Toddler/newborn injury

[Lk8920]

Hi

In advance - feel truly awful about this and will obviously never let it happen again.

This morning I was changing my 4 week old’s nappy on the bed. Toddler was in our room ‘helping’ me get ready too. She’s very over enthusiastic with the baby so I’d never leave them alone together - but in the genuinely 2 seconds it took for me to get my top over my head, she pulled him off the mat and by the time I got to them was holding him upside down by the top of his legs. He didn’t hit anything, wasn’t dropped on the floor etc, in fact didn’t even cry and seemed pretty chill about it. But I keep imagining it and his head must have jerked back as she pulled him off, and obv for the few seconds (I reckon 2-3) she was holding him upside down his neck would have taken a lot of tension.

Should I do anything? Doctor/A&E feels ridiculous as there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with him. But anything I should look out for that would be worrying? How resilient actually are newborns and has anyone else’s baby ever been dangled upside down? I feel sick to stomach about it and v much my fault. Will never get dressed with them close together again.

Honestly, it’s happened so don’t dwell on the what if’s … as you’ve said, you’ll not leave them alone together, you’ve learned this also means never taking your eyes off your toddler. I would sternly tell your toddler never to do that etc. I would always put your baby in their pram/cot/basket etc before you do anything going forward. Baby sounds fine by what you say, just keep an eye on him and see how he is throughout the day.

Ps .. your title is misleading - there is no injury. Just an understandably worried mum 😊

OP, these things happen, don't beat yourself up. At some point, most people's babies will roll off a sofa, or you'll catch their head on a door frame, or etc. Most of the time no harm is done. I only have one toddler at the moment, but I'm positive other parents will tell you stories from the one second they looked away. I'm sure there will be tales of toddlers trying to take a seat on newborns, or etc.

You've clearly learned your lesson about never taking your eyes off your toddler. If you can, next time pop your baby somewhere the toddler will struggle to access where they might be a bit safer, like their bassinet.

If it will put your mind at rest and you still have access to your community midwife, maybe ring them for reassurance. But your baby sounds fine. Just keep an eye out for signs of concussion or discomfort, though it sounds like no harm was done.

Loads of babies are born hanging upside down with their mums upright. He'll be fine from that point of view.

When my then-baby was in hospital with RSV, the baby next door was in with a fractured skull because his older brother (3) had trod on his head! One of my cousins pushed her brother off their bunk bed and he broke his arm. These things happen...

These things happen but I would be quite stern with the toddler, that's not ok. And I think over time, it will become more difficult to keep an eye on both of them at the same time so closely so the behaviour needs addressing now.