You cover all the sharp edges on your furniture. You plug all the electrical sockets, latch all the drawers and block off the staircase. You’ve baby-proofed your house to the best of your ability. Show
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy But, inevitably, the day will come when your child gets hurt. For some parents, that day comes when they turn their back to grab a diaper and baby rolls right off the changing table. Or they’re carrying baby along with a load of laundry down the stairs and trip and fall. In this gut-wrenching moment of panic, you might be inclined to immediately pick your baby up off the floor and rush to the emergency room. But take a moment to breathe and observe first. Sometimes babies need emergency medical attention after falling, and sometimes they’re just fine. You, of course, want to be sure your baby gets the medical attention they need, but you also don’t want to put them through unnecessary stress – and rack up medical bills — from an unneeded ER visit. Pediatrician Ei Ye Mon, MD, provides some advice to assist in your decision-making. Babies and fallsThis scenario happens more often than you might think. Falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries in kids, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In children under age 1, falls account for over 50% of nonfatal injuries. And most of the time, children are not severely injured. But infants under 12 months of age have more fragile skulls, which makes falls more risky for them, Dr. Ye Mon says. “The younger they are, the more dangerous it is for a serious head injury, no matter the mechanism of the fall or how high it is,” she says. Is it an emergency?It can be hard to tell whether infants have sustained an injury or are in pain, but there are a few key signs to look for. Before picking up a child after a fall, check for obvious signs of head trauma, which would warrant an immediate call to 9-1-1 for emergency help. Those signs include:
If any of these signs are present, avoid the urge to pick up your child and comfort them. “With head traumas, it’s possible that they’ve also injured their neck or spine, and you don’t want to possibly worsen the injury by moving them,” Dr. Ye Mon says. A deformity anywhere on the body that looks like it could be a broken bone should also be treated as an emergency. If the baby is having a seizure after a fall, gently roll them to their side before calling 9-1-1, she adds. If the child is alert and crying (that’s a normal reaction for a startled baby, even when there is no injury), and there are no obvious signs of injury, gently pick them up and console them. “If they don’t improve after you console them, then I would be concerned,” Dr. Ye Mon says. Keep a close watch for the next 24 hoursSymptoms of an injury might not be obvious right away, so even if you don’t think emergency medical care is needed, keep a close eye on your baby’s behavior over 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. Dr. Ye Mon says it isn’t necessary to try to keep them awake to monitor them, but you should try waking them every few hours to make sure they’re rousable. If they’re not, seek immediate medical care. If you notice any behavior that is out of the ordinary – if your baby is more fussy than usual or inconsolable – that’s something that should be checked out by a doctor, too. And, if you have other reasons to suspect that your baby is injured, trust your parental instincts.
Prevention is keyYou can’t talk about falls without talking about preventing them in the first place. Dr. Ye Mon recommends that babies do not sleep in adult beds or on other elevated surfaces unattended – even if you think they aren’t rolling yet. It’s even smart to place car seats or bouncy seats on the floor instead of a chair or kinds of elevated furniture that they could potentially fall off of. And as hard as it is, try not to multitask. Use both hands to carry a baby and ensure that their neck is always supported. Babies are generally very fidgety, and it is quite common for them to fall off a bed while napping or sleeping. If this happens, it is essential to assess the situation calmly and to look carefully for signs of injury. Even though it can be frightening, a fall from a bed does not usually cause any serious harm. However, injuries are possible, so caregivers should be aware of signs indicating that a baby needs a medical check after a fall. Read on for information on what to do if a baby falls, the possible injuries that it can cause, and how to care for them afterward. When a baby or toddler falls off a bed, it is vital to remain calm and quickly assess the situation. Immediately call 911 without picking the baby up if:
Moving a baby with a head or spine injury can cause serious complications. However, if the baby is in a place where there is a risk of further injury, it is okay to move them gently to a safer location. If the baby is vomiting or having a seizure, gently turn them onto their side. Make sure to keep the baby’s neck straight while rolling them over. It is fine to pick up the baby and comfort them if they are conscious and do not appear to have any serious injuries. Gently check them over, paying close attention to their head for bumps, bruises, or other injuries. Check the rest of the baby’s body, including the arms, legs, chest, and back. If the baby does not show any visible signs of injury and does not appear to be acting differently, it should be sufficient to monitor them closely for a short time to make sure that nothing changes. Several possible injuries can result from a fall, including: ConcussionShare on PinterestA doctor should assess head injuries in case of concussion.A concussion is a type of head injury that typically occurs when a blow to the head causes the brain to jolt inside the skull. It can be difficult to detect a concussion in a baby or toddler because they cannot easily tell a person their symptoms. Signs of a concussion in an infant include:
Scalp injuriesThe scalp is the skin covering the head, and it contains many small blood vessels. Even a minor cut or injury can bleed a lot, so it can look more serious than it is. Sometimes, bleeding in and under the scalp can cause a bump or swelling to appear on the baby’s head, which may take a few days to go away. Skull fractureThe skull is a bone that surrounds the brain. It is possible for a fall from a high place to break it. Infants with a skull fracture may have:
Take the baby to the emergency room immediately if they have any of these signs. Brain injuryThe brain is a delicate structure that contains many blood vessels, nerves, and other internal tissues. A fall can damage or injure these structures, sometimes severely. It is important to call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if the baby shows any of these signs after falling off a bed:
Parents and caregivers have a powerful intuition. If something seems wrong with a baby, it is essential to take them to see a doctor. It is always better to be safe and to make sure that no serious injuries occurred. Share on PinterestA doctor may recommend rest for a baby after a fall.A baby might be a little sleepy after a fall, especially if it happened during or after a nap or bedtime. It may be helpful to let the baby rest. However, the doctor might recommend waking up the baby at regular intervals to check on them. Waking the baby can make it easier to detect any signs of a more severe head injury developing. The baby should:
If any of these are not the case, check back in with the doctor or seek emergency care. Falling off a bed can cause head, neck, or body pain in the baby. Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can help to make the baby more comfortable. It is best to check the medication type and dosage with the doctor. Rest is the best treatment after any head injury. Parents and caregivers should promote quiet activities for a few days and ensure that the infant avoids rough play. Preventing falls is the best way to keep a baby from getting a head injury. However, accidents do happen. After a fall, it is important to re-evaluate safety and child-proofing in the home. Never leave a baby on an adult bed without supervision, even if pillows are in place to prevent them from getting close to the edge. In addition to falls, adult beds pose the risk of other types of accident, including entrapment or suffocation injuries. Also, do not place a car seat or bouncy seat on top of an elevated surface, even after strapping in the baby. Always put the baby to bed in a crib that has a tight-fitting mattress and sheet. The crib should not contain soft bedding that could trap or suffocate the baby. Even though it is scary for both the caregiver and the baby, most falls do not cause serious injuries. After a fall, it is important to stay calm and quickly assess the baby. Seek emergency care immediately if necessary. Understanding and using fall prevention measures can help to stop a fall from happening or reoccurring. How do I know if baby is OK after falling off bed?If your child falls out of bed and has symptoms of drowsiness, vomiting, spitting up, or if the child is whining or won't wake up, this could be a sign of brain injury and you should take the child to see a doctor immediately. If your child has been cut or is bleeding, take him or her to see a doctor immediately.
How long should I watch my baby after falling off the bed?Keep a close watch for the next 24 hours
Babies are likely to want to go to sleep after a fall, whether they have a concussion or not. Dr. Ye Mon says it isn't necessary to try to keep them awake to monitor them, but you should try waking them every few hours to make sure they're rousable.
Can I let my baby sleep after falling off the bed?Even if your child has had a little bump and doesn't need to see a doctor right away, keep an eye on him for a few days. There's no need to prevent him from sleeping, and a restorative nap after an emotional trauma like a scary fall can be comforting.
What to do if baby falls off bed and hit head?Call the doctor immediately
As for the bleeding, bruising, or a bump on the head that's previously mentioned, you can call the doctor to find out what to do next to administer first aid. In fact, anytime a fall occurs, especially for a young infant, you should call your doctor no matter what.
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What do you do after a baby falls off the bed?
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