The energy of kids contributes not only to the knowledge of the world, but also to getting various kinds of injuries. In crumbs with uncoordinated movements, for the most part, the head suffers. In preparation for the arrival of a new family member, it is worth assessing the home environment in terms of the presence of traumatic objects (for example, furniture with sharp corners) and try to remove them.

But even this will not completely protect the young researcher, because he can fall even on a flat floor, learning to walk. In the event that a child hits his head, you should quickly, without panicking, assess the severity of the injury. It depends on the strength and place of the blow whether it will be just a bump or whether it is worth rushing to the hospital.

Indeed, often a forehead blow is accompanied only by a bruise of soft tissues - a lump appears on the head of a child. It is formed in the same way as any bruise, but it will be convex due to the large number of small vessels that burst and fill nearby tissues with blood.

Serious injuries with such a blow are unlikely, since a strong frontal bone reliably protects the head. But you should play it safe and call a pediatrician if a newborn hits his forehead. The younger the victim, the more serious the consequences of a hematoma on the forehead.

However, a strong blow can provoke a traumatic brain injury. The open injury is obvious: there is a wound on the head and obvious damage to the bones. It is treated surgically in combination with the appointment of drugs.

In a closed injury, the skin and bones are intact externally, but there are internal injuries, the signs of which should be known.

Closed craniocerebral injuries vary in severity:

1. When a brain injury usually occurs loss of consciousness, breathing is disturbed. There may be ear or nose bleeding, dark circles around the eyes, speech problems, facial expression disorders due to damage to the facial nerve. For the treatment of a mild bruise, a course of drugs is prescribed, and only a surgeon can eliminate the consequences of a strong one.
2. A concussion from a blow is often diagnosed by doctors and is usually treated with medication without further complications. With a concussion, a child may be unconscious for several minutes, and then experience nausea, vomiting, and a headache. If the doctor prescribed medication and prescribed home bed rest, but the patient has consistently restless sleep or other disturbing signs, it would be useful to call a pediatrician at home.
3. A skull fracture may be suspected by bloody discharge from the ears and nostrils. It is urgent to go to the hospital to do an x-ray. Treatment in this case involves surgery followed by medication.

A blow to the back of the head is no less dangerous

A blow to the back of the head can lead to visual impairment. The occipital lobe of the brain is responsible for the functioning of the organs of vision. Moreover, the consequences may not affect immediately, but after some time. Therefore, even in the absence of complaints from the victim, it would be wiser to quickly show a specialist who knows what to do if the child hits the back of the head.

A rare, but extremely unpleasant complication occurs if the child hits the back of the head on the left side. Sometimes victims develop disturbances in the perception of the surrounding space on the left, they begin to forget everything, sleep poorly, and suffer from headaches. Similar phenomena can be observed with damage to the occiput on the right.

A strong blow to the back of the head can cause a head injury in the same way as a blow to the forehead.

What to do when a mother falls

1. Pity and calm the baby after the fall, and then examine it from all sides, starting with the head, for scratches, bruises, bleeding wounds on the forehead and on the back of the head.
2. Calm down yourself and assess whether the fall was really serious. If the baby slid off the sofa onto the carpet and bumped, then he cries more from fright and gets off with a bruise. But if he fell out of a high stroller and hit his head on the asphalt, mom should worry.
3. A grown child is able to talk about what happened. You should ask him if his head hurts or not, if there is clouding in the eyes. Pupils should not be constricted or dilated.
4. Measure the pulse and compare the data with the age norm (in newborns it reaches 130-140 beats per minute, then it becomes less frequent as they grow older). Deviations from the norm should alert.
5. Eliminate noisy entertainment and visual stress, but do not let sleep. During sleep, it will be more difficult to diagnose a concussion, if one is present.
6. It must be borne in mind that if, after hitting, the child does not cry for several minutes, then most likely he lost consciousness.
7. Treat damaged skin. Small abrasions are disinfected with hydrogen peroxide, after which wound healing ointments are applied. And if the child has stuffed a lump, then cooling compresses are applied to it for 3 minutes to avoid swelling. In case of severe bleeding that could not be stopped in a quarter of an hour, as well as the appearance of the above symptoms, it is worth calling a doctor.
8. Schedule a visit to the clinic soon. It is necessary to show a child who hit his head to a pediatrician to assess the general condition, to an ophthalmologist to rule out visual disturbances after a blow, and to a neurosurgeon to get a referral for a brain examination.

Warning signs to avoid staying at home

If a child falls and hits his head, the most frightening consequence is brain damage. Moreover, its symptoms may not appear instantly, but after a few hours.

