6 month old fell from changing mat

[ThaiRedCurry]

My 6 month old baby fell from her changing table. I literally turned around to get a nappy bag. I think she rolled and fell onto her forearms. It was the most horrendous thing I’ve ever experienced. I rang 111 and they seem to have no concerns. My DD had a slight graze and her head but no other injuries thank the lord.
I am now suffering from the stress of what happened. I’m having flash backs and can’t deal with the fact I could of killed her because of my stupidity. Please tell me I will feel better in time and please tell me if you have gone through the same thing? I didn’t take her to A&E as I havnt been advised to and now I’m regretting not going 😔

Hiya I did the same thing with my 6 month old in the summer. I was in a supermarket toilet, turned round for a second and he fell onto hard tiles. He screamed, I screamed, we cried. It was horrendous. I took him straight to A&E but I knew he was fine deep down I just wanted him checked. The DR said that as he'd cried and never lost consciousness he was ok. I didn't sleep that night. And like you I kept getting flashbacks. It was awful! But 5 months on and I can look back and I think how stupid and lucky I was! But I can also laugh at the situation. I lieterally ran through Asda screaming to the car park where my mum was and virtually threw him at her! Don't beat yourself up. Lesson learnt we're all human! Hope you sleep well tonight xxx

Oh love x I know it's awful but babies fall a lot of the time. Mine fell from a really high hotel bed, pretty much into his face 5 months ago, he's fine. This is scary but it will be ok, babies are ninjas they're so quick. It will be ok, please keep reminding yourself that - nothing bad happened, it ended ok.

Thank you for your message. I wish I had taken her in now I don’t know why 111 didn’t suggest I did. My DP and I are going to check her every hour tonight to make sure she’s ok 😞 so sad x

I’ve got it in my head now that there could be internal bleeding etc. When you took your baby into A&E did they even X-ray? Or just check them over? Xx

My dd crawled/rolled off my high-ish bed at about 9 months old! I was asleep after her keeping me up all night and hadnt woken to her moving like I usually do, just when I heard a thud and her crying she was absolutely fine, not even a scratch. Was lucky I’d tidied the toys away before I got into bed! Honestly it’s so normal to beat yourself up for ages but accidents happen and it takes something like this a lot of the time to realise just how quick they are

Hi furryelepht did you not go to A&E either? X

My DS surfed down the stairs at 9 months. I took him to A&E and they checked him over for bruises, checked his pulse/resps, checked he could put weight on his legs, and then we just hung around for 3 hours so they could do the same checks again before we left. No X-rays or anything so don’t feel like you’ve missed out on those by not going.

My ds fell face first from our bed at about 7 months. Thankfully he was fine also screamed straight away. Was definitely a reminder of how careful I had to be from then on. I stop using the change table at that point and changed on the floor or on the bed as it takes him longer to roll to the side of the bed.

Quilliam thanks for your post. So do you think we are ok just checking her every hour all night? She was her normal self and had bottle before bed laughed etc x

No I don’t go to a&e, within less than 2 minutes she was fine and up walking around, eating normally and seemed normal in herself so I didn’t. It did cross my mind but from how she was acting nothing was out of the ordinary so I didn’t

It sounds to me like she’s absolutely fine but do whatever makes you feel more comfortable. I’m a massive worrier about my own kids so I’m not the best barometer!

She’s in with mummy tonight so I can watch her whilst she sleeps. Any funny behaviour and I will be at A&E quicker than you can say 999! Thanks so much for your comments I’ll keep you updated. She’s in nursery tomorrow do I need to tell them? Also sounds so stupid but with social services now be sniffing around? I have no idea how it works x

She sounds fine. There’s a reason they say babies bounce. Because they’re not expecting to fall they’re relaxed on impact.

Time to put the changing mat on the floor though.

I would tell nursery so they can also keep an eye on her. Social services won't be looking at you, it's incredibly common and I assume there hasn't been any previous involvement?

As horrible as it sounds, she will injure herself continuously for the next few years, so perhaps a paediatric first aid course might help you?

I recall my midwife visiting person telling me to change my child on a changing mattress on the floor so that they couldn't fall as it's so common apparently. Back-breaking but they never fell thank God. I'm sure it happens to most parents.

I think because of my high anxiety I constantly worry I’m a bad mum, I’ve never had a social worker or had to have a heavily involved health visitor. You just read horror stories.
Baby first aid course sounds like a good idea and the changing mat now lives on the floor x
Thanks so much for all the helpful and kind comments!

I'm sure most of us have had a baby fall / roll off a bed or settee at one point or another. It doesn't usually involve a trip to hospital - just a bit more guilt on top of any other guilt you are carrying.
That said, it is far more sensible to change a baby on a mat on the floor, and the they can't fall from there. Might be worth doing from now on.

I would tell nursery so they can keep an eye on her but I would expect a safeguarding note of concern form to be filled out. Is there any marks on her? Or any chance of any bruises coming out tomorrow? If so nursery should notice these anyway and ask for an explanation.

That's what we do, not saying all nurseries do the same, however technically they should.
Glad your DD is ok, I know it literally only takes a second. Lesson learned the hard way I suppose. It's my worst nightmare I'm always so on edge when children are up on changing tables, if I ever quickly need to grab something I always just take them down or scoop them under my arm while a get it.

Definitely do the course if you have anxiety, it really helped me relax about weaning as I was terrified he would choke.

Mind your posture while changing on the floor as it can injure your own back. It's safer for them though as they can roll all of a sudden. And the first time they decide to roll seems to be when they're on something high. Don't worry, most babies have fallen.

Oh no x honestly it’s worse for you than for bubs though. My eldest DS did the same I literally turned my back for a second to grab a nappy and he was on the floor and I felt sick, he’s 11 now and no lasting effects! Xxx

Don't worry op it's common and your DD sounds fine My ds when he was about 2 fell down the stairs he kind of slid and bounced his way down and came to a stop in the hall way on his stomach , We had just moved at the time so old house was empty no stair gates etc, he walked away without a scratch unbelievably! Me on the other hand phoned his dad at work in a complete state crying, he rushed to the house to find ds fine and me a sobbing wreck.
At the time it was terrifying but he was completely unhurt thankfully!

Resilient kids

Mine rolled off my bed not too long ago, the excitement of having access to my bedside bottom drawer swiftly stifled the imminent scream.

If it's any consolation (bad mother alert), dd1 was in her car seat (in my defence before it was advised not to leave them in it) and rocking beside me (I was on the couch, she was on the floor). She managed to rock so hard that she sort of fell out of the thing and whacked her head off the skirting board. Off to A&E with her. Not a thing wrong.

Another time she had been napping for longer than normal, so I went in to wake her. She looked up at me with wide eyes. Clearly (in my head) something was wrong, ambulance called. By the time they arrived she was playing on the floor. I think I had just scared her by waking her up. I felt like such an idiot but the paramedics were lovely and charmed by my child with nothing wrong with her other than a neurotic mother.

Unfortunately worry is a part of motherhood.