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Parenting

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Help! Baby slipped off my knee and onto the floor

123 replies

Donnas01 · 17/01/2021 20:24

So, sadly last night my baby girl slipped off my knee when I was putting her cream on and into the floor (hitting her back,neck and head). Thankfully it’s a soft and thick carpet and the fall wouldn’t have been more than 1.5ft. I didn’t even hear her fall to the ground and by the time I felt her slip, it was too late. 3 seconds later and this would never have happened.

I still don’t know how it happened, she’s almost 7 months old and nothing like this has ever happened. I’m so paranoid about everything.

I think because I had put too much cream on one hand (it just came shooting out) and she was sitting on my knee, I then held her shoulder eith the hand full of cream (stupid I know) and turned to grab the bottle from behind me (planning to scrape the cream onto the lid and hugging her as I did it and switching between hands and always keeping a tight grip usually) but she was suddenly in the floor. She had slipped out of my hand. I was so stupid and I can’t believe I did it. My partner had been working away during the week, mon - fri for the last 10 weeks and I had been doing everything on my own as I can’t get any help with covid. I have been lucky to get 1.5 or 2 hours a night. I thought I was doing so well until now.

As soon as it happened I screamed so she started to cry. She seemed fine right after but I panicked and called emergency services. Sadly, I just felt completely judged the whole time. They never once said, don’t worry this happens or it’s ok. They said they usually call social services for this kind of thing for under 1s but won’t this time. That really shocked me.

Every nurse and doctor asked me if social services were involved. I told them at one point to phone social services and I don’t mind them coming. I think they may have been tested my reaction so no idea if it’s policy. I don’t understand as she had no marks or bruising or cuts, nails were clean and short, she was clean, can tell she’s well fed, clean clothes, being loud and smiling away and so on. I know I’m her mother but you can tell when a child isn’t looked after. I would die for my child so this absolutely destroyed me. The last doctor I saw was very nice to me I must say later on, I think she thought I was a bit too cautious.

Thankfully my dd was absolutely fine, didn’t even have a red mark so I may have been over the top but I just wanted to make sure she was ok.

I just can’t get passed the guilt, I feel so horrible. Like she would be better off without me. I was brought up by an abusive alcoholic who I was constantly given back to by the care system over my dad, who was drinking at the time (he did quit thankfully). No daughter should ever have to say that she is lucky that her mother died when she did. I never want my daughter to ever even think that. I want her to be proud of me and I let her down. I feel scared to even hold her and keep reliving that moment like
I’m cursed.

I’m sorry for the long speech. Please say I’m not the only one?

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bloodywhitecat · 18/01/2021 19:51

[quote Donnas01]@bloodywhitecat

I can definitely see why now. At the time, I think it just took me off guard[/quote]
It does, it makes you feel even more guilty about something you already feel guilty about. I can remember being a new mum and feeling incredibly guilty, and panicking, when my non-mobile baby. not yet rolling baby decided to roll into the hearth of the fireplace when I nipped to the loo. It happens to us all. Have you done a first aid course? It might help Flowers.

Donnas01 · 18/01/2021 19:57

@Iheartsheep

Thank you for sharing your story with me.
I completely understand the feeling you would have had as soon as it happened and the guilt after, it’s the worst feeling I’ve ever had. But shows they are stronger than what we think. They obviously saw how distraught you were and knew it could never be intentional. Glad he was okay!! Thank you again for sharing

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Donnas01 · 18/01/2021 19:59

@grey12

Thank you for your kind words! Exactly, it could have been worse and I’m very lucky

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Donnas01 · 18/01/2021 20:04

@Maryann1975

Wow, thank you! My DH said the exact same thing today and it’s so true! What if it did happen, not only would everyone be outraged but I could never forgive myself. I’ll always get him checked out no matter what. I’ll just try not to panic this time. Your DD sounds like a tough little girl! Glad she was ok! You did the absolute right thing in getting her checked out!!

I think that is the correct way of doing things. I know it means some unnecessary calls but I wouldn’t mind as long as I knew it was procedure. I just didn’t expect it this time and thought it was only aimed at me (silly I know, but my mind was all over the place). If it can save one child, it’s always worth doing.
Thank you for your kind words!

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mrsmangal · 18/01/2021 20:05

I dropped my baby off my lap on to the floor and was beside myself.

She’s at uni now.

Bless you OP, you’re a lovely mummy.

Donnas01 · 18/01/2021 20:08

@Jellington

Aw sorry to hear that but glad all ok! It’s so easily done and hope your DH wasn’t to hard on himself (easier said than done, I know)

She really did! Smiling away, loving the bright lights and new faces! It was good she was like that so they could see she was all ok and helped me to see her lovely little smile

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Donnas01 · 18/01/2021 20:12

@Maryann1975

I meant she hahaha my poor little girl haha
I was typing another message with ‘him’ in it. Why I should not multitask

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Donnas01 · 18/01/2021 20:15

@bloodywhitecat

It does but now knowing it’s just procedure has really helped. It’s such a terrible feeling isn’t it and can see it happens to the best of us. Glad she was alright. You must have got an awful fright. Thankfully I have but really hope I never need to use it! If I stay calm next time though, I’ll actually remember how to use it at least haha