Calling an ambulance should be immediate if the following symptoms appear:

• loss of consciousness;
• deviation of the pulse rate from the age norm;
• bleeding from the ears or nose;
• vomiting, diarrhea with traces of blood;
• blue or pale skin;
• darkened skin under the eyes and behind the ears;
• deterioration in coordination of movements, twitching, numbness of the limbs;
• change in pupil size, strabismus;
• lethargy, drowsiness, change in the mode and nature of sleep, tearfulness;
• lack of appetite;
• the child has a bump that is too swollen or has a hollow instead of a bump.

While waiting for the arrival of the doctor, you should put the baby to bed, while distracting him and not allowing him to fall asleep. When vomiting, it is better to turn it on its side so that no liquid enters the respiratory tract. Pain medications taken before the doctor arrives can interfere with the assessment of the baby's condition.

If the child fell on his back and hit, then there is a possibility of spinal injury, you need to handle him very carefully to avoid additional displacement of the vertebrae.

What to Expect Upon Admission to the Hospital

The doctor will examine the victim, ask him or his parents to tell about the blow, clarify whether he hit the back of the head or forehead, assess the damage and inform about further actions.

Probably, the baby will be sent for computed tomography of the brain to exclude hemorrhages and fractures.
Patients up to one and a half years old are examined through a fontanel that has not yet been closed.

How to protect your child's head from blows

With a baby, you should always be on the lookout. This applies even to a newborn, who, it would seem, cannot even turn on his side yet. After all, it is the absence of a mother that can encourage a baby to learn coups right on the changing table.

Such tables are convenient for parents, but, from a safety point of view, a large soft surface (a bed or a blanket spread on the floor) is preferable for changing clothes. Let the baby be always supervised or in a safe area - in the arena.

It is unwise to neglect the seat belts in a wheelchair. Although the baby is not yet able to get out of it, nothing can guarantee that the stroller will not roll over when it hits an uneven surface. Straps will keep the little passenger from falling onto the road. It is not in vain that belts are also provided on high chairs, because a fall from such a height onto the floor or tiles can result in injury.

When the baby begins to explore the space at home and often hits, you need to look at the surrounding objects from the height of his height and secure each sharp corner with silicone pads. For children learning to walk, there are special socks and tights with non-slip soles.

Toddlers often stumble and bump when going down stairs, so you need to keep the child's hand in your hand. While climbing the stairs, you must also hold your hand or secure the little one from behind, as there is a danger of falling on your back.

A lot of injuries happen on the playground. It is dangerous to play next to older children, it is better to distract and take your baby away. If you can’t leave, then the mother should be next to the child. You need to be especially vigilant near swings, carousels and other moving structures.

Children who have shown a desire to learn roller skates or a balance bike should immediately be taught that it is imperative to wear a helmet. The young athlete should also be explained how to fall correctly.

Parents should know what to do if the child still hit his head. And you need to patiently explain to your children how important it is not to bump. Babies just need to be protected, and older children should be taught household safety rules.

The child hit his head - when should you see a doctor, and in what cases can you get by with applying a towel with ice? We will talk about this and the alarming symptoms in babies after falls below.

Why do babies hit their heads most often?

Mechanical trauma to the skull is one of the most common reasons why frightened parents turn to traumatology departments. This is by no means due to the children's "stupidity", but because of the special children's anatomy.

The fact is that in babies under the age of five, the head weighs about a quarter of the total body weight. Accordingly, when falling, it hits first. Since there is no self-preservation instinct yet and coordination is poorly developed, the baby does not put his hands in front of him in flight, hence the increased likelihood of a concussion and other troubles.

They save babies from severe head injuries when falling and “fontanelles” that do not grow up to a year, and a large amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the cranium, which can soften the fall.

Fortunately, most falls turn into only fright and bruises in children and spent nerves of parents. And yet, everyone should know the alarming signs in which it is necessary to provide the baby with first aid.

How to recognize the risk of impact?

When babies start crawling and then walking, they very often stumble, hit, fall (and often from a height greater than their height), as a result of which bumps, abrasions, bruises and bruises appear on the head. How exactly can you recognize how dangerous this particular blow or bump is for the health of a fidget? Is it worth showing the child to a pediatrician, neurologist, or immediately go to the emergency department of traumatology?

Forehead injury

If, after falling or hitting an obstacle, the crumbs have a huge bump on their forehead, this is quite normal. Severe swelling is due to a large number of blood vessels bursting during mechanical trauma in the soft tissues of the skull. Hematomas on the forehead are most often round in shape, they quickly subside and stop bothering the fidget and his parents, in most cases they do not have serious consequences.

However, all this is true for older children, falling and hitting the baby’s head should not be left unattended - show the baby to the pediatrician, even if you think that there is no danger. An experienced doctor will examine the baby and reassure the parents.

