Feel like worst mum on planet

[ThatBusyRedWriter]

Yesterday evening I placed my just turned 1 year old in his highchair and I think for the first time ever forgot to strap him in, got distracted by something and then when it came to taking him out of the chair for his bath, I unclipped the tray, turned to put the tray on dining table (obviously forgetting he wasnt strapped in) and in the split second I was doing that I heard a thud as he’d launched himself face first onto the wooden floor.
he screamed straight away, his mouth was full of blood, I took him straight to A&E in floods of tears and he was absolutely fine, just a tiny cut to his lip which looked a lot worse than it was when it first bled.
doctor was happy to send us straight home, said cut will heal in 2-3 days.
I expected him this morning to have a bruised and swollen face but he looks completely normal and the cut isn’t even obvious today,
I just can’t stop thinking about it and crying, I know accidents happen but I keep going over it in my head and telling myself I’m stupid and careless, probably not helped by my mum having a go at me, telling me I need to be more vigilant (which I usually am) and making remarks such as ‘you might not be so lucky next time’
not really sure why I’m posting other than please tell me I’m not the only one to make such a careless mistake??

Oh love, be kind to yourself - you're not the worst mother in the world, as if you were you wouldn't feel so crappy over one mistake. I've never done that, but I have lost count of the number of times I've bashed her head on the car door or she's fallen off the bed etc

Oh @ThatBusyRedWriter I've done something similar - my poor baby lost a tooth as a result and it was honestly one of the most awful times of my life. I still haven't forgiven myself and I never will. Every time she smiles, I remember! So I know that horrible, sickening feeling. It's so traumatic - the only comfort I can take from it is that DD is absolutely fine, doesn't remember and isn't really aware that she's missing a tooth, and her adult ones will come in soon enough. I just wanted to let you know that you're not the only one to have an accident like this

I once tripped over, sprained my knee, and as I fell, dropped my three-month-old daughter into a newly dug 4ft deep trench that had been left without a cover when they were putting in new sewage pipes.

They kept her in hospital for 24 hours for observation, but she had absolutely no ill effects at all, not even a scratch or a bruise. I, on the other hand, was limping for weeks. All the support I got from MiL was “you should look where you are going.”

I walked in the house with my newborn fresh from the hospital and smacked her head against the door frame. I sobbed for literally hours.

I don't know a parent who hasn't had a accident with their baby/small child. Be kind to yourself x

If you were a bad mother you wouldn't be upset! It was just an accident, now is the time to be kinder to yourself and say you're doing your best.

I remember putting my baby into one of those bumbo seat things, picking her up to try and get her out of it and she wouldn't come out so I shook her to try to get it to drop off, just for a second but then I went cold thinking what have I just done.... It was just an absent minded moment. That was 5 years ago and no harm done but at the time I was petrified id hurt her.

Talk about helpful reaction from your mum 🙄

If it makes you feel better:

Aged around 1, was in living room with DM and Afghan hound. Phone rings, and goes to hallway to answer (this was 1980s), my DF on phone. DM says “I’ve left Waney with the dog!” Goes back in to living room….sees I have crawled over to DDog and stuck my fingers in his nostrils! DM couldn’t believe DDog just calmly lay there and let me do it, anyone else would’ve had no chance.

Moved in new house when I was around 5. Went into cupboard under stairs and promptly fell into the cellar as the floor had been taken away and nobody told me.

About 9, playing in garden with my brother, DM had nipped into the house and I decided to see if I let go of the chains on the swing I would be able to fly backwards over next doors fence. Instead I smashed my head straight into it.

Mistakes happen, kids can do things and hurt themselves. I think humans are pretty robust! Relax, have cuddles and a brew.

Edited to add - Sorry just realised this is a very old thread! No you’re not the worst at all. It was an accident and you’re obviously an excellent mother because it’s upset you so much.

My eldest when she was 4 used to ask sit on m the front bottom bit of the pram for a ‘ride’. I used to normally say no but one day I needed to get home quickly and she was being like a snail so I said ‘oooo do you want to sit on the front of the pram’ she was loving the ride. It was dark and October and I was walking quickly up the hill with the pram and I didn’t realise she had slipped off the front until I literally ran her over. Poor poor baby had leaves and mud all over and and had scraped her face. I was absolutely distraught and couldn’t stop crying either. Accidents happen. She was totally fine. A bit shook up but done. She Got a macdonalds out of it, never did it again!