Please help!! Baby fall

[anxiousparent26]

Hi all,

FTM here to a beautiful 7 month old girl who must hate me. She's recently learned to sit up and I put her to sit on the sofa and so stupidly turned my back for 30 seconds. As I turned around DD fell head first off the sofa!

We have laminate flooring with a large rug and I can't tell whether she hit her head on the hard flooring or the rug though I feel sick at the thought of both. I immediately picked her up, think she was on the floor for less than a second , she cried for a few minutes then stopped. She's been chattering away ever since, playing with her toys and trying to crawl around as usual (she hasn't mastered moving forward yet so her behaviour is all normal).

I can't even see a mark on her head or any part of her though I could have sworn I heard a thump as she fell. She seems completely normal, no drowsiness/lethargy/vomiting. I feel so terrible!

Should I be taking her to the hospital just incase, I know she's not displaying any symptoms so I don't want to waste their time but just want to know what you would do?

Also anyone else done this so I don't feel like the worst person in the world?

Firstly, I would bet money on every single parent having done this so try not to beat yourself up!
My DS rolled off the bed onto the floor at about 4 months old so I feel your anguish.
If she stopped crying after a few minutes and is happy enough in herself with no lethargy etc. I'd say she is probably fine but for reassurance, perhaps call NHS 24.
Chin up, we've all done it

My DS has done this so many times. If there’s no mark and she seems okay then I’d says she fine. If you’re concerned ring 111 but at 7 months it would be obvious if her behaviour changed.

Call 111 and see what they advise.

Welcome to the club! If you're concerned give 111 a ring but sounds all ok to me. Don't feel bad, it's a rite of passage for all new parents!

She'll be fine, absolutely fine.

Babies are nothing like as fragile as they look. Unlike us, who stiffen up and try to stop the fall, thereby hurting ourselves more and jarring every muscle in out body. Babies are like rag dolls when they tumble and rarely hurt themself unless they fall on something sharp or a hard corner. She will have cried from the shock - and in reaction to your shock but as she has been fine since there is really nothing to worry about.

Oh love, I've been there. I think every parent has. (Those that say their child never fell off anything is fibbing!)
One particular incident that sticks in my mind was when my youngest was 9months old he was sat on a table top in front of me, (I was putting his socks back on) I had hold of him & turned my head to look at my eldest - it was a really, really brief moment, but the next thing I knew my youngest had plummeted off the table. It was almost as though I watched it happen in slow motion but I couldn't do anything! Absolutely mortified!

Hug for you, I did the very same thing with my first baby, in the corner of the sofa, I turned around to pick up a toy, he’s 18 now and completely unharmed by the experience. But I can remember how upset I was at the time. Just keep an eye on her and if you are concerned for any reason call 111 for advice.

Thank you so much for all of your replies, you've collectively prevented a mental breakdown on my behalf (perhaps a tad dramatic but that's honestly how I felt in the moment!). I've finally stopped shaking though I still feel like an awful mum, meanwhile DD has been laughing, probably at me! She's been playing and chattering away like nobody's business and finished an entire bottle of milk. Will be keeping a close eye on her, but thankfully she seems completely fine and as usual doesn't want to nap, which for once I am very grateful!

My then 6 month old done the exact same thing. I had carpet but it was a very thin carpet and I still remember the thump when she landed. I panicked and ran to my neighbour who came in to try and reassure me but I was in such a state I took her up to A&E.

My reaction was over the top but I have personal reasons that make me over react when she bumps her head and I was already anxious after nearly losing her at birth.

At A&E they were brilliant but told me since she has no symptoms of any injury then theu weren't concered. I wanted a brain scan (again, I have my reasons) which they told me wasn't necessary and she would have to be sedated anyway if she needed one.

She will be fine, I'm not going to say try not to worry because I know that's impossible. It will be you who will be more effected by it than her! You can always ring 111 for reassurance but due to her age I imagine they would tell you to go to A&E , that's the protocol where I'm from for 111 for babies anyway.

Oh god, I hate head bangs but they’ll get increasingly common as your bambino gets older. My daughter has thrown herself off the bed head first several times, similarly off the sofa & last week fell off the cat tree she just loves to climb! When she learnt to walk, she seemed to always go head first with any falls!

I worry like crazy each time but generally, the only thing they could do at a hospital is watch & wait.. just keep an eye for vomiting, peculiar behaviour, being floppy etc.. it’s normal for a child to want to sleep after a head bump & the advice now is that it’s ok to let them do so.

It sounds like your little one is a’ok but if you really do have any worries, just get them checked over! Always better to be safe!

My daughter also rolled off the bed onto the floor at 4 months old. She’d never rolled before
She was fine, and I’m sure your little one will be fine too. They are surprisingly bouncy!!

I think like others she will probably be fine. However I would warn you that if you phone 111 they’ll almost certainly tell you to go to a&e. So if you’re going to call 111, you may as well just go straight to a&e.

I took my daughter to a&e after a similar incident, they were very happy to check her over and thought she was fine. They gave me info on head injuries (though they thought she didn’t have one) and I THINK they said it’s normal for babies to be a bit sleepier than usual and you don’t have to keep waking them, and the dr also said they allow babies to vomit up to 3 times after a head injury before they become concerned - though as you haven’t yet seen a dr personally I’d get her seen if she vomits at all.

She’s probably fine though!

If there’s no visible mark, let alone a bump, on her head - don’t worry about it.

It is like a rite of passage.

I don't think I've met a kid who hasn't rolled off something. Usually the bed. Usually they dont injure themselves because they're no expecting it to happen so stay relaxed. Its us knowing were going to hit something who stiffen up and hurt ourselves because of it. Just keep an eye and try not to stress.