If your child fell on their back or neck, or hit their head, we suggest that you seek emergency pediatric trauma care if they have any of the following symptoms:
Severe neck or back pain
.
Inability to move a body part
.
Weakness, tingling, or numbness in chest, arms or legs
.
How do you know if your child is OK after a fall?
Changes to watch for include
inconsolable crying or fussiness, vomiting more than once, balancing difficulties when sitting or walking, and being unresponsive
. If your child is exhibiting any of these symptoms, or has any significant swelling over the site of the injury, you should take them to the doctor right away.
What injuries can a child get from falling down the stairs?
You can sustain an endless possibility of injuries from falling down the stairs. Minor injuries that can result include
sprains, strains, bruises, and minor cuts and scrapes
. More serious injuries, like broken bones, spinal injuries, deep lacerations and concussions, can also occur from a stair fall.
When should you take toddler to ER after fall?
If a child is less than two years of age and sustains a fall more than three feet, or if a child is over two years of age and has sustained a fall more than five feet, a trip to the Emergency Room is in order.
How long should you monitor a baby after a fall?
Keep a close watch for the next
24 hours
“Usually, once you’ve passed that 24-hour mark, it’s safe to say that anything scary is less likely,” Dr. Ye Mon says. Babies are likely to want to go to sleep after a fall, whether they have a concussion or not.
How do you tell if a toddler has a concussion?
- Dizziness or balance problems.
- Double or blurry vision.
- Sensitivity to light and noise.
- Zoning out or daydreaming.
- Difficulty concentrating and remembering recent events, confusion.
- Mood changes – such as irritability, anxiety, sadness, or nervousness.
When toddlers fall and hit their head?
If your baby is showing any of these symptoms after experiencing an injury to their head,
call 911 or take them to the nearest emergency room immediately
: uncontrolled bleeding from a cut. a dent or bulging soft spot on the skull. excessive bruising and/or swelling.
Is it normal for a 2 year old to fall a lot?
It’s normal for children to fall frequently as they are learning to walk
. In the early stages of walking/running, a child is learning to plan movements, find their balance and explore new-found independence.
When should I worry about toddler bump?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you call your child’s doctor for
anything more than a light bump on your child’s head
. If your child doesn’t have signs of a serious head injury and remains alert, moves normally and responds to you, the injury is probably mild and usually doesn’t need further testing.
Can falling down stairs cause brain damage?
Falls.
Falls from bed or a ladder, down stairs, in the bath, and other falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury overall
, particularly in older adults and young children.
What should you look for after a fall?
- Thinking/remembering, including difficulty thinking clearly or concentrating, feeling slowed down, and difficulty remembering information.
- Physical, including headaches, dizziness, blurry vision, nausea and vomiting, exhaustion, sensitivity to light or noise, and balance problems.
Should I let my toddler sleep after hitting head?
After a knock to the head, young children are often sleepy, especially if they have cried a lot or it is getting near to a nap time.
If the child seemed well after the bump to the head, it is OK to let them go to sleep
.
How do I know if my toddler hits his head too hard?
- A bump, cut or bruise on the head.
- A visible dent where the blow occurred.
- Child won’t stop crying.
- Headache (which can be difficult to discern in a young toddler because she may just cry, whimper and possibly hold or rub her head)
How do I check for a concussion?
- Headache or “pressure” in head.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Balance problems or dizziness, or double or blurry vision.
- Bothered by light or noise.
- Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy.
- Confusion, or concentration or memory problems.
- Just not “feeling right,” or “feeling down”.
How do you know if toddler broken arm?
- pain or tenderness at the injury site.
- swelling or redness around the injury.
- deformity (unusual shape) of the injured area.
- not wanting to move or use the injured area.
Can a 2 year old get a concussion?
You may think that concussions are only something that can happen on the football field or in older children.
Concussions can actually happen at any age and to both girls and boys
.
How do you treat a 2 year old with a concussion?
Treatment for a concussion:
Sleep or rest quietly for the first 24 hours after the injury
. It is safe for your child to sleep even though your child had a concussion. Give pain medicine as ordered by your child’s doctor for any headaches, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®).
How long after hitting head can concussion symptoms start?
“For some people, the symptoms after a concussion may not become apparent until later in the day,” says Beth Kolar, advanced clinician at Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital, part of Main Line Health, who explains that delayed concussion symptoms may present
24 to 48 hours
after and injury.
How do I stop my toddler from falling down the stairs?
- Keep the stairs clear of tripping hazards. Clear the stairs of toys, shoes and other objects. …
- Use railing guards. Kids are small and they like to squish their bodies through anything they want to fit through, including stair railings. …
- Light the stairs.
Do toddlers go through a clumsy stage?
For the most part,
clumsiness in toddlers is normal as they are still learning about how to move their bodies
. However, there are signs that could suggest something bigger is going on.
How many times a day do toddlers fall?
The average two-year-old falls
38 times a day
.
In fact, pediatricians say it is normal for toddlers to fall, even on flat ground, until 4 years old. Toddlers are learning how to coordinate their movements for this new skill of walking.