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Donnas01 · 18/01/2021 20:16

@mrsmangal

So much love to you, thank you! I can already tell you are too ❤️❤️

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Spinachtastegud · 18/01/2021 20:17

Don't doubt yourself OP, your baby is lucky to have you 💐

Donnas01 · 18/01/2021 20:18

And thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone else that has responded to me. Sorry I won’t get the chance to reply to all the messages from yesterday but know they are appreciated. My little girl is doing so well today. You wouldn’t even think anything has even happened. So much love to you all ❤️

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Donnas01 · 18/01/2021 20:18

@Spinachtastegud

❤️❤️

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johnd2 · 18/01/2021 21:37

Gosh I'm late to the party but we should have a season ticket with social services if that's the case, anyway they inform social services about everything because they are the ones who join the dots with nursery,gp,a&e, etc. It's not a punishment it's just record keeping to see who needs support.
Regarding over reacting we ended up in a&e with our boy the other day, turned out to be a small virus, but they checked him over for everything and said please come back any time with any concern, they will always be glad to check a healthy enough child rather than it be something serious. So they won't be judging, they have seen the full range of everything and will deal with it in their correct way.
Hope you are feeling better, we certainly know what an ill child looks like now after our first experience there!
Take care.

Swarskid2184 · 18/01/2021 21:54

My two are now 19 and 16....but I still remember with terror slipping on the stairs when I was carrying DS (3 months) in one arm and holding the hand of my 2.5 year old DD. DS flew through the air and landed on his head and DD landed on my stomach. When I called the ambulance, DS was blue 😳. But by the time they arrived 5 minutes later DD was screaming....and I had promised DD a biscuit if she stopped crying- which the paramedics said she couldn’t have until drs had checked her! DD still remembers that she was offered....then refused a biscuit- but not that her brother had bounced down the stairs! Social services were called and it took a long time to recover from the guilt (why did I walk down stairs which had no carpet with socks on!???😳😢). But it is now part of our family history!

Arrierttyclock · 19/01/2021 09:53

I remember walking from mothecare to the car when I was 8, sister was 4 abs brother was a newborn. My mum was on her own as my dad worked at sea. We were walking along until someone pointed out that my brother who was in a carry cot thing was actually half way down the street- he'd fallen out and my mum was so
Tired she didn't even notice! He's fine!

grey12 · 19/01/2021 13:11

DD threw herself off the pushchair yesterday Blush She's ok!! Thank God. she's getting really strong and developed for her tender age

Donnas01 · 19/01/2021 16:49

@johnd2

Haha I’m sure my little one will have lots more bumps to come. I think the SS thing took me so off guard and I felt so guilty but now I know and can you expect it with any bumps (hopefully only little ones) to come.
Aw, glad he was okay and you did the right thing in getting him checked. Thank you, that’s so true isn’t it. I’m still so happy I got my DD checked. Really put my mind at ease! Thank you, feeling much better now. Everyone’s kind words and experiences have really helped

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Donnas01 · 19/01/2021 16:54

@Swarskid2184

Oh my I’m so sorry that happened to you, that must have been terrifying! So lovely to hear they were both okay in the end and like you say, family history now. Kids memories are so funny!

Thank you for sharing your experience and it’s so easily done! The guilt is hard but they were okay in the end and in my case was a lesson learnt (im always putting his cream on when he’s on the floor)! Thank you and all the best

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Donnas01 · 19/01/2021 16:56

@Arrierttyclock

Wow that must have been so hard to do all by herself! And I can totally get the exhaustion and I only have one little baba to deal with.

Glad he was ok! Shows they are tougher than we think!

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fairydustandpixies · 19/01/2021 17:14

A similar thing happened with my DS1 when he was a baby. The health visitor clinic was on so I bundled him into the pram and took him straight there. The HV gave me such a bollocking that I burst into tears - she then tried to calm me down, told me not to worry and that she accidentally broke her son's leg when he was young!! My DS1 was perfectly fine btw as I'm sure your baby is.

Donnas01 · 19/01/2021 18:52

@grey12

Aw I’m so sorry (the worry when it happens is sickening isn’t it) but so happy she’s alright. They are so much stronger than they look and than they even realise themselves im sure. Hope your okay as well and weren’t too shaken up!

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Donnas01 · 19/01/2021 18:58

@fairydustandpixies

Such a shame your HV did that. You would have already been feeling the mum guilt. I know I did and probably would not have been able to hand someone telling me off like that. It made me feel better the next way when the nurses thought I was a bit over the top bringing him in haha doctors were lovely as well but weren’t too bothered if I had wasted anyone’s time. Broken leg! Oh my. I’m sure she felt horrible. She probably just never wanted you to do it again but not realising you wouldn’t anyway (I sure won’t!, cream is always being put on him in the floor!). So glad your DS was okay! My DD was fine, not even a red Mark (didn’t know that when I panicked of course, only when I was on the phone). Thanks for sharing and glad your were all okay!

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Suzi888 · 19/01/2021 19:05

Accidents can and will happen. It’s worse when they are babies because they can’t talk and seem so fragile. I was a first time mum and quite panicky too.
The hospital will always ask if social services are involved, when I took my little one the doctor apologised for having to ask the question (we had already been asked several times!) it’s just standard.

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