Trauma to the back of the head

A blow to the back of the head is a serious reason to go to the emergency room of the pediatric traumatology department or to the pediatrician: often such injuries have quite serious consequences. And the younger the baby, the sooner you need to see a doctor, delay can cost the child his sight, because in the back of the skull there are nerve endings that connect the visual center of the brain and the eyeballs.

In addition to vision problems, the child may have impaired coordination of movements, develop a tremor. The probability of neurological deviations in development is high.

First aid for mechanical injuries of the skull

After a fall, do not hesitate, inspect the bruised area and assess the severity of the injury. Then provide first aid and, if necessary, call an ambulance. If the bump or cut on the head is very large and looks intimidating, take a photo of the wound on a mobile phone for the doctor (swelling of the soft tissues on the head can go away very quickly).

If a large bump or hematoma appears on the baby's head

Soothe the baby and apply a cold compress to the bruised area or just a bottle of cold water wrapped in a thin cloth. Hold the compress for five minutes and remove it for two to three minutes (to restore blood circulation). This will relieve some pain and stop internal bleeding. Then apply the compress again for five minutes. Repeat these steps for about 20-30 minutes - it is during this time that the final formation of the hematoma occurs.

If there is a bleeding abrasion on the forehead or back of the head

With a sterile cotton swab or a piece of bandage moistened with hydrogen peroxide, treat the abrasion, stop the blood by simply pressing a clean, dry bandage to the wound (you need to press lightly, for three to five minutes).

A child older than two years who will tolerate a slight tingle can be disinfected with rubbing alcohol, vodka, or washed with soap and water.

If the blood continues to flow, despite all the manipulations, call an ambulance.

If after the fall you did not find any damage

Behave as usual, calm the baby and caress him. Tirelessly observe his behavior - any oddities should alert you. The child may begin to act up, complain of headaches and nausea, get tired quickly and sleep unusually long - all these are alarm bells indicating a possible concussion or neurological problems.

If your child roars, complains of nausea and migraines, faints and is discoordinated after hitting his head, call an ambulance immediately.

How to behave if there is a slight suspicion of a concussion?

If the baby is old enough to explain his condition to his parents (he can tell where he hurts, that he is sick or dizzy), and you see no good reason to take him to the doctor, but doubts remain, just watch.

• Immediately after the fall, soothe the baby and put it in bed, keep him busy with quiet games and stories, read a book. Explain that everything is in order, but now you need to lie down a little calmly.
• Watch the baby for several hours for the appearance of alarming symptoms. At least three to four hours, do not let us fall asleep: in a dream, you can miss the worsening of the concussion.
• If the child is very small, wake him up at night and monitor the coordination of movements.
• Observe the fidget for three to four days: if no warning signs were noticed during this period, then the injury passed without complications.

Bad Signs in a Head Injury

Any bruised skull requires careful long-term monitoring of parents at home or doctors in a hospital. For reinsurance after an injury, if you decide to leave your baby at home, exclude his physical and mental stress: forbid reading, watching TV or playing computer. The exception is quiet classical music. In the event of the complications described below, show the baby to the pediatrician.

Anxiety symptoms after a blow to the frontal part of the skull

After hitting the forehead or falling face down, the crumbs may experience the following symptoms, indicating dangerous complications:

• a depression (dent) on the forehead instead of the usual bump;
• lump of abnormally large size;
• vomiting and nausea;
• dizziness, fainting;
• uncontrollable crying, hysteria;
• hard breath;
• blanching of the skin of the face;
• cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle;
• enlarged pupils, the appearance of strabismus;
• lethargy and lethargy;
• difficulty speaking;
• discoordination, stiffness of movements;
• ear or nose bleeding.

If a child has at least one of these symptoms after hitting his head, call an ambulance immediately!

Lay the baby on a couch or bed on their back or side (for babies who cannot roll over on their own if they vomit) and do not give any medication on their own: this can make it very difficult for doctors to diagnose.

Anxiety symptoms after a blow to the back of the head

Occipital mechanical injuries can cause all of the above signs, as well as the following symptoms:

• numbness of the limbs;
• memory loss;
• doubling of the image in the eyes;
• loss of consciousness;
• severe headaches and dizziness.

According to statistics, it is the occipital injuries of the skull that most often lead to a concussion, so they need to be taken seriously.

Toddlers fall back during the beginning of independent movement, with light pushes and loss of balance, while teenagers fall during fights, while rollerblading or regular skating. Older children should be made to wear a helmet to prevent injury.

Possible consequences

The head is one of the most important and vulnerable parts of our body, which is why skull injuries can have irreversible consequences that cause trouble for a lifetime. After hitting the head, the child must be observed. It is possible that he will become whiny, start to sleep poorly and learn school material worse.

