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Original poster

my baby fell off the couch :(

18 replies

sharon137 · 10/08/2010 05:48

My five and a half month old DS has just started to roll around - earlier he was lying next to me on the couch gurgling, and I got up to get something from the other side of the room - he must have turned to watch me and he fell off onto our tiled floor... I feel so incredibly awful and guilty, like the worst parent ever.. He cried very loudly for five mins or so, then was fine, giggling, grabbing his toys etc. That was an hour ago and he has just had some milk and gone to sleep. I can't see any visible bumps or bruises, jsut a red mark on the back of his head which doesnt seem swollen or anything.. I just feel like the absolute worst person ever, feel sick with guilt.
DP said that because he recovered and there are no bruises etc, he should be ok if we keep an eye on him, do you think this is right?
Please dont fllame me, I feel dreadful already and know it was my fault completely...:(

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DomesticGoddessInTraining · 10/08/2010 06:05

hi Sharon137, don't worry you're not a terrible parent - almost everyone has a story like this. Your DP's advice seems quite sensible to me.

Keep a wee eye in him, but babies are quite robust so try not to worry too much. Once they're on the move you need eyes in the back of your head!

Original poster

sharon137 · 10/08/2010 06:37

Thanks, DomesticGoddessInTraining. I am just in shock - I am always saying, "Oh, we mustn't leave him on the couch anymore" and then this happens!! It has definitely frightened me into making bloody sure it never happens again...

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DomesticGoddessInTraining · 10/08/2010 06:58

I think these kind of scares are a rite of passage for new parents! My DS is 2 now and fell out of our bed last night with a pretty sickening thud - he's completely fine though.

We were in a minor bump in the car when DS was around 6 months. Spoke to NHS direct on the phone (as we were reluctant to go out to the hospital or doctors in the terrible weather conditions that caused the accident) and they told me to watch out for any lethargy or listlessness and being unusually sleepy.

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Tee2072 · 10/08/2010 07:23

No one is going to flame you. Everyone has done it, or similar.

I myself dropped my son from my arms onto our wood laminate floor when he was 3 weeks old. That lead to a concussion and broken ribs, 2 nights in hospital and eventually surgery. He's fine now at 14 months.

Not trying to scare you, there were obvious signs that we needed to take him to A&E after he was dropped. If your baby seems fine, then I'm sure he is.

hillee · 10/08/2010 10:11

Hi Sharon137 - please don't worry. My DH is a dr in the neuro/spinal unit at the kids hospital in our city. He says this happens all the time, and that 99% of the time, with something as minor as falling off a couch, most babies are absolutely fine. But he says the amount of parents who think the hospital will call social services... well, you get the picture.

Just keep an eye on him - vomiting, excess sleeping, disorientation etc. Like you would with any person who might have had a head injury. And if you are worried, just take him up to emergency.

The point is - it happens. Don't worry about it too much!

jasminelab · 10/08/2010 11:48

I think my baby is going to trade me in for a better model.....when she was two weeks old I somehow managed to clip her foot into the child seat belt and I couldn't for the life of me understand why she was screaming. Then I went to touch her head to console her, she turned and I poked her hard in the eye. And when she was three weeks old, I let the health visitor out and somehow shut the door behind me leaving baby in the house with a cat on the loose. Thank goodness my neighbour is a police man.

Morloth · 10/08/2010 11:57

I don't think I have I have encountered a single parent whose baby hasn't rolled off/into something at least once.

Now you know, if you kept leaving him in places where he could roll and hurt himself then you would have an issue.

Librashavinganotherbiscuit · 10/08/2010 12:01

Congratulations you are now a real parent.

Marne · 10/08/2010 12:06

I think we have all done it , dd1 rolled off the bed when she was around 5 months old (onto a hard floor). She was my PFB so i panicked and phoned the GP, they said she will be fine as she cried straight away. She was fine, i think i was more upset then she was.

I'm sure he will be fine.

Mindy1 · 10/08/2010 14:10

We had a rolling off changing unit incident - higher than waist high and on to wooden floors. DD was ok but God the worry was horrific. You are not a bad mother but you wont do that again in a hurry! I called doc and was told what to watch out for and woke her up every hour by pinching her ear (as directed by doc)
According to my husband that annoyed DD way more than the fall!

flaime · 10/08/2010 15:14

My HV told me that all kids will fall off the bed and/or down the stairs at some time so I wasn't to worry. Think my HV was rather chilled out compared to some though

wouldliketoknow · 10/08/2010 18:26

i, once, bang his head against the rails on the cotbed, at 6-7 weeks old.
logically i panicked and was in quite a state when dh got home, he told me more or less the same your dh told you.
he was fine.
it happens,...

angel1976 · 10/08/2010 20:00

My DS2 rolled off the couch onto the floor (on a rug, thank goodness!) today for the first time and he is 9 months old. I thought I was doing well considering that DS1 was only a few months old (I remembered he couldn't quite sit up then...) when I decided to put him in the cot while I was building it... Needless to say, one side collapsed and he slid very dramatically down it and crashed onto the (carpeted) floor with a very loud thud and bump to his forehead... Not my proudest moment as a mummy, I have to admit.

alishia789 · 31/03/2022 17:13

This happened to me nearly a week ago!! She's been fine since No bruising she's not changed her mood or anything no confirms but it keeps making me sick at the thought of it 😢 like I'm a bad mum but these accidents happen. Xx

beattieedny · 31/03/2022 17:16

Oh, all mine rolled off the bed. All three! One would hope I'd have learned but no! It happens.

alishia789 · 31/03/2022 17:38

I didn't take her to hospital is that bad? She cried when it happened and has been completely fine since no swelling bruising etc even my partner has no concerns and if it happened a week ago nearly surely I would have noticed something sooner? Just worried every day when I really don't need to be making myself worried I know she's fine haha xx

GregBrawlsInDogJail · 31/03/2022 17:41

@Librashavinganotherbiscuit

Congratulations you are now a real parent.

This. It's a rite of passage. Literally every baby gets dropped or rolls off something. Bed with my first. They are absolutely fine 99.9% of the time.

Firsttimemummy2023 · 02/11/2023 10:33

Hey can i please ask what the obvious signs were u needed medical attention? my 4 week old fell off the couch and im traumatized after it😭 im a first time mum & i feel like a terrible mum😭😔 he seems ok hes taking a bottle without any issues but he is sleeping a bit since, he was crying during the fall but soon calmed after being in my arms for 5mins😔 i feel abaoloutly terrible & like the worst person on earth😭😭💔 please help

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