Feel like people are starting to judge my ds2's bruises...help needed.

[grumblingirl]

DS2 turned one earlier this month and has been walking for about 6 weeks. He now climbs anything, runs about the house and wrestles his brother. He has no judgement about what is safe (of course, he's only 12 months) and holds no fear about climbing up flights of stairs & bookcases or launching himself off the sofa onto our hardwood floor. Today (so far) he has: got a tv table shaped bruise on his forehead, pulled the pram on top of himself so he was trapped face down under it, trapped his fingers in the washing machine door and has a massive bruise on his thigh from flipping himself out of his bath seat.

Last week I had three seperate comments from people about bruises on his head and cheek. I'm absolutely sure he's so accident prone because he's so tired all the time. He night wakes constantly and his one day time nap is literally 20 minutes long. I'm starting to feel paranoid because of the comments. I'm also convinced that it won't be long before we end up in hospital because he falls so much. Anyone got any experience of this? I do watch him closely and we have put in safety gates/fireguards/cupboard locks but he still manages to hurt himself several times a day. I really am at my wits end with it all.

The only thing I can suggest is ultravigilance. Gate off certain rooms altogether - ds2 is not allowed in the kitchen at all. Ditch the bath seat (our dss came out of these by 8 months as we found they just aren't safe beyond that). Pram folded up and put away to he has no access to it (we store ours in the car boot!)

If you're concerned about any clumsiness perhaps see GP? Who were the comments from? I think we're all hypersensitive to this at the mo for obvious reasons.

I know what you mean. My dd has always been accident prone,covered in bruises for most of her life. She is 16 now,and still manages at least a couple of bruises a week

When she started at reception, her nursery teacher was at the parents meeting and told me that the teachers at school did wonder about my dd's numerous bruises until they actually got to know her and they saw for themselves how clumsy she could be.
I also used to worry about what people might think, but as long as your ds is well and happy, others will see the bruises for what they are...childrens bumps and scrapes.

This is just a guess really...but do you think your ds could do without her twenty minute nap, maybe it will help with his night sleep?

The boy was/is always covered in bruises. A friend of mine who works for DOCS (the Australian Social Services) told me that there are a "pattern" of bruises that teachers/doctors etc worry about and that they can usually tell the difference.

DS always has a bruise on face somewhere (usually forehead/eyebrow), and his shins are permanently black and blue.

There really isn't much you can do, they are going to fall over - you can soften it as much as possible but fall they will!

Just remembered...school thought my ds's clumsiness was maybe down to her being dyspraxic.
Saying that though...they also thought that because she wore one school sock up and one down, that was more proof about her possible dyspraxia.
Needless to say my ds did not have dyspraxia...she was just clumsy and not really fashion conscious at the age of 3.

On a serious note though, maybe if you had a word with your gp if you suspect it is something more than clumsiness.

juicyjolly, a couple of years ago the teenagers at the youthgroup I used to work with had a style that involved rolling up trousers to differing lengths and rolling down socks unevenly as well - truly bizarre.

My DD is 20 mo. She has a bruise on the side of her face from where she ran into something at nursery; marks on her nose and a bruise on her cheek from climbing the bookcase and it falling on her; and a fading bruise on the other cheek from banging into the bedside table.

You are not alone

DS was like this - we went to A & E three times after falls (no injury though). He has never been without a bruise, he is very adventurous! He fell out of bed last night though (a low toddler bed aswell!) and bruised his cheek under his eye, but I kept him off pre-school because I am abit scared they will say I hit him (it does look like someones punched him in the eye ) He did have a cough aswell, so probably would have stayed off anyway. My house is baby proofed up to the eye balls bt he still finds something to bounce off!

DS was covered in bruises at this age. I've heard that "professionals" tend to distinguish between bruises in the sort of places that toddlers naturally bash and bruise as they overreach themselves and bruises in other places, but "random people in the street" don't necessarily. I know I was glad that many of DS's were acquired at nursery so that there were entries in the accident book with names of witnesses to prove that, yes, he had just randomly run into the wall again .

I'd ditch the bath seat too, and obviously try to be vigilant, but don't worry too much. Have you made sure that all your heavy furniture (chests of drawers, bookcases etc.) is tethered to the wall?

morloth...But is it as weird as wearing your clothes back to front.

Thank god we missed out on that crazeee style, lol.

Oh grumblingirl, this kind of made me smile as it SO reminded me of DD2 at this age!! She started walking at 11 months and from that time on believed (and still does believe) that she is the same age and abilities as DD1 (who is 2 yrs older). However vigilant I was we none the less had numerous trips to A&E (e.g. bounced off the sofa onto the coffee table - cue blood everywhere and bust head, climbed out of high chair (HOW, what are the straps for??????????) and landed head first on floor, cue suspected broken nose, hideously bruised face and referal to ENT specialist post A&E; bounced off DD1's bed face first into bedside table), honestly I became such a head injury regular at A&E I was almost embarrassed to go again and last time I went they undressed her completely and checked her over - I was so humiliated, no doubt checking for signs of abuse or something. I promise you I am not a careless parent and our house is about as babyproof as possible. DD1 has NEVER been to A&E!!! They grow out of it once they get a bit more stable.

Just to warn you, she was climbing out of (and back into) her cot by 18 months so has been in a bed since then, so watch out for that.

DD2 is now 21 months and has had no hideous injuries recently - sure she is covered in scrapes and bruises, but they are a bit more normal - cut knees and such like! He'll be fine in a couple of months, in the mean time just do your utmost to be vigilant

Ds is 2.6yo and still like your dsd. Will climb on anythihng launch himself off and then run off laughing as if he hadn't just bumped his head/arm/leg etc. Normally has a few bruises on him, or scratches but you only have to be in his company for five minutes to understand! People may look at bruises and think oooh blah blah blah but the people who matter ie nursery, school, drs etc will have a relationship with YOU and your ds and will not bat an eyelid. Trust me!

Thanks to all for replying. A bit of reassurance goes along way. It's good to know it's not just my child who literally bounces off the walls. A playground mum, my friend and my MIL all made comments but they were all said in a totally normal 'boys will be boys' way. Guess I'm just over sensitive at the moment. I'm sure he thinks he's 5 like his brother. The bath seat went in the back yard yesterday btw!