Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Hot tea spilt on my baby

36 replies

Rxy99 · 08/10/2023 11:37

Hi guys,

Me and my husband this morning was about to eat breakfast. My 5 month old was on his father's lap and we was talking. The mug of tea was out of reach but some how he leaned over and grabbed the tea and it spilt everywhere! On his hand and legs. I reacted faster than ever before, I grabbed him and took him straight in the kitchen and put his leg and hand under cool running water. He was crying a lot bevause of the hot tea and my reaction and the cold water made his reaction worse. He was already upset because he was hungry and tired. I feel terrible, I took him to the table to feed him whilst I ate too. I called 111 straight away and they told me what to do and they said to go to the A and E. However, after the incident there's no red skin, no blisters, absolutely nothing on his skin, looks all normal. It was initially a bit pinkish. He woke up from his nap a happy baby and in no pain at all too. Advice from my family was to see how he is in a few hours and his skin has no signs or marks of any burn at all then he's fine.

It's been 2 hours and we were told to visit within 4 hours, he's absolutely fine and has not cried. No marks at all and the skin is absolutely fine. I think it's literally a miracle!! It was very hot tea.

My question is, shall I take him anyway or will he be okay? What will they do there? Is it just to treat any damaged skin? As I said, there's no sign of anything on his skin at all. I've spilt it on myself before accidentally and initially it hurts but it's never burnt me either.

I feel like such a terrible mother. He's 5 months and loves grabbing everything!! He's so active and I'm so scared for his safety. I barely go to the toilet without having someone watch him or I open the door and watch him in my en suite even during a quick pee. I can't even cook in the kitchen without checking on him every minute, my mom thinks I'm too much normally and now this incident has frightened me even more.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rxy99 · 08/10/2023 11:41

"i took him to the table to feed him whilst I ate too" this was the reason for why my baby was with me and near hot tea :( this isn't what I did after by the way

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 08/10/2023 11:41

If there’s no sign of injury I’m not sure why you would take him to a&e?

carddino · 08/10/2023 11:46

I wouldn't take him now no.

However, I would call the doctor tomorrow for you. It sounds like post natal anxiety is creeping in.

You need to be able to put baby somewhere safely to pee.

What about a play pen?

7Worfs · 08/10/2023 11:46

If there are no marks at all it sounds like it’s all fine now.

Hot drinks are number one reason for children’s burns.
Drink tea in a different room from now on, they are quick and have a surprising reach, don’t take any risks.

PercytheParkKeepershedgehog · 08/10/2023 11:47

Take him in!
You did exactly the right thing putting him under cool running water immediately, and hopefully that’s stopped the burning before it got deep enough to do any damage. But burns can be serious due to either the size of the area affected or the depth of the burn or the combination of both. I’d want a doctor to check him over after hot water made contact with a sizeable portion of skin.

Valerianandfoxglovesoup · 08/10/2023 11:47

Whatever you decide please don't beat yourself up. And don't let it cause tension with your husband. We have all dropped them, left them at the shop, shut their fingers in a door or a million other versions of this feeling of horror so don't see it as a reflection on you. There will probably be other bumps in the road over the next few years, unless one of you is downright negligent or deliberately cruel, just see it as a crappy day and luck that you have an aspestos child! Seriously though, if the skin isn't broken or red, it's unlikely to need first aid for burns but if you are worried, best to go rather than let mumsnet diagnose!

NotAllWhoWanderAreLost · 08/10/2023 11:48

I would take him.
a cup of tea can still burn a baby after 30 mins is sticking in my head from an NHS friend.

7Worfs · 08/10/2023 11:49

If the tea first made contact with the table and then baby skin, that would’ve taken a lot of the worst heat out, so at least it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been.

dementedpixie · 08/10/2023 11:51

If there are no marks or blisters then I'd just monitor at home rather than waiting in A&E for hours

WhamBamThankU · 08/10/2023 11:52

If they've told you take him in they will check why you haven't.