The consequences of trauma to the frontal part of the skull

Injuries after a blow to the forehead are of several types:

• Open - soft tissues and bones of the skull are damaged, the injury is accompanied by bleeding and loss of consciousness, pain shock. In these cases, immediate hospitalization is necessary.
• Closed - soft tissue and bone are intact. There are varying degrees of severity and require different treatment tactics.

1. A contusion of the brain is a serious condition, usually accompanied by a prolonged loss of consciousness, nose or ear bleeding. There are bruises around the eyes, speech is difficult. One of the facial nerves responsible for facial expressions may be affected.
2. A concussion is a common condition that occurs after a severe trauma to the skull. It is characterized by vomiting and constant nausea, dizziness, cyanosis of the lips and pallor of the skin on the face. In some cases, these symptoms may not be present, but an unusually poor, restless restless night's sleep is a reason to see a doctor. With concussion put weekly bed rest with a minimum of brain activity.
3. Hematoma or bump, accompanied by swelling of the soft tissues. The baby does not cry for long, soon after the pain is eliminated, he calms down and forgets about the incident.

The consequences of trauma to the occipital part of the skull

In addition to the above complications, blows to the back of the head can give the following consequences:

• distraction, inattention;
• discoordination of movements on one side (usually on the one where the blow fell);
• memory impairment;
• insomnia;
• the occurrence of persistent migraines.

How to avoid injury?

1. Never leave a baby on a sofa, bed without sides or a changing table - it can instantly fall. Plant better on the floor or in his crib.
2. If you are sitting on the couch with a baby, put a couple of large pillows on the floor - this will soften the fall in case of your oversight.
3. In a stroller or car seat, always fasten your baby with a seat belt.
4. When the child begins to learn to walk, a dense carpet will come to your aid - the legs do not slip on it, and falling is not so painful.
5. Get fidget socks with rubber pimples on the sole - this will make it easier for him to walk and prevent falls.
6. Encourage your child to wear a safety helmet while rollerblading, skating, cycling or scootering.
7. Protect your apartment as much as possible: buy rubber pads for sharp corners of furniture.

It is difficult to find such a child who would never fall and fill himself with a bump during his childhood. As soon as the little one learns to stand, bumps, bruises and scratches appear on his body. The world around him is so interesting that he begins to actively study it. The consequences of such studies are often head injuries.

Most of the "flights" ends for the little fidget without much damage to health. The bumps that the child has stuffed, as well as abrasions and small wounds, pass quickly without causing much trouble. Everything would be fine, but there are injuries that threaten not only the health of the crumbs, but also life. What to do in this case?

If you hit your head, you should consult with a traumatologist on duty

What are the dangers of hitting the head in young children?

Fidget kids - they constantly jump and run, and therefore fall. As a result of these “flights”, bumps, bruises, abrasions, etc. appear on the head. Some parents do not pay attention, believing that this is normal and nothing needs to be done. This is their main mistake. If the child hits his head, but does not complain about anything, you should still consult a doctor. Signs of injury may not appear immediately, but after some time.

Depending on the complexity and nature of the injury, a head injury can cause:

• epilepsy;
• intracranial hematoma, turning into a tumor;
• encephalitis;
• traumatic meningitis.

When a child falls upside down, he hits his forehead or fontanelle, as a result of which a bump appears. Small vessels are injured upon impact, and the tissue around them is filled with blood. This results in swelling and hematoma. Due to the strong bones of the skull, such injuries do not pose a threat to the life of the crumbs.

It happens that a newborn or an older baby falls on his back. Such a fall could result in injury to the back of the head. Such bruises often cause serious complications that endanger the life of the crumbs.

Neck injury causes:

• loss of consciousness;
• concussions;
• deformation of the cranium with subsequent compression of the brain;
• injury to the tissues of the main organ of the central nervous system;
• tremble in the legs.

Falling, children can damage not only the head, but also the body (dislocate the leg or hit the neck). It is not excluded the possibility of injury to the spinal cord, which is fraught with problems with the musculoskeletal system.

Types and symptoms of head injuries

Head injuries are divided into:

• open;
• closed.

Open TBI is a head injury in which the integrity of the dura mater is broken, that is, the bones of the skull are crushed. The only treatment for these injuries is surgery.

With a closed injury, the skin and bones remain intact. This type of damage includes:

• brain injury - characterized by loss of consciousness, nosebleeds, impaired speech and coordination, darkening of the skin in the eye area;
• bruising of soft tissues - as a result, a bump, a bruise occurs, prolonged crying is noted;
• concussion - can cause fever, severe vomiting, loss of consciousness for a short time, dizziness, clouding of consciousness.

If we consider head injuries in terms of severity, then the most harmless ones are bumps and bruises. They do not require medical attention and go away on their own. Next comes the concussion. It occurs in 90% of all head strikes. In 3rd place in terms of severity - trauma to the brain and its compression, which can lead to rupture of blood vessels. The most dangerous injury is an open craniocerebral injury, which heals very long and hard.

