Guilt

[laraeo]

So while I was drying my hands I watched in horror as my 9 month DS rolled once and before I could get to him, rolled again off the bed. This was about 15 minutes ago. He landed just flat out face down. We both screamed. I feel like an abject failure although I know that this sort of thing has happened to others before. I've called my clinics after hours number and am waiting for a call back. Other than the red mark on his forehead, he seems fine now but I am absolutely shattered and am still shaking. How will I know if there's something wrong internally? How do you know if he has a concussion?

babies tend to bounce and have lots of knocks and falls, is he alert? are his eyes glazed or is he pale or sleepy? If not he is prob fine but get himc checked out just in case and stop hurting yourself, its an everyday accident!

Don't feel guilty, this happens all the time. Just make sure he's not abnormally sleepy/drowsy or vomiting. They are more resiliant then we think, it does shock the hell out of us though. The clinic will talk to you when they call you back but try not to worry. I used to work in a childrens A&E and have seen alot of babies do this. My own ds did this alot! It's the shock that upsets them rather than any injury.

Babies bounce Mine does/did. The number of times he's fallen off beds, sofas etc is shocking.
Please don't feel guilty, it wasn't your fault accidents happen.
Like everyone else has said, if he is alert and responsive, knows who you are and isn't floppy, he's fine.
You're in a worse state than he is I should think.
I dropped ds down a few steps when he was about 3 weeks old, flat on his face, but he was fine. I was in a state for days!!
I have heard that you should try to keep them awake for 3 hours to make sure everything's ok.

I just talked to the GP who basically said the same thing - i.e. babies are pretty resiliant and based on DS's current behavior, he should be fine. He's definitely alert and responsive and NOT drowsy (which is ironic since it's past his bedtime). It was definitely a shock for both of us. Stupid bed. Thanks for the support. We're going to read a bedtime story, have a bf and see if at least one of us can get some sleep.

It'll be OK. Just remember to pop him on the floor next time with a stair gate in the door frame to stop houdini from escaping. He can't fall if he's already on the floor!

I'm surprised ds doesn't have a flat head due to all the times he fell off the bed.

Well, we just had a nice story, bf, and he's fast aslee. With my luck, tonight will be one of the rare nights he sleeps through and I'll be up every hour to check on him. I'm glad to hear everyone's DC's have bounced back from their various falls. Tomorrow it's all floor, all the time .

Like I said earlier, I've had a few accidents with ds and IMO, it helps us as parents for things to come, like when they get fingers trapped in doors, fall over on that first walk outside, when they bang their heads on tables, to have things like this happen early gives us the reassurance that they will survive these little knocks and makes it easier for us to deal with latter incidents.

15mo dd has hit her head sooo many times today, and has so many lumps and bruises on it i'm surprised she's not concussed.

think thats what comes of being a stroppy little madam who throws herself backwards in rage if i say no.

hopefully your little boy will be fine, they are resilient aren't they?

DS2 has fallen off our bed too mant times to mention. I will add it was when DH was watching tv him.

If it's any consolation, my uncle is a paramedic and told me that he was called to a scene the other day where a newborn had fallen 5 STOREYS from a balcony onto concrete and had no injuries at all!

Babies are amazing!

OMG Squitten

SQUITTEN How in the name of god does a newborn fall 5 storeys???

My DS now 2.5 has fallen loads of times! Off the bed out of his highchair(he managed to undo the clips and stand up when I went to grab pudding) hafway down our stairs.

Most of the time he laughs and its me who ends up in a state! Don't feel guilty it prepares us parents and the kids for future falls!

Holy mackeral! 5 Storeys!!! I checked on DS a bunch before I went to bed last night. He woke at 1am as usual for a quick feed and then went back to sleep. Up at 6:15am as normal. You can barely make out the red mark on his head and he's certainly his feisty self. I now understand why many mom's aren't so keen on contact sports! I emailed DH, who's overseas, this morning and tried to explain about prepping us for the future falls but I don't think he's convinced. I think he's wondering what the heck was I doing to let DS fall off the bed .

Glad he's ok.
Think that's just men, must be hard for him being away from ds.