Darkmode2 · 08/10/2023 11:56

Perhaps call 111 and explain that he's absolutely fine or go to a&e and explain. If you don't go they may become suspicious of you. It's silly but I'd cover all basis.

SoIRejoined · 08/10/2023 11:58

Why would you take advice of MN over 111? If they've told you to take him in just do it.

NuffSaidSam · 08/10/2023 12:02

Does his skin feel hot/warm to the touch where the tea was? Hotter than the rest of him?

If he's absolutely fine, no mark then I wouldn't go to A&E. There's no reason to.

Get yourself some travel mugs for tea to safeguard against this in the future.

Ylvamoon · 08/10/2023 12:08

Take him!

My DD had a hot water accident and initially everything looked fine- 2 days later she had a massive blister! Turned out to be a serious 2nd degree burn that run quite deep.

That was because we treated it straight away with cold water so the top layer of the skin was less damaged no marks than deeper down.

So even if its for nothing, better safe than sorry!

WandaWonder · 08/10/2023 12:14

If the baby is not actually burnt why go to A&E?, what do you want them to say if baby is fine

Canisaysomething · 08/10/2023 12:16

If you aren’t a medical professional yourself then just do what 111 have advised.

AlwaysFreezing · 08/10/2023 12:16

Deeper burns leave no surface marks initially. I'd absolutely go and get it checked.

Original poster
Rxy99 · 08/10/2023 12:28

Thank you all. Because of the different advice, I will call 111 and explain and ask them as there is no redness or burns or anything on his skin and whether or not to take him in to the A and E.

It's the anxiety that's setting in more than anything.

@carddino thank you! I think it is too now thinking about it. He's okay on the floor on his playmat and has never been hurt on there of course, but I'm just so scared all the time thinking what if he rolls over and even hurts his head. Maybe a first time mom anxiety thing Im not even sure

OP posts:
Original poster
Rxy99 · 08/10/2023 12:35

Thank you so much, this comment has really helped my anxiety. Thank you. @Valerianandfoxglovesoup

OP posts:
Valerianandfoxglovesoup · 08/10/2023 13:57

Ah bless you. Just remember what I said about fingers and car doors 😀

BellaTheDarkOverlord · 08/10/2023 14:03

It happened to us when dd was 14 months. She was sofa surfing and not fully walking. I put a hot black coffee in my bedroom (bungalow) and went to the toilet. She was in the lounge with her dad. In seconds she decided to take her first steps and RUN to my coffee in the bedroom and pull it all over her chin, chest and right forearm. She was fine after we went to a&e. No medical intervention required but we did attend another hospital which deals with severe burns on the request of a&e doctors. They were great and she has a tiny scar on her chin. This was boiling water though and no milk. Don’t beat yourself up.

Original poster
Rxy99 · 08/10/2023 16:47

@BellaTheDarkOverlord thank you! This helps a lot more than you know. It's so scary isn't it and they just want to reach for everything we grab or use!! And this is my first baby and he's only 5 months and it's happened, I'm really anxious about what will happen when he walks or starts crawling even!! Even the nurse that saw us at the A&e said it happens and has happened to her children too

OP posts:
Original poster
Rxy99 · 08/10/2023 16:47

Thank you so much! I'll definitely make sure I'm careful @Valerianandfoxglovesoup

OP posts:
Original poster
Rxy99 · 08/10/2023 16:49

I went to the A&E and the doctor looked at his skin and said everything looks nice and he's thankfully, nothing happened despite the hot tea. Literally took 1 minute with the doctor and we left. It was definitely my fast reaction that helped. At least I know I've had them check I suppose!

OP posts:
curaçao · 08/10/2023 17:09

The mug of tea was out of reach but some how he leaned over and grabbed the tea
It clearly was not out of reach the was it?
Burns often seem fine at the time but take some time to come out.i think you should at the very least ring for further advice.
If you do need to go back later, it will be a very big red flag that you havent followed advice and gone ti A&E within the time frame.