surprising. But combined with the fall, it makes me twitchy. What is the current advice on sleep and head injuries? Should I be checking on him?

you've done all the right things. I'd keep an eye on him, but purely just out of paranoia. I'm sure someone will say take him to a & e if you are really worried, but otherwise he sounds just fine!

we all went over the handlebars as kids (well, i did, many many times) - he got off lightly, i always used to bite lip in process - ouch!!

I expected a mouth injury, but I think the graze and the cut were all his visible injuries.

Amusingly enough, we are seeing MIL tomorrow. I know she's unhappy about me biking with the kids (I take both DSes on my bike), and I bet she'll be nervous about DS2 on his bike, too. He does go quite fast, but he's very good about stopping for roads (thank goodness!).

Hey wow ds2 was out biking fast with you? That is very cool, I am so impressed at how good they both are on their bikes

sorry have no advice, and hope he is ok, but wanted to express admiration

DS1 has a neat scar on his chin and bottom lip from his journey over the handlebars.

Current advice is:
first 12 hrs - let them sleep when they want to but check hourly that they are rousable.

upto 48 hrs - watch out for the nausea, headaches etc but allow them to sleep as normal.

DS2 goes on a wooden bike now, and goes (much) slower than me on my bike, but a lot faster than me walking. Much like DS1, I guess, on his bike, but a bit slower.

He loves his bike, or at least he did until today. He wants to go on it everywhere and wants to go out for a bike ride every evening. It's really nice.

Ok, I don't think I'll manage to check him all of the first 12 hours - he had his bump at 5pm, but I'll go check on him soon.

I am 99% sure it wasn't a concussion, he wasn't even dazed, but the whole thing is quite worrisome, isn't it.

he'll be fine - and i bet he will jump back on that bike as soon as the sun rises tomorrow! (btw - a wooden bike?! sounds fab!)

i've had endless falls off bikes (as a kid - don't do it anymore) and seen my brother ripped from head to toe (he did downhill mtn biking) and he is as keen as ever!

It's one of those German ones without pedals. He loves it. DS1 used it for years, and now DS2 really adores it.

Hmmm, had a websearch, and they recommend having a child with a concussion sleep in the same room as you, but only wake him twice, per night, but wake him enough that he's walking and talking.

I'm looking up the symptoms of a concussion, and not seeing anything resembling what happened with him.

(He was, by the way, wearing his helmet. And it actually might have done something this time - might be why his cheek/jaw got it, rather than his forehead. His helmet is new, and fits well. Aargh, and probably needs to be replaced.)

i posted a couple of weeks back when i hit ds's head on cot (oops) and a couple of people said to keep him in with us - well, i didn't want him sleeping in the bed (he was 5mths) so left him in the cot. He was fine.

I'm sure you would know if he had a concussion - the fact that he got on with things is surely a good sign. But do whatever you feel best

glad to hear he had a helmut on - another reason why they should be made compulsory (if they haven't been already?!)

helmut?! i obviously meant 'helmet' (was sidetracked by the 'german' bike!)

He was quite upset, but he did calm down when he could get to his (much loved) cat.

He slept through until 5:30 am. And is now clearly fine.

I don't know what on earth we'll do about his sleep - he did this earlier this week, too.

But his grandparents are coming to town today, we haven't seen them for a while. We're due to meet up around 6pm, I think. I think we'll have to try to get him to nap, somehow.

was just about to ask how he was ncq - you beat me to it.

glad to hear he is fine.

damn those 5.30 wakings though!!

Well, quite.

He is getting a bit more sleep than before (used to be 11 hours, now it's 12, or 11.5) but when he goes to sleep at 6pm, it's still not a good thing.

He isn't even as bashed up as I feared. Small cut on the chin (near a mysterious chin bruise), and a faint scrape on the cheek.

And he still wants to go biking, but agrees that carrying his camera isn't a good idea.

well, get back on the horse and all that!!

i know how you feel about the early morning wakings - ds likes to wake anywhere from 5 to 6, but used to sleep til 7, so a bit of a shock to the system!! but had my first childfree night and slept in til 8.30am so feeling thoroughly refreshed!!

Actually, I'm not too bad, DH took DS2 away after he'd fed for an hour or so, and I got a bit more sleep, albeit involving dreams with children shouting things.

it was my first lie-in since i had him 6mths ago so well deserved i think!!

Mmmm, my eldest will be six in September.

I had a night off from kids when I was pregnant with DS2, three years ago.

crap - hoping i get another in before long then!! i have another due in nov - so it will be a loooonnggg time before it becomes a regular thing!