After a fall, you need to carefully monitor the behavior of the child.

What symptoms indicate that a blow to the head in a child has not gone unnoticed and you should immediately consult a doctor? First of all, you need to pay attention to such signs:

• tearfulness, not characteristic before;
• loud crying;
• lethargy, drowsiness;
• eye pupils have different sizes;
• loss of consciousness immediately after impact;
• nausea and vomiting;
• headache;
• weakness in the limbs;
• sensory disturbances.

If the child is not yet a year old, then the alarming symptoms are:

• bleeding from the ears or nose;
• pale skin;
• protrusion of the fontanel (more in the article:);
• bruises under the eyes (we recommend reading:);
• frequent regurgitation, uncharacteristic for the baby;
• poor appetite or its complete absence;
• problems with vestibulation;
• speech and hearing impairment;
• restless sleep with constant twitching of limbs.

It is not uncommon for young children to fall asleep immediately after hitting their heads and crying for a short time.

The body of infants can react to damage in a different way. Immediately after a head injury, the baby can fall asleep soundly, after which he wakes up full of strength and energy. Parents in this case should not relax much, believing that the fall passed without consequences. Such a reaction of the baby's body can hide the true danger of the injuries received.

Consequences for the child

The consequences of a blow to the head are very different. They depend on which part of the head hit the baby and what is the severity of the injury.

If a child falls down a hill or hits his forehead on the floor or asphalt, then at best he will get off with a bump. A much more serious situation is when a traumatic brain injury becomes a consequence of a baby’s fall, which can be either open or closed:

• open TBI threatens the child with clouding of consciousness, damage to the bones of the skull and a bleeding wound on the head;
• the consequences of a closed TBI are brain bruises or concussion (for more details, see the article:).

If the baby hits the back of the head or fontanel, the outcome can be extremely negative. It can be expressed:

• impaired perception;
• distraction, inattention;
• disturbing sleep;
• memory problems;
• headache (we recommend reading:).

Hitting a baby with the back of the head or fontanel can have very serious negative consequences.

Do not ignore the fact of trauma to the child's head, because even a slight blow can lead to serious consequences:

• disruption of the brain;
• improper regulation of tone, as a result of which blood pressure may increase;
• violation of blood circulation;
• atrophy of the brain as a result of compression;
• increased intracranial pressure;
• cyst formation.

Timely therapy will help to avoid negative consequences. The main thing is not to miss the moment.

How to provide first aid after a fall?

Due to the fact that no child is immune from falls and bumps, every parent should know how to behave if the baby is badly injured. Timely first aid will help minimize the risk of developing serious complications.

To begin with, adults should carefully, but very carefully, inspect the site of the bruise and try to visually determine the severity of the injury. If the child has stuffed a bump or a hematoma has formed at the site of impact, then ice or something cold (for example, a bottle of cold water or a wet handkerchief) must be applied to it without delay. To reduce swelling, a cold compress should be kept for at least 5 minutes.

It is recommended to apply a towel moistened with cold water to the site of the formed hematoma.

The child should be placed on the bed so that the head and spine are at the same level. If suddenly the baby has a fever and vomiting begins, he should be turned on his side. This position will ensure the unhindered departure of vomit. The victim will be able to breathe normally.

If, as a result of a fall, an abrasion has formed on the child’s forehead and blood flows, it is necessary to treat the wound. The procedure will require a solution of hydrogen peroxide. It will prevent infection of the wound by pathogens. When it is not possible to stop the bleeding, an ambulance should be called immediately.

The child may have a headache or dizziness (see also:). He can become too irritable and capricious at the slightest provocation and even without it. The duration of his sleep at the same time increases, and the period of wakefulness, on the contrary, decreases. All of these symptoms may indicate that the victim has a serious head injury or concussion. If nausea, vomiting and loss of consciousness join all this, then parents urgently need to call a doctor.

Quite often it happens that the baby fell and hit his forehead, and there are no visible injuries at the site of the bruise. In this case, parents should observe the baby for several days and note the slightest deviations from the norm in his behavior.

What to do next?

After giving first aid, the child must be reassured. Regardless of the force of impact, the baby needs complete rest. To do this, he should be put to bed and, for example, read a book. It would also not be superfluous to talk to him about what happened and explain that nothing terrible happened, and as soon as he rests a bit, he will be able to play further.

Adults should do everything to keep the baby awake. He cannot be allowed to sleep. Why? Because after injuries, many begin to fall asleep, but in this case, parents may miss the main symptoms that indicate the severity of the damage.

At night, doctors strongly recommend waking the child. This is necessary to check the coordination of the victim. If within a few days after what happened the baby is in good health and absolutely nothing worries him, parents can breathe a sigh of relief and no longer worry about this. The main thing that they must provide is long inactive walks with the child in the fresh air.

Diagnosis and treatment of head injuries

To find out if the baby received a TBI on impact, a number of tests and studies are carried out:

• Ultrasound of the brain for children up to 1.5 years;
• CT or MRI;
• electroencephalogram;
• lumbar puncture.

Ultrasound examination of the neck and head of the baby

If the diagnosis is confirmed, the child is prescribed treatment. It includes:

• a course of medications - anticonvulsants, antispasmodics and sedatives;
• physiotherapy;
• individual mode - absolute rest, which involves the exclusion of active games and any other physical activity, reducing TV and PC viewing.

A concussion in a one-year-old baby or in a child of 2 years and older should be treated in a hospital, so that doctors have the opportunity to monitor the condition of a small patient around the clock. In the department, the baby is guaranteed to receive the physical and psycho-emotional peace he needs. Treatment lasts 7-10 days.

Preventive measures

There is no such pill that could protect the baby from all injuries. But there are a few simple rules that will minimize falls:

• a monthly baby, being on a changing table, bed or in a stroller, should never be left alone;
• changing the diaper, the mother must hold the baby;
• it is better to cover the floor around the sofa with pillows so that the child playing from above does not hurt himself in case of a fall;
• when putting the baby in the stroller, do not forget about fastening;
• the wheels of the stroller in case of a stop must be put on the brakes;
• at home, put on the child socks with rubber inserts that prevent slipping;
• mask each sharp corner in the apartment with special devices;
• hold the baby tightly by the hand, going down the stairs with him;
• When buying roller skates or a bicycle for a child, do not forget to buy a helmet and knee pads.

Hello dear readers. When a child begins to walk, he cannot be completely protected from falls, you can try to ensure his safety by removing all dangerous objects and corners in the path of the little one. However, you cannot completely protect the child from possible injuries. Do not forget that at first the baby will only master the movement in an upright position, so he may fall without maintaining balance, later - his movements will not yet be sufficiently coordinated, so falls are also possible. And what can we say about outdoor games, when the baby can run, stumble and hit his head. Therefore, it is important to know when the child hit his head, what to look for, what symptoms in the behavior of the little one can be considered alarming, and how to provide first aid.

Is there a danger?

There are cases when children under one year old fell out of bed, changing tables, fell out of the stroller. Moms with horror carried their little one to the hospital. But is the fall dangerous for the baby, as we think? The peanut still has unextended fontanelles on its head, it is their presence that absorbs the blow without causing much harm to its owner. In addition, in babies up to two months of age, there is still a sufficient amount of fluid in the head. This prevents serious injury.

Although there are quite serious factors that contribute to the formation of a serious injury after a fall. Therefore, it is important to know what symptoms in the behavior of the little ones after a head injury may indicate a serious development of events and possible problems, and you should also be able to provide first aid. After all, cases are not so rare when a mother unknowingly tries to help a baby, but only makes it worse, contributes to the development of complications after hitting her head.

Anxiety symptoms

1. General change in the well-being of the baby.
2. Strong crying that does not stop for a long time (longer than 15 minutes).
3. Severe headache, dizziness, fainting.
4. General weakness, drowsiness.
5. The occurrence of a convulsive state, paralysis of the arms or legs.
6. Severe nausea, vomiting.
7. Bleeding from the site of injury.
8. Discharge of a clear color or protrusion of blood from the senses.
9. Hemorrhages in the eyeball.
10. Asymmetric pupils (difference in size).
11. Noise in ears.
12. Loss of appetite or its complete absence.
13. Poor sleep with frequent waking up in an anxious state.
14. Pale skin surface.
15. Bluishness under the eyes.
16. Fast or slow pulse.

If at least one symptom appears, it is urgent to go to the clinic or call a doctor, an ambulance at home. Such symptoms, as a rule, indicate the presence of CMP. Therefore, it is better not to aggravate the process with your inaction, but to get a doctor's prescription as soon as possible and give the baby specialized care.

Possible consequences of falling and hitting the head

Despite the unhealed fontanelles, the bones of the skull are still quite fragile and have not completely fused, therefore, serious injury after hitting the head during a fall is not excluded.

If a child is diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, then it has the following classification:

1. Open. A condition in which the mother can visually observe protruding fragments of bones from the surface of the baby's head is characterized by a violation of the integrity of the skin.
2. Closed. With this injury, the damage affects only the brain and, as a rule, does not affect the structure of the bones of the skull and does not violate the integrity of the skin of the head.

Closed CMPs are represented by such brain damage:

1. Injury. Areas of destruction of the substance of the brain appear. Prolonged fainting is characteristic, possibly a violation of respiratory and cardiac activity.
2. Shake. The structure of the medulla remains intact. Characterized by temporary fainting, nausea, vomiting, possible blanching of the skin, drowsiness, lack of appetite, disturbing sleep.
3. Compression. Accompanies injury. Occurs due to fragments of the bones of the skull or ruptures in the vascular system of the head.

First aid

Most often on the forums, parents ask the question, the child hit his forehead, what should I do? Often the baby falls and injures this particular part of the head. Although blows to the back of the head and even to the temple are not uncommon. The latter are especially dangerous. Let's look at what the parents should do if the baby fell and hit his head.

First of all, you should inspect the little one for possible damage. It is important to remain calm. Ask your child about what is bothering him. Children who cannot speak can point to the place where it hurts.

1. If the child hit his forehead and a bump formed at the site of the blow, then first you need a cold compress. If you use ice in any form, be sure to wrap it with a cloth to prevent the development of a burn from the cold. Hold the ice for at least four minutes. This procedure will prevent the formation of severe edema and hematoma or slow down this process.
2. If after a blow to the head the appearance of a bleeding wound is characteristic, it is necessary to moisten a cotton swab, for example, in hydrogen peroxide and blot the wound with it. This will help disinfect damaged skin. If there is prolonged bleeding, lasting more than 10 minutes, this is a rather alarming signal, you better call an ambulance.
3. In cases where, after a fall and a blow to the head, the child has no visible injuries, it is necessary to carefully monitor the behavior and condition of the baby for three to four days. If anxiety symptoms appear, see a doctor.
4. Measure the baby's pulse. If bradycardia or tachycardia is characteristic, this is an occasion to consult a doctor.
5. Make sure the pupils are the same. If this is not the case, it is better to call a doctor.
6. Remember, parents, when providing first aid, should not give analgesics, this can blur the picture for making the correct diagnosis when examining a child by an ambulance doctor.
7. After hitting the head, especially if the child hits the temple, do not let him fall asleep. Because of this, a holistic picture of the possible occurrence of symptoms will be missed. In addition, sleep after such an injury can cause complications.
8. It is important after hitting the head to immobilize the baby. Now he needs rest, even if the injury is minor, it is better to play it safe.
9. It is recommended at night after the impact to wake up the little one to make sure that everything is in order with his coordination and there are no complications.

My son, at the age of six, fell while playing in the yard, hit the back of his head. It happened because another boy pushed my son (it happened so unexpectedly that I didn’t even have time to react), and my baby flew off onto a stone wall. At the site of injury, blood came out, an abrasion formed. I took my son in my arms to immobilize him, and went up with him home. Well, at least they were in front of the house, a stone's throw from the entrance. I treated the wound with hydrogen peroxide, applied a bandage folded in several layers and bandaged the head. As it turned out, the scratch was insignificant, just the outer layer of the skin was peeling off. The child's condition was absolutely normal, there were no complaints. Just in case, I called the pediatrician, she said to observe his behavior for four days. If there are changes, go to the clinic. Luckily, we got it right.

Measures to prevent possible falls

1. If a new stage of physical activity has begun in your baby's life (the child has begun to sit, crawl, walk, run), you need to take care of his safety by removing all dangerous places in the room.
2. Never leave the baby unattended if he is lying on the bed, table. Even a toddler who has just begun to roll over from his back to his tummy can fall.
3. If you are walking outdoors, make sure that the baby is fixed in the stroller, especially if he already knows how to sit.
4. If you are using a walker, it is best to keep your child in sight as well.
5. The kid can simply slip while walking on the floor. Get special socks or slippers for him, with rubber inserts on the sole.
6. Never worry about the fact that the little one may sooner or later fall and be injured. So you only once again violate your psyche, your feelings are transmitted to the baby, and he also begins to get nervous. But in your case, maybe nothing will happen.

Never forget that our children are active from birth, it just manifests itself in varying degrees. It is better if the child avoids falls, but since no one is safe from them, remember that not all cases of falling and hitting the head on a hard surface indicate a traumatic brain injury. The main thing is that there is no need to panic if a blow occurs, gather your thoughts and act according to the first aid plan.

Often our children fall and we ask ourselves: "should I call an ambulance?". Here, I found an interesting article on one of the sites about the signs of traumatic brain injury and first aid for a child.

Often in a situation where a child falls out of bed or a changing table, the mother does not know what to do. Do I need to run to the doctor, call an ambulance or help the child on my own? It all depends on the severity of the damage, but the most important thing is to calm down and think soberly.

The child fell out of bed and hit his head: possible injuries

When small children fall, a blow to the head is inevitable. What is important is not exactly which place he hit when he fell (on the forehead or the back of the head), but the severity of the brain damage.

A child's body differs in many ways from an adult's, the bones of the skull have not fully fused up to a year (they are easily displaced), and the brain tissues are fragile and immature. All of these factors predispose to more severe brain damage.

