8 MONTH OLD FELL DOWN THE STAIRS!!! TOP TO BOTTOM!!

[whatamess100]

I feel fucking horrendous, 8m ds, just stared crawling, just got a gate and not put it up yet, went to the loo with him,took my eye off the ball for 30 seconds because older ds (8) was sat with him, next min he fell down the stairs, i chased him down but i just wasnt quick enough, he cryed but nothing like i was expecting, ive seen worse when hes fell back on his bum when he trys to pull himself up. he has a lump on the side of his head but its only small. i feel fucking awful, im such a shit mother, im tired and i fucked up. He's alert, chatting,babbling and blowing raspberries.

Do i take him the drs or A and e? Or just monitor.

Im still shaking,please be kind i know im shit.

I think because of the visible head bump going to A&E is the right choice, but honestly don't feel shit, my son fell down the stairs top to bottom aged about 3 and he was absolutely fine, just shocked. It happens to lots of kids (and adults!) because it's so easy to do.

Also having had a child with a severe head injury the difference was noticeable from other times my kids have hit their heads and bounced back. Concussion is brutal and you must watch for signs of it, but to me it was immediately obvious something wasn't right so if your little one is cheery I would feel reassured (but do get them checked!)

Firstly, don’t panic.

I’m an A&E nurse, we see this loads, either with newly crawling babies or baby gates just haven’t clicked closed properly and parents haven’t realised. The fact he cried straightaway and is presumably acting like his normal self is really. He is probably absolutely fine, they generally are. Having said that I’d probably pop to A&E and get him checked out, top to bottom is quite a long way. They’ll probably just check him over and keep an eye on him for a few hours then send you home.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. My son rolled off a changing table at 7 months (I had my hand on his stomach but crouched to pick something up and he rolled of regardless) - I completes panicked and felt horrendous and ran him to our GP up the road who kindly saw him and were very reassuring.

Accidents happen. You didn’t do it on purpose.

I would get him checked over. Don’t feel bad, it happens a lot. My dd fell off a bed onto a tiled floor at a similar age….a half sibling was supposed to be watching her. These things happen, chances are he is fine but worth getting him checked.

A&E 100%! I’m sorry that happened x

It's good that you're taking him to A&E. He's very young, so you would probably spend too much time wondering if he's ok because he can't actually tell you. You should try not to be too hard on yourself. When my two were that age, I considered it a major achievement when I got them to the end of the day alive and intact (lighthearted btw, in case anyone decides to have a go.) My eldest was the most cautious baby/child ever and yet I seemed to be at A&E with him all the bloody time. DS2 was pretty much climbing as soon as he could crawl and into everything, yet he never ended up at A&E (apart from asthma and sticking a bead up his nose!)

I fell down the stairs, top to bottom, at roughly the same age. I screamed like a banshee but no harm done. My mother still feels guilty about it.

I am 47.

Go easy on yourself. Hope you all feel better soon.

Hi @whatamess100 I've not RTFT but only your posts. Thank goodness you've taken him to A and E absolutely get him checked.

Hope all is ok what an utter shock.
I remember that someone told me when mine were small that babies 'bounce' and we are built to not get too much damage done at a small age through falls like adults.

Honestly you’re not a bad mum! I do think if you felt completely unconcerned that would be worrying but many of us have had similar accidents happen. I know many have said the same but wanted to add my voice to that.

I'd call GP for an appointment. They are normally good for giving you an app for anyone below year old. If they say no then call 111 who will likely be able to get you a GP app. I would not be going to a & e for this.

Please don’t be so hard on yourself, you are absolutely NOT a shit mother. Accidents happen and I understand you must have felt utter shock and will still be on high alert now.

For peace of mind I would definitely get him checked out at the doctors, there will be no judgement. Be kind to yourself you sound like you have a lot on at the minute, we’ve all been there. Sending hugs 🤗

As you feel you can't get there alone or for a while I would have suggested you ring 111 while you wait for reassurance..

Going to continue with the pile on of this happens so often, get it checked out but don't worry. Our firstborn fell down the stairs at about the same age, and again a few weeks ago I heard "Stop playing at the top of the stairs" followed by boom boom boom as hey fell down it at age 6. Checked them out and they were fine then screamed at them to finally listen. do you understand now that we are trying to keep you safe stop ignoring us etc etc etc still hasn'tcompletely taken as they STILL play games on the stairs you can take a horse to water, but you can't make them drink

This. Top to bottom of stairs is a long way for a DC to fall. Just get checked in case of internal injuries or fractures.

You’re not. You’re human. We all fuck up sometimes!

Id watch and monitor x

@whatamess100 don't be too hard on yourself - for all our efforts to keep them safe, accidents can and do happen. Give him a big hug and take him to A+E to get checked out.

Accidents happen. Most parents I know have had a baby or toddler go down the stairs.

The only thing you did wrong here was not taking them to be checked out immediately. You drive or get taxi immediately to A&E, call partner and they pick older child up from you and take to school late if needs be.

There will always be "perfect parents" looking to blame women in this situation.

I practically had a season ticket to A&E when my four were growing up. Most of us have had near misses and actual accidents when children move unexpectedly or for the first time and some children seem more prone to it than others.

Get him checked over, get the gate up, start moving anything from low shelves because the next stage can be climbing. A playpen can also be useful when they are at the "mobile and brainless" stage.

Its impossible to watch a child every second of every hour - focus on tactics to contain him for when you need to attend elsewhere.

Inappropriate.
GP appointment would take time and delay being seen from first triage. Also GPs don’t have any access to imaging. They dont have access to a paeds A&E doctor or paeds. They don’t have a waiting room they can watch the child in. They don’t have bays and beds they can keep the baby in for monitoring.
Of course A&E is the right place for an ACCIDENT where a baby fell down an entire flight of stairs with a head injury.

You are not a terrible mum . I hope all is OK.
My oldest when about 16 months . And walking . Had hold of my hand at the top of the stairs to step down one by one with me . No problems in the past doing this.
Suddenly very fast and with determination moved her hand put it in the air like superman and jumped down all the stairs. I tried to grab her and ran down after her screaming with fear.
She didn't even cry . Not one bump or bruise .
I was shaking with shock for ages after .
Turned out she is autistic and this sort of thing became somthing she would try alot .
We just got really good at stopping or predicting her plans after the incident.

First off, you are not a shit mother, these things happen, also shit mothers don't worry about being shit mothers. At 8 months old id bring him to a&e

A GP is not appropriate for this!

We have Accident & Emergency for accidents and emergencies.

It wasn’t a mistake, it was an accident- you didn’t get it wrong it just happened the same way most accidents do.
Hope you’re soon home from
A&E and everything’s ok and you relax a bit and forgive yourself a lot and just calm down for a nice weekend.

A&E head injuries need to be checked, particularly when it comes to babies.

It happened to DS when he was one, he hit himself in the head twice before hitting it several times against the banisters towards the bottom. He was in such shock he didn’t even cry, he couldn’t move his legs either. So ambulance called, was taken straight into A&E and released one hour later.

And then he had a proper cry … because he was not allowed to go back home in an ambulance!

Don’t blame yourself or your other child, these things happen. I am sure he is fine but it is better to have him checked just in case.

@whatamess100

How are you getting on?

pay no attention to nasty and/or sanctimonious posters.

shit happens, none of us think it's 'ok' but it is life! Youre not a bad mum, you're a normal mum!

DS sounds like he's absolutely fine, but I'd have taken him to be checked out too!

make sure your older child doesn't feel responsible or guilty!

Do something nice after school