All traumatic brain injuries are divided into:
- open (damaged bones and soft tissues)
-closed (when the integrity of the bones of the skull and soft tissues is not broken)

Closed brain injuries are divided into:
-brain concussion
- brain injury
- compression of the brain

With a concussion, there are no changes in the structure of the substance of the brain, with a bruise, foci of destruction of the brain substance occur, and compression appears against the background of a bruise due to rupture of blood vessels or fragments of the skull.

If the child fell and hit his head (back of the head or forehead), there may be a soft tissue injury - the easiest injury when the brain does not suffer in any way. Then there is a bump or abrasion at the site of impact.

Symptoms of a brain injury

A concussion of the brain is manifested by a short-term loss of consciousness. In children younger than a year, it can be difficult to notice. It is possible to assume such a state if some time (1-3 minutes) has passed from the moment of falling to the appearance of crying. The child may vomit. Up to 3 months, vomiting can be repeated. There is blanching of the skin, sweating, as well as drowsiness and refusal to eat. Children under one year old do not sleep well the first night after an injury.

With a brain contusion, loss of consciousness may be longer (more than an hour), signs of respiratory and cardiac activity may appear.

If a child falls out of bed and falls in such a way that the bones of the skull are fractured, their condition may be severe. Perhaps the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid (clear liquid) or blood from the nose, ear. There are bruises around the eyes (a symptom of glasses). However, symptoms may appear several hours after the injury.

How to assess the severity of the injury if the child fell and hit his head?

If the child has fallen from the bed (sofa, changing table or other surfaces), it is necessary to closely monitor his condition. In the case when everything ended with 10-15 minutes of crying, and the child's condition has not changed, you can not go to the doctor.

If the mother has at least some doubt that the injury is not dangerous, it is better to call a doctor, because it is more reliable to make sure that the child is healthy than to treat serious consequences later.

Children under 1.5 years old can do neurosonography. This procedure is painless, inexpensive and performed using an ultrasound machine. With its help, an increase in intracranial pressure and the presence of life-threatening hemorrhages are determined. At a later age, such a study will not work if a large fontanel is overgrown.

The child fell out of bed - first aid

If a bump appears at the site of impact, you can apply ice in a napkin or something cold. Magnesium has a resolving effect, lotions with such a solution should be done 2 times a day.

In the presence of bleeding, tissue in the form of a tampon is applied to the wound. If the bleeding does not stop for more than 15 minutes, you need to call an ambulance.

If the child fell and hit his forehead or the back of his head, then he should not sleep for an hour (this applies to children older than a year), because. by the adequacy of his answers and reactions to your questions, you can understand whether the brain has suffered. You can (and should) wake up and check your coordination at night.

The child must be monitored very closely and cared for for 7 days if the doctor has allowed to stay at home. The child needs peace and lack of visual stress (especially for children older than 1.5-2 years).

Should I call an ambulance if the child fell and hit his head?

In case of loss of consciousness and severe bleeding from the wound, it is urgent to call an ambulance. Before her arrival, it is better to lay the baby on its side, especially if there is vomiting (in this position, it will not choke).

If a child falls from a great height on his head or back, damage to the spine is possible. Then change the position of the baby should be very careful to avoid injury to the spinal cord.

An ambulance should be called when any of the alarming symptoms appear:
- deterioration of well-being
- the child "falls asleep on the go", feels dizzy (this applies to older children)
- spasms or twitching of the muscles of the body
- wide pupils do not constrict from bright light or pupils of different sizes
- severe pallor
-blood in urine, feces, or vomit
paresis or paralysis of muscles

In severe brain injuries, appropriate treatment is prescribed only after a thorough examination of the child.

Prevention of head injuries in children due to falls

The situation when a child falls out of bed or a changing table happens most often with children under one year old. Therefore, you should not leave the baby alone, especially if he has already learned to roll over. It is better to leave the child on the floor (not naked, of course).

A changing table is a very dangerous thing, as it has a small area. Therefore, the mere presence of adults is not enough, you need to hold the child with your hand. It is better to swaddle the baby on the bed or sofa.

You can lay something soft or put pillows on the floor, in case the child does fall out of bed.

Children also "love" to fall out of strollers. Therefore, it is better to purchase lower models and strollers with high sides, do not neglect fastening the child.

When a child begins to walk, falls are common. The reason for this may be slippery floors (parquet). The child can wear socks with rubberized inserts (they will not let slip). Rugs and rugs should not “ride” on the floor, they can also provoke a fall.

I would like to note the psychological side of the issue. There is no need to constantly experience the fear that the child will fall and hit his head - after all, exactly what a person is very afraid of happens. In addition, you can transfer this fear to the